India and China join hands for a green future

NEW DELHI: Even as the battle lines were drawn between developed and developing nations over the Doha climate talks, India and China — key allies on this front — agreed to collaborate on developing clean technologies and finding solutions to their environmental problems.

“We (India and China) have similar environmental problems and can find joint solutions,” planning commission deputy chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia said after signing an agreement with Zhang Ping, chairman of the Chinese National Development and Reforms Commission, on conducting pilot studies in joint areas of interest.

Both India and China have adopted innovative methods to deal with increasing urban municipal and water waste, Ahluwalia said.

To assess the ground situation, India and China will conduct joint studies and pilots that could be scaled up, if found

PACT COMES AT A TIME WHEN THE TWO ARE FIGHTING TO PROTECT BUSINESS INTERESTS AT DOHA CLIMATE TALKS

viable. “We are also working on signing an agreement on collaboration in the area of small hydro power projects,” Ahluwalia said.

At the second strategic economic dialogue, India and China also signed an agreement with the commission to enhance cooperation in energy efficiency. Both the countries have ambitious energy efficiency programmes for energy-intensive sectors.

Meanwhile, India and China are working in tandem at Doha in Qatar to ensure a second commitment period for the existing Kyoto Protocol, which expires by the end of this year. “Both of us are sailing in the same boat,” said a senior Indian negotiator, adding that the Western world – especially the EU – has singled out the two countries.