India and other developing countries should first identify their own problems caused due to the impact of global climate change and formulate suitable strategies to combat the challenge and then ask for international assistance, a top UN official said on Wednesday.
?We are aware that India and other developing countries have said that they would not accept any measure that would constrain economic growth. Therefore a balanced path of sustainable growth with regard to environmental concerns is necessary,? executive secretary of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Yvo de Boer said here.
He urged for identifying the specific sectors and said that on February 11-12 the UN body would initiate thematic discussions on the ways for tackling climate change. He said that the national governments need to act within two years with appropriate policy measures or else the matter would turn worse.
?Climate experts have cautioned that emissions are likely to increase by 50%. We, therefore, face the challenge of cutting down the emissions by 50% by the middle of this century.?
De Boer mentioned a couple of concerns relating to rising energy prices, eroding industrial competitiveness, energy security, use of coal and maintenance of air quality, need for economic growth and poverty eradication.
He said that it was essential to actively involve India, Brazil, South Africa and China in the climate negotiations process.