Terming the global economic downturn "a major distraction," Pachauri noted that even countries that lead on climate-change issues, such as Germany, were feeling pushed over their policies. Many in the developed world are setting aside their ambitions for the deepest cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2020.
"There is a lot of pressure from business and industry now on the leadership to see that they cut back on some of the professed commitment that they have articulated in the past," said Pachauri. He added, however, that the new "pro-active" administration of Barack Obama in the United States was a hopeful sign.
Pachauri rebuffed suggestions that cheaper oil could undermine moves to cleaner fuel, saying a lasting interest in energy conservation and "green" fuel now exists.
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