Nobel Laureate Wangari Mathai was on Monday awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan where a call was made to the developed world to join hands in adopting eco-friendly practices and tackle climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
Asking the developed world to reflect on pursuing development based on "high and wasteful" consumption, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said if these nations succeed in reducing their per capita emissions it will be a source of incentive for all other nations.
"I do believe the developed world must reflect whether it can continue to pursue a model of development based on high and wasteful consumption," he said.
The prime minister asserted that India was willing to accept the obligation that per capita emissions in the country will never exceed the per capita emissions of developed countries.
"If developed countries succeed in reducing their per capita emissions, this would exert pressure and will be a source of incentive for us as well," he said.
Observing that there was no contradiction in pursuing development goals and protecting the environment, Dr Singh questioned the people of the country whether "we can afford to ape the lifestyles of the West and sustain life on the plant."
"For tackling climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, we must work together to find pragmatic, practical solutions which are for the benefit of the entire humankind," President Pratibha Patil said.
The President said, "No strategy to deal with climate change should foreclose for the developing countries the possibilities of accelerated social and economic development."
"Developing countries, whether in Asia or Africa, need economic growth to provide to their people opportunities for decent lives. The needs and concerns of developing countries should be addressed in global trade negotiations as also climate change discussions," she said.
"I am hopeful India will contribute to increasing the forest cover on the planet," Patil said.
United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who was also present on the occasion, said "We know global warming is accelerating at a pace even faster than anticipated."
"All nations would need to improve upon environmental concerns and management," she said.
Drawing parallels between the work of Mathai and Indira Gandhi, she said both were concerned about preserving the environment for the future generations.