Political Science

The article deals with the details of the Copenhagen summit 2009 and the responses of various countries to the conference, especially Indias opinion of the conference verdict.

Introduction
The United Nations Climate Change Conference, also termed as The Copenhagen Summit was held at the Bella Center in the Copenhagen, Denmark between December 7th and 18th  2009. The meeting also included 15th conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Framework Convention of Climate Change and the 5th meeting of the parties (MOP5) to the Kyoto Protocol. Representatives from the 192 countries and top world leaders participated with their earnest interest in the conference. In the end, the summit was sealed off with an agreement officially named as Copenhagen Accord. The summit had two Presidents. From 7th to 16th Ms. Connie Hedegaard was he President followed by Mr. Lars Lokke, the Danish Prime Minister. The accord was drafted by US, China, India, Brazil and South Africa on the final day of the summit. Some countries were forced to be defensive in giving their consent for legally to reduce the carbon emission. The developing countries like India had their own explanation at the summit.

India at the Copenhagen Summit 2009
India had a major stake in the Copenhagen summit. The countrys view was represented by their Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He pointed out that the outcome of such a prestigious summit should be balanced, equitable and ambitious. There is a need to chalk out a fair burden sharing and focus on mitigation of emissions, adaptation to climate change and provision of finance and technology to the developing countries to let these actions be implemented. Dr. Singh made it clear that India is interested to see a successful conference on climate change and that it has already initiated unilateral measures to reduce the emissions under the National Action Plan. Solar energy was being used to the maximum extent and the measures suggested by the other countries are also being checked out. Indias Environment Minister Shri Jairam Ramesh made an offer to reduce the emission levels by 20. But India also made it very clear that it is impossible for the country to accept any legally binding caps on emissions as that would hamper the future economical growth of the nation. India expressed its unhappiness over the statement by Mr. Todd Stern, the US Special envoy and felt that US has nothing major to offer to the developing economies like India.  US was not ready to pay any money as compensation to the emerging economies and was not ready to accept the Kyoto Protocol too. As the Africans felt that there was complete imbalance on the two track approach, India supported the stand. At the summit India, along with other nations wanted an extension to the Kyoto Protocol which is binding the richer nations to stick to the carbon emission targets strictly. India showed its past attempts to be in line with the legitimate demands of the developed countries to curb the emission. The continued efforts of the developing countries made USA to accept 75 of the MRV (measurable, reportable and verifiable) pledges of the major developing countries like India along with Brazil, China and South Africa.

Conclusion
Overall the Copenhagen Conference wasnt a total failure. But there were difference of opinions, tensions, dissatisfaction in the summit. Greenpeace an international non-governmental organization working on environment issues felt that the Accord was a weak outcome. But for Japanese PM Mr. Yukio Hatoyama, it was a Major Step Forward. The German Chancellor, Ms. Angela Merkel, expressed mixed feelings about the Accord. The International Counsel for Environmental Fund called the deal a stepping stone on the path to a new climate treaty. The four emerging economies India, Brazil, China and South Africa had intense discussions with the US President Mr. Barak Obama and arrived at an agreement on which all could work comfortably. Like Something is Better Than Nothing the summit proved significant towards increased thoughts for curbing the global warming. The UN Secretary General, Mr. Banki  Moon believes that the Accord has become operational immediately and must be transformed into a legal binding treaty within a year. According to him the Copenhagen Conference was an important beginning. US accepted the accord as the meaningful agreement.