Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh announced the decision to put a moratorium on the release of Bt brinjal till such time independent scientific studies establish, to the satisfaction of both the public and professionals, the safety of the product from long-term view on impact on human health. Newsclick examines.

WHEN Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh speaks, controversy cannot be far behind. But when he spoke in Parliament last week to announce a new Indian stance for the forthcoming Copenhagen climate change conference, namely to unilaterally reduce India's emissions intensity by 20-25 % by 2020, he did so with the full authority of the government.

The recent Discussion Note of the Minister for Environment and Forest on changing India’s negotiating position is deeply disturbing as it goes against nationally agreed consensus in this country worked out over the last two decades. While there is an urgent need to clinch a climate deal in Copenhagen this year, India succumbing to the US pressure is hardly the way to go about it.