NEW DELHI, May 15 (Bernama) -- India Thursday asked the BRIC members to unitedly oppose the developed countries' move to impose environmental taxes on the developing nations in the name of "green protectionism" to tackle climate change, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

Ahead of the first BRIC summit next month in Russia, Shyam Saran, special envoy to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on climate change, warned that "green should not become a label for 'protection' (for the developed nations)".

"We are concerned that green is becoming a new label for protection. We are now seeing on the grounds of level-playing field and maintaining competitiveness, the developing nations will be forced to take up binding commitment on emissions reduction or pay tariff," he said.

"If this is what they (developed countries) insist on, we need to send them a clear message that green protectionism is not acceptable," Saran said at pre-BRIC summit preparatory meeting here.

Observing that despite diversity among all the four BRIC countries -- Brazil, Russia, China and India, he suggested common areas of cooperations in terms of energy security and climate change.

"One very important platform for cooperation among all the member nations really could be the enhancing energy efficiency," he added.

At the meeting, which was attended by the think-tanks from four member nations, Saran said, "Enhancing energy efficiency is the goal of the India's National Action Plan on Climate Change as well.

"Also, there is a need for a strategic shift from dependence on conventional sources of energy, which are depleting, to renewable source of energy like solar and wind power."

Science and technology is another area where the countries can further their bilateral cooperation to deal with climate change.

Saran also stressed on greater discussions with Russia on climate change, which can become an active partner on the issue considering its success in lowering the emissions when many have failed.

-- BERNAMA