WASHINGTON - Assuring the developed world that India would not be the deal-breaker in Copenhagen, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has asked the rich nations to be less “evangelical” and less “polemical” in their push for a deal.

“India has not caused the problem of global warming but we want to make sure we’re part of the solution,” Ramesh said at a breakfast meeting hosted by the US-India Business Council (USIBC) in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

“I would say the developed world should be less evangelical and I think the developing world should be less polemical as far as Copenhagen is concerned,” Ramesh said sticking to his guns on New Delhi’s refusal of binding requirements on cutting emissions blamed for global warming.

“If we approach it in this constructive spirit, we will have an agreement in Copenhagen and we will come back to Copenhagen next year for a larger agreement,” he said.

The Dec 7-18 talks in Copenhagen are scheduled to seal a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, whose obligations on emission cuts run out at the end of 2012.

“One large mega agreement to solve all the problems is not on the cards in Copenhagen,” Ramesh said. “What is certainly on the cards is a series of agreements to form the building blocks,” he said.

Ramesh called for an agreement on “low-hanging fruit” such as on the sharing of green technology, the creation of a fund to help Africa adapt to climate change and the role of forests in offsetting global warming.

Belying the myth that India is not making serious commitments on climate change, Ramesh detailed a range of new mandates that will ensure mitigation outcomes for carbon emissions in India.

“These ambitious commitments entail both massive investments and the deployment of the world’s best technologies, which can be achieved only if the private sector is fully engaged,” said USIBC president Ron Somers. “The key is for India to develop and sustain a robust market for clean technologies.”

Ted Jones, USIBC Director for Policy Advocacy, observed that “US companies understand that in India, cost is paramount. But they are meeting that challenge today. As long as they can market their technology, license it, and recoup their costs, they will invest and continue to innovate.”

Jones added that “Protection of intellectual property - and the incentive to innovate - will be essential if US and Indian companies are to develop and deploy the low-carbon technologies required to combat global warming.”