Refuting developed nations' claims that India is not doing enough to counter climate change, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Tuesday his country "fully recognizes the importance of tackling the problem of climate change."

"We fully recognize not just how important this issue is to India but also our own obligation to address it. Our energy needs will increase sharply in the decades to come. We can and must walk a different road, an environment-friendly road," Singh said, while addressing a national conference of state ministers of environment and forests in the national capital.

Calling for strengthening the scientific foundations of environment policies with mass participation, Singh said, "We must involve more stakeholders, particularly youth, to lead the movement for environmental protection."

India said it will not sign any legally binding international agreement on climate change, out of concern of its task of social and economic development.

But New Delhi has promised not to surpass the level of developed nations in terms of greenhouse gas emission.

Source:Xinhua