‘There are great opportunities for clean growth’

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with carbon emission reduction?

India’s growth ambitions are understandable and desirable in the fight to raise living standards, particularly of poor people. I think India can find a way to achieve low-carbon growth, particularly with support from rich countries through clean technology at reasonable prices and carbon financing. And it has a right to such support.

Will it help to position climate change more as a market opportunity than a low-carbon growth?

There are great opportunities to deliver and implement clean technologies that will create economic opportunities and deliver much clean growth than that followed by rich countries. And it will also bring in many other associated environmental benefits such as biodiversity and forest preservation.

What is the kind of role you see for India in helping to negotiate a post-Kyoto regime?

India has a special position with its international respect and low-emissions to lead the building of an equitable and efficient global deal on climate change. It should insist on strong actions, as in Heiligendamm, because it’s very vulnerable. Climate change will bring increased problems of floods, droughts, storms and sea level rise. Water management will be vital but difficult. Precious resources will become increasingly scarce. India could also become much more energy efficient.

You hold the IG Patel Chair at the LSE. You are also head of the India Observatory? What does it mean to you? Will it help you influence Indo-British bilateral cooperation in dealing with climate change?

Dr IG Patel was a very distinguished national and international statesman and a much admired and regarded director of the LSE. He was a guide and friend to me. The RBI and the SBI have not only endowed the chair, but also supported the India Observatory. It will foster and encourage research on India, including on climate change, and I hope it will contribute to mutual understanding and good policy.

How has Palanpur, Uttar Pradesh, changed since you lived and worked there in early seventies?

Palanpur has grown in a similar way as the rest of rural Uttar Pradesh. It has seen growth, but at a much slower rate than the rest of India. Rural India requires strong investment in infrastructure and agriculture if it’s to avoid falling still further behind and Palanpur is no exception.

How does it feel being called the rock star of climate change?