NEW DELHI: India, as an advanced developing country, can lead the world in renewable energy technologies as part of a solution to the climate change crisis, former US Vice-President and Nobel Peace Laureate Al Gore said here. "India has proven its capability in sectors like Information Technology and can be a leader in the world in developing new renewable technologies to combat climate change," he told reporters here.

Gore was speaking at the launch of the India chapter of 'The Climate Project', a US-based non-profit organization that supports the former vice-president's efforts in promoting climate change activism globally. Asked about the differences between developed and developing countries on greenhouse gas emission cuts, Gore said fast developing nations like India has a right to aspire for higher standard of living and set whatever goals they think is appropriate.

Using 21st century-efficient technologies is the relevant issue today, not the comparison in emissions by countries, he said. "India itself is vulnerable to effects of climate change and can be a part of the solution," he said. Gore said there is need for a change in the US policy on climate and whoever comes to the White House after the November presidential polls will have to take necessary steps.

"My country is the largest source of pollution and most responsible for creating the problem. We need a change in policy in the US," said the environmental activist who has won an Oscar for his documentary on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth".

Asked whether economic recession fears and paucity of time before the December 2009 climate meet will push aside climate change issues from the agenda of the new US President, Gore said they were working on building a "groundswell of public opinion" to ensure that the US take a position of leadership on climate change in the Copenhagen conference.

The 2009 climate meet aims at concluding a comprehensive new global climate treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol by 2013. Pachauri, the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), that shared the 2007 Peace Nobel with Gore, said "unprecedented understanding and knowledge across the globe" is needed to tackle the "daunting challenge" of climate change.

Corporate sector, political leaders, civil society and research community will have to come together for a solution, he said adding, creating public awareness is important. The Climate Project (TCP) India, a joint initiative of The Energy Research Institute (TERI) and Jindal South West Foundation, will hold training and workshops to create awareness about climate change at grassroots level.

A 100-strong first batch under TCP-India has already started training and will fan out across India to spread the message of fight against global warming. Speaking at an interactive session at the India Today Conclave, Al Gore suggested India should reduce tax on incomes and institute a tax on pollution to tackle the issue of global warming effectively.

"Reduce tax on employees and employers and put a tax on pollution. The more carbon dioxide one emits the more he pays in taxes," said Gore Replying to a question by Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma, Gore also suggested subsidizing clean energy generation instead of carbon fuels like kerosene. "Why do you subsidies carbon fuels.

Why don't you subsidies solar energy," he asked. "India has proven its capability in sectors like Information Technology and can be a leader in the world in developing new renewable technologies to combat climate change," said the 2007 Nobel Peace laureate. Asked whether he would ever run again for becoming the President of the US, he replied in the negative.

"I do not expect to be a candidate ever again, said Gore who lost the 2000 US Presidential election to George W. Bush. Gore listed achieving a breakthrough in the deadlocked talks at the Kyoto climate changes conference as his key accomplishment during his tenure as Vice President. However, he termed as his failure is being unable to convince US Senators to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions he helped clinch 10 years ago.