A tough sell in India: climate talks

India's raucous democracy, endemic poverty and soaring economic ambition make curbs on greenhouse gas emissions a hard sell, even as global pressure mounts on the government to do more on climate change. New Delhi says its priority must be economic growth to lift millions out of poverty, while shifting, under a national action plan, to clean energy led by solar power. The government sets no greenhouse gas caps, but says India's per-capita carbon emissions will never exceed those of developed nations. India's per-capita annual emissions are about 1.2 metric tons, compared with China's 4 metric tons and Australia's 28 metric tons. Such arguments, Western leaders say, are just a fig leaf for India's apparent reluctance to act. Critics say New Delhi lacks the political will to implement stringent laws. The truth, say analysts,... [read full story]