We’ve been trying to keep you up-to-date on December’s Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change here at TakePart, with both the ups and downs in the months prior to the meeting. Now, back in July, one story we brought you is India’s refusal of binding emission cuts, which certainly won’t derail talks in December (as other nations are saying the same), but certainly makes it more difficult.

Recently, India’s environmental minster not only reiterated that the nation will not accept binding emission standards, but also said that really, the Copenhagen Conference isn’t all that important. Oh. Huh.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had this to say (from AFP via grist.org):

“It is possible for us to identify quantifiable commitments that India voluntarily and unilaterally takes as part of its domestic political agenda. The problem arises when you want to transplant these domestic commitments to binding international targets and I think that distance has to be bridged.”

Well, that we knew. India wants no part of being told by developed nations what they can and can’t do. However, the silver lining there is the possibility of accepting non-binding targets. But then, Ramesh added this:

“If we don’t bridge it at Copenhagen now let’s not believe that the world will come to a halt.”

Well, there he might have some disagreement. From a lot of people. Given the amount of money we’re thinking it’s going to take to fight climate change, and given how quickly (most) everyone believes we’re digging ourselves deeper and deeper, a unified front against climate change seems not only important, but necessary. It would be melodramatic to say the world will come to a halt if Copenhagen doesn’t produce results, but it certainly would be a giant leap in the wrong direction.

photo credit: woodleywonderworks’ flickr photostream/Creative Commons