India says no to climate alarmism

INDIA ATTACKS WESTERN CLIMATE ALARMISM Financial Times, 24 July 2009 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c2896b88-77bd-11de-9713-00144feabdc0.html By James Lamont in New Delhi, Joshua Chaffin in Are and Fiona Harvey in London   Himalayas a key area of contention. Excerpts:   A split between rich and poor nations in the run-up to climate-change talks widened on Thursday.   India rejected key scientific findings on global warming, while the European Union called for more action by developing states on greenhouse gas emissions.   Jairam Ramesh, the Indian environment minister, accused the developed world of needlessly raising alarm over melting Himalayan glaciers.   He dismissed scientists’ predictions that Himalayan glaciers might disappear within 40 years as a result of global warming.   “We have to get out of the preconceived notion, which is based on western media, and invest our scientific research and other capacities to study Himalayan atmosphere,” he said.   “Science has its limitation. You cannot substitute the knowledge that has been gained by the people living in cold deserts through everyday experience.”   Mr Ramesh was also clear that India would not take on targets to cut its emissions, even though developed countries are asking only for curbs in the growth of emissions, rather than absolute cuts.   More at Watts Up With That?

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