India decries developed countries ‘weak’ political will

India Thursday said it is disappointed with the "weak" political will in developed countries to provide developing nations enhanced means of implementation of objectives of Green Economy, which will also be a "green-wash" if the process is not democratized.  

As around 100 world leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gathered here for the Rio+20 Summit, India also firmly rejected unilateral measures and trade barriers under the guise of Green Economy, which was the buzz ahead of the deliberations here, the Hindustan Times reported.

It, however, recognized Green Economy as one of the means to sustainable development and poverty eradication.

"Green Economy has to be bottom up and democratized. Otherwise it will be no more than green-wash. Cost of green development cannot be unaffordable for the poor," environment minister Jayanti Natarajan told reporters.

In a success for India at the Rio summit, world leaders agreed to set up two important mechanisms one for technology transfer and another for finance. Both were Indian proposals, which received strong support from G77 countries, including from Africa, LDCs and small island states.

"As far as India is concerned, the outcome document takes into consideration our interests and concerns and we are satisfied with the overall package. India was constructive at Rio and, in addition to our own proposals, which met with widespread support, our delegation played a crucial role in bridging differences and building consensus on many important issues," she said. 

"When we talk of the Green Economy, India is committed to a Green World Economy but, I must hasten to add, a real green economy - not a Green Washed Greed Economy, as our environmentalists say."