India playing down hopes for climate deal

"It's difficult to sound optimistic on the basis of where we have reached so far," Saran said, citing a lack of progress at high-level talks in Barcelona last week aimed at agreeing a negotiation blueprint for the December 7-18 summit in the Danish capital. "There are some very important issues that still need to be resolved, and it is not clear whether they can be resolved in Copenhagen," he told reporters.

India is a major player in the core debate between developing and developed nations over how to apportion responsibility for — as well as the cost of — curbing carbon emissions. Saran reiterated India's position that while it is willing to take whatever steps its limited resources allow, implementing a more ambitious emissions reduction agenda would require substantial economic and technological support from richer nations.

"The fact is that unless very large sums of money are on the table, the kind of response we have led the international community to expect may not be possible," he said.

Some 190 countries will meet in Copenhagen to try to conclude a new United Nations-backed climate treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

Saran said the timing of the summit was unfortunate given the ongoing global financial crisis.

"The reality is that in terms of putting money on the table, there is simply not much money available. So this is not necessarily the best time for these kind of negotiations," he said.

India and China have so far taken a united stand on rejecting binding emissions cuts, arguing that carbon caps will hinder their quest for economic development and poverty alleviation.

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