To play out this high-stake game, representatives of 160 countries have gathered in Buenos Aires to discuss ways to reduce global climate change and to operationalise the Kyoto Protocol. Under this mechanism, agreed upon last year in Kyoto, industrialised countries have to bring down their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5 per cent below the 1990 levels before 2012.

While 160 countries have agreed to these provisions, the US has refused to acknowledge the agreement saying that ``meaningful participation'' by developing countries, especially India and China, is essential for them to act.

However, Union Environment Secretary Vishwanath Anand said from Buenos Aires: ``We are aware of our responsibilities and will act to save the globalenvironment, but let us first clear certain fundamentals.'' According to him, the ``emission space'' -- discussions are on to apportion this -- must first be determined. In other words, each country's ``entitlements'' (their right to pollute, if you will) must first be settled before any commitments to reduce or rein in emissions are agreed to.

This is especially important for developing countries as they embark on their growth plans. Industrialised countries, through their indiscriminate use of fossil fuels, are the ones that are historically responsible for global warming and hence must act first.

One of the thornier issues to be addressed at the meeting will be that of emission trading. Industrialised countries such as the US are hoping to meet the provisions of the Kyoto Protocol without harming their economy by purchasing credits from other countries that are already below their targets. Paying other countries millions of dollars for credits would allow them to exceed their greenhouse gas allowancesbut still meet their legal obligations under the treaty.

India, explained Anand, is not opposed to any of these fancy mechanisms which essentially promote emission trading, but would like to be clear on each nation's emission space first. ``Certain countries want to rush and establish trading regimes and norms without even knowing what they are entitled to and how much they can trade in,'' he added.

The industrialised countries that want to preclude any domestic action are pushing these moves hard. Anand admits that this might be revenue-earning opportunity for some developing countries, but some like Russia and Ukraine were allowed generous emission allowances under the Kyoto Protocol. These excessive allowances, sometimes referred to as ``hot air'', are very tempting for industrialised countries.

Even the executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Klaus Toepfer, has noted that the ``mechanisms'' agreed to in Kyoto cannot be a substitute for domestic action by industrialisedcountries.

``The bottomline is that developed countries must start cutting their emissions of greenhouse gases. They should adopt win-win strategies, those that reduce emission in ways that also help the economy. All other action should be supplemental to this effort,'' he said.

``From Buenos Aires, we need a clear signal that all involved with the issue mean business,'' Toepfe warned. ``Action from governments will help convince producers, consumers, communities and individuals to adjust their activities in ways that limit emissions, as the convention and its Kyoto Protocol will only succeed if they are widely supported by the public and by key constituencies and interest groups,'' he said.

Adding to the confusion in Buenos Aires was the proposal by the host nation, Argentina, to include the concept of ``voluntary commitments'' as a part of the convention on the very first day and then again on Wednesday. India as a part of the Group of 77 and China voiced opposition to any such move.

``India andChina were upfront in their unambiguous and forthright opposition to Argentina's move. This was regardless of an element of embarrassment, as Argentina was the host,'' said Anand. But that did not prevent Argentinian President Carlos Menem from announcing that the country will take up the matter at next year's meeting.

``Why should a country want endorsement from the convention for any voluntary commitments that it wants to undertake?'' asked Anand. Besides, breaking rank with other developing countries at a crucial negotiation stage was seen as a way by which Argentina was trying to endear itself to the developed world. This, in turn, would undoubtedly bring rewards when actually emission trading begins.

The Argentinian delegate, however, stressed that no aspect of the convention and the protocol limited the country's ability to raise the issue of voluntary commitments. He said the manner in which delegates address the issue would require discussion.

Signs of further cracks appeared this week againwhen other Latin American countries led by Chile and Honduras showed urgency to rush into the ``the clean development mechanism'', said Anand. ``They did not even wait for a clear picture of the structure to emerge as to what the rules of the game will be, that is, the criteria on the basis of which credits will be determined and transferred.''

India along with the G-77 and China again opposed these moves. ``We are conscious that we cannot rush into anything which will lay down the ground rules for years to come,'' added Anand.