Climate change: "I am not an astrologer": PM

Saying that he was not an "astrologer", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said he cannot predict whether countries could seal a deal on climate change before the Copenhagen meet but acknowledged that "difficulties" remain in the path of negotiations.

"I am not an astrologer," Singh said when asked about if a December conference in the Danish capital Copenhagen would succeed in sealing a successor framework to the Kyoto protocol.

However, he noted that there was a broader agreement on the climate change among key world economies, he said while acknowledging that difficulties remain in the path of successful negotiations on this issue.

"There are difficulties in climate change. Now there is a broad agreement, but how to bring about the adjustment in emission is a competitive matter, which requires an exercise in burden sharing," he observed at a press conference held at the conclusion of the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh.

Singh said there is no agreement on the rules of the game as to how this burden sharing needs to be brought about. The developed countries should carry out credible commitment, credible action in order to control, emission, Singh said.

"The developing countries are required taking national action for that resources should be provided, energy resources as well as technological support," he said. The Prime Minister said there is a broad vague agreement that any agreement in which developing countries are required unilateral action.

But these have to be accompanied by credible action on the part of the developed countries by way of additional provision of resources and also by way of technology at an affordable price, he said.

On emission targets in climate change, he said there is no agreement but how to bring about an agreement on emission control is an exercise in burden sharing. "Other than expressing a pious wish with regard to the success of the framework convention meeting in Copenhagen, the Group of 20 I think did not go into the mechanics of these things," he said.

India's national climate plan envisages voluntary mitigation measures by 2020. It includes mandatory fuel efficiency standards, renewable energy initiatives, clean coal technologies, and lower methane farming.

India is, however, firmly against erecting trade barriers against a country that does not accept limits on its carbon emissions. New Delhi also rejected the possibility of phasing out subsidies on energy pricing saying while it was an objective it would not be implemented at the cost of poor people.

The Kyoto Protocol required developed nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions blamed for climate change but the requirements expire at the end of 2012