He said, "India has accepted legal commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto protocol. Article 10 of the Kyoto protocol says that developing countries will do what they can. Those are legal and binding commitments as Kyoto protocol is a legally binding instrument."

He explained further, "Article 4 of the Kyoto Protocol does say that the polluters pay. Those who have generated these greenhouse gases historically are the ones who have to cut down the emission of gases. Kyoto lays down the schedule of average cut-off at about 5.2 per cent on 1990 level by 2012. There is a principle of common but differentiated responsibility about how to deal with gas emissions."

Menon said that besides mitigation of harmful gases there are other commitments under Kyoto and India is implementing them. He said, "The best way to deal with climate change and minimise the effect of it on our population is development."

He said, "Your ability to deal with climate change will be limited if you are poor and living on subsistence. The slightest climate shift for whatever reasons, whether anthropological or because of natural variation will affect you."

He said that India would adapt to climate change in its own interest.

India is also part of the Asia-Pacific partnership on the issue of global warming where the emphasis on technologies. Menon said Kyoto does not prevent any nation to participate in other partnerships on climate change.

Menon said that only conversation will take place at G-8 and that nothing is binding. Only exchange of ideas will take place and not negotiations. India and China have already done it.