Newspapers reported on Wednesday that India has criticized a United Nations report for suggesting that developing countries should reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The latest Human Development Report, released by the UN Development Programme on Tuesday, emphasized the urgent need for collective action to prevent devastating climate change, particularly impacting the poor. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of India's Planning Commission, expressed concerns that the recommendations, although appearing fair, are not truly egalitarian. He challenged the research team to provide further evidence to support their findings. Ahluwalia spoke at the Indian launch of the report ahead of a UN climate summit in Bali, Indonesia, where countries will discuss commitments to reduce carbon emissions. The UN report emphasizes the need for quantitative commitments from developing countries for credibility. India and other developing nations argue that binding cuts are unfair and would impede poverty alleviation efforts. They believe that historically industrialized nations should take responsibility for reducing emissions, as they became wealthy through fossil fuel consumption. Even though Indians make up a significant portion of the global population, they contribute a relatively small amount to total carbon emissions, as reported by the UN. India's slow progress is a factor, with many rural Indians still lacking access to electricity and relying on traditional fuels like cow dung and wood. However, there are arguments that India can advance economically while also reducing emissions by investing in more efficient and renewable energy sources instead of coal. Rajendra Pachauri, an Indian scientist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, warns against India following the carbon-heavy development path of wealthy nations, advocating for a more sustainable approach to growth.