Poor cannot be sacrificed to climate pact: Manmohan Singh

NEW DELHI: India cannot accept a global warming treaty that would stall its drive to lift millions out of poverty, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said as he left for the final phase of UN climate talks in Copenhagen.

Manmohan Singh is among the world leaders descending on the Danish capital for the final two days of a summit blighted by bitter wrangling that could wreck efforts to draw up a sweeping pact to combat global warming.

The Prime Minister said he looked forward to "constructive deliberation" but stressed that the developed world needed to address the concerns of poorer nations over the impact of any proposed agreement on their economic growth.

"Climate change cannot be addressed by perpetuating the poverty of the developing countries," he said in a departure statement released by his office.

India went to the Danish capital with an offer to reduce its carbon intensity by 20 to 25 percent by 2020, compared to 2005 levels.

"We are willing to do more provided there are credible arrangements to provide both additional financial support as well as technological transfers from developed to developing countries," Manmohan Singh said.

The fraught negotiations in Copenhagen received a shot in the arm Wednesday when wealthy nations pledged some 22 billion dollars to fund the fight against global warming.

India remains steadfastly opposed to binding emission cuts and has refused to adopt a peak year when its emissions would have to stop growing and start falling.

The presence of around 120 world leaders at the end of the summit, including US President Barack Obama, is meant to inject momentum into reaching a deal to stop climate change after the end of 2012, when obligations run out under the landmark Kyoto Protocol.