India pushes rich countries to boost their climate pledges at Paris

Prime minister Narendra Modi announces $30m solar investment, but also pins historical blame on rich countries asking them to do more on emissions and aid

India has emerged as a pivotal player in the climate talks, championing developing country demands that the rich take the lead in cutting emissions and providing more money for poor countries. But desperate for a strong deal to protect it from the ravages of climate change, it is also backing the US-led principle that all countries should act.

Narendra Modi, prime minister of the country of 1.2 billion and the world's third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has so far taken the strongest line of all the developing country leaders in the talks.