India, China bunking climate meet not to impact decision: US

WASHINGTON: The leaders of India and China not personally attending the UN meeting on Climate Change in New York is unlikely to have an impact on the decision making process, the US has said.

"I don't anticipate that the fact that the heads of state of those two countries not being there will have any impact on our ability to advance the ball on this priority," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said.

He was responding to questions on the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, not attending the next week's important meeting of the United Nations on Climate Change, which is being attended by the US President Barack Obama and a scores of world leaders.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his disappointment over Modi not attending the Climate meet.

Modi, because of his efforts and policy decisions as the Gujarat Chief Minister, is considered as a champion of climate change.

Describing this as an important meet, Earnest said this would be helpful in coordinating the effort to reduce the causes of climate change and of carbon pollution.