The main principles of India’s stand on environmental issues are as mentioned below :
(i) India signed and ratified the 1997 Kyoto Protocol in August 2002.

(ii) At the G-8 meeting in June 2005, India pointed out that the per capita emission rates of the developing countries are a tiny fraction of those in the developed world.

(iii) India believes in the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and therefore is of the view that the major responsibility of curbing emission rest with the developed countries, which have accumulated emissions over a long period of time.

(iv)India's international negotiation position relies heavily on principles of historical responsibility, as enshrined in UNFCCC.

(v) India has initiated different programmes and policies such as National Auto-fuel Policy, the Energy Conservation Act 2001, Electricity Act 2003 to improve environment.

(vi) India wants that SAARC countries should adopt a common position of major global environment issues,so that region voice carries greater weight.