Dear friends across India,

In 2 days, leaders of industrialized nations will meet in Italy to consider an historic pledge to limit global warming to no more than 2 degrees -- the level scientists warn will be "catastrophic". But the Indian government is blocking agreement.

Prime Minister Singh is blocking progress out of concern that a strong climate treaty will push India to do more than its fair share -- we urgently need to send a clear message that citizens want Singh to stand firm on a climate treaty that is BOTH strong AND fair - blocking global efforts is not an option.

We only have two days left. Click below to sign the emergency petition and send this alert on to friends and family -- it will be delivered directly to the Prime Minister's office on Wednesday before the decision in Italy:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/india_climate_g8/97.php?cl_tta_sign=fd4eb9033b460c74a98f4eb81eef8848

A 2 degree goal is essential for India: if the Himalayan glaciers recede, massive water shortages and droughts, as well as floods from rising sea levels, will ravage Indian agriculture.

Scientists say that if global warming rises past two degrees centigrade, the world's climate systems are very likely to spin out of control -- with searing droughts, sudden floods, and rising seas that spread poverty and force hundreds of millions to relocate.

These climate effects have already begun in India -- but we may be able to avert catastrophe, if negotiations this year succeed in reaching a global treaty. Talks in Italy this week are the leaders' last in-person negotiation before the make-or-break Copenhagen climate summit in December. That is why it is crucial that India support the 2 degree commitment.

The Indian government is right to speak out for a fair treaty, where industrial nations that caused climate change take the large part of the responsibility, but that should not get in the way of it supporting a treaty ambitious enough to leave our planet safe for future generations of Indians. This is not a choice between India's economic growth and a strong climate agreement -- this is a choice between a prosperous future for India or a climate disaster with enormous economic and human costs.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/india_climate_g8/97.php?cl_tta_sign=fd4eb9033b460c74a98f4eb81eef8848

We can persuade the Indian government to be a climate leader for the future. Time and again our last-minute citizen's pressure has changed policies: Avaaz members flipped Canada's and Japan's position in the closing hours of the Bali UN climate summit in 2007, and last week a campaign by Avaaz Brazilian members steered President Lula to veto a bill that would have destroyed the Amazon. Let's turn India's position around -- sign the petition, send it to friends and let's get a ambitious, fair and binding global climate treaty.

With hope,


Ricken, Alice, Taren, Graziela, Ben, Brett, Luis, Pascal, Iain, Raj, Paul, Alice W, Paula, Margaret, Milena, Raluca and the whole Avaaz team

Sources:

Italy hopes China, India agree to G8 climate goal
http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-40837320090706

Obama hopes to push through G8 climate deal
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200907040923.htm

G8 leaders to set emissions goals
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8135261.stm

"Climate change to impact India's farm yields: World Bank
http://www.igovernment.in/site/Climate-change-to-impact-Indias-farm-yields-WB/

"Himalayan glaciers melting fast"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4346211.stm