Clinton has a carbon message for India Inc

Clinton has a carbon message for India Inc
The Economic Times, July 19, 2009, Page 1

Our Bureau MUMBAI

EVEN though issues such as education, health and accessibility of finance in a slowly reviving global economy occupied the agenda at US secretary of state Hillary Clinton’s meeting with Indian business leaders on Saturday, it was India’s efforts in reducing emission that drew the maximum attention.

In the course of a power-packed breakfast meeting at the Taj Palace hotel attended by the cream of India Inc, Ms Clinton asked Indian business leaders to refrain from treading the high-carbon path and not to repeat mistakes committed by the developed world in contributing to global pollution.

“We acknowledge that we’ve made mistakes in the US and we, along with other developed countries have contributed most significantly to the problem that we face with climate change,” Ms Clinton told the elite audience. “But we are hoping a great country like India will not make the same mistake,” she added.

Ms Clinton’s statements come close on the heels of views recently expressed by US President Barack Obama that the US had “sometimes fallen short” of its responsibilities in controlling carbon emissions.

It was an interesting mix of business leaders who attended Ms Clinton’s talk — Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, State Bank of India chairman OP Bhatt, ICICI MD Chanda Kochar, Indian Hotels vice-chairman RK Krishna Kumar, former HLL chairman Ashok Ganguly, Godrej chairman Adi Godrej Piramal group director Swati Piramal and Sudha Murty. The event was hosted by Ratan Tata, chairman Tata Group.

Ms Clinton is on a five-day visit to India and her talks with the government could likely include issues such as climate change, the nuclear deal, the Doha trade talks and India’s relations with Pakistan.