Greenpeace gives cautious welcome to India's climate plan

New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) International environment NGO Greenpeace Wednesday gave a cautious welcome to India's National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), calling it a good 'vision statement' but short on details.

Lauding the focus on solar energy in the plan that was unveiled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday, policy adviser of Greenpeace India K. Srinivas said here: 'The solar mission and the renewable energy proposal are clear highlights of this plan'.

But he expressed disappointment with the 'lack of similar ambition when it comes to the energy efficiency mission'. The NAPCC launched eight missions that will lead India's fight against climate change.

While Srinivas welcomed the 'low carbon pathway' to development outlined in the plan, he cautioned this would not be achieved without reducing dependence on coal for power generation. 'This can be achieved only if, in addition to expanding renewables, we also achieve clear savings or efficiency targets.'

Greenpeace wants India to save 15 percent of its energy by 2020 through efficiency improvements, and Srinivas criticised the NAPCC for being silent on this point.

Welcoming the unveiling of India's plan, the Greenpeace climate campaign manager for China Ailun Yang said her country's experience had shown the announcement of specific goals gave a fillip to the combat against global warming.

'China and India are taking action to address the challenge of developing their economies and peoples' futures in a climate-challenged world,' Yang added.

'It is time for some developed countries to stop using China and India as the excuses for their own inaction and get down to business as time is running out for the planet,' she added.