New Delhi Underlining the principle of “equity” in climate talks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said growth should take place in a way which does not harm the environment.

During his meeting with Environment Ministers of BASIC countries, that is Brazil, South Africa, India and China, Singh said the principle of equity — equal per capita rights to the atmospheric space — should be the goal of future negotiations on climate change, sources said.

Growth should take place in a way that does not harm the environment, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday.

During his meeting with Environment Ministers of BASIC countries — Brazil, South Africa, India and China — Dr. Singh said the principle of equity - equal per capita rights to the atmospheric space - should be the goal of future negotiations on climate change, sources said.

Poor nations have been sparring over emission cuts without realising that the fight is a deliberate creation of rich countries

Many years ago, in a desperately poor village in Rajasthan, people decided to plant trees on the land adjoining their pond so that its catchment would be protected. But this land belonged to the revenue department and people were fined for trespass. The issue hit national headlines. The stink made the local administration uncomfortable.

In the run-up to the Rio+20 Earth Summit, India continues to emphasise the principle of equity as forming the foundation for climate change negotiations.

“I would like to reiterate that the bottom line remains equity,” said minister of environment Jayanthi Natarajan addressing a special session on Biodiversity at the 12th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit. Ms Natarajan’s statement came a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had endorsed her stand at the UNFCCC meet at Durban conference

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Thursday that "a lack of collective will" was hampering efforts to forge a common global front against the threat of climate change.

NEW DELHI: In one of his most emphatic public statements reaffirming the return of 'equity' in India's climate change stance, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said global cooperation on climate change

In 1990, China was responsible for only 10% of annual emissions. But in 2010, it contributed some 27%