Sapporo, July 9 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his intervention at the Major Economies Meeting (MEM) here today said that sustained and accelerated economic growth is critical for all developing countries and we cannot consider quantitative restrictions on our greenhouse gas emissions.

Singh pointed out that developed countries had failed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and asked the G-8 to take the lead on the issue.

The quicker you reduce your emissions, the greater the incentive for us to follow, Singh told the MEM.

He said, The imperative for accelerated growth is even more urgent when we consider the disproportionate impact of climate change on us as a developing country with little choice but to devote even more and huge resources to adaptation in critical areas of food security, public health and management of scarce water resources.

And, this comes at a time when we are faced with an ever-increasing energy bill putting our energy security at extreme risk, he said.

He also asked the developed nations to show leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

India is determined that even as we pursue our economic growth and development, our per-capita emissions will not go beyond those of the developed countries, he added. (ANI)