India has asked the developed nations of the world to supply it with advanced clean technologies at concessional rates.

Indian delegate Rajeev Shukla, MP, said to the UN General Assembly's economic and financial committee that such an approach would help eradicate poverty and hunger, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He added that India's energy efficiency is amongst the best in the world, and called for conservation, protection, and sustainable use of generic resources.

India has been cooperating with developed countries on capacity building, natural disaster preparedness, adapting to climate change and enhancing resilience, but now requires financial and technical support, added Shukla.

Meanwhile, China has achieved the dubious honour of equality with US in terms of emissions.

China's emission of carbon dioxide accounts for eight per cent of the world total. Xie Zhenhua, vice director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), while explaining a government white paper, said that according to its data, China's current total emissions are almost as high as those of the US.

Production of exports from the 'factory of the world', China, accounts for 20 per cent of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. Zhenhua cited industrialisation and a coal-dominated energy mix as the cause of its inefficiency at controlling emissions.

In the white paper, China asked developed countries to spend a minimum of 0.7 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product and transfer technologies to developing countries to reduce emission of greenhouse gases.

The country says it is taking measures like closures of out-dated production facilities, use of energy efficient equipment, and clean energy to fulfil its target of energy conservation and pollution reduction and achieve sustainable growth. X