US and India agree on environment goals

US president Barack Obama and prime minister Manmohan Singh agreed their countries would work together to develop low-carbon energy and protect people from climate change.

Obama, who was hosting Singh for the first state visit of his presidency, said all countries should take action to reach a "strong operational agreement" at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen next month that could eventually lead to a legally binding treaty.

Below is a list of climate initiatives the two leaders agreed upon on Tuesday.

* Accelerate development and deployment of clean energy technologies such as wind, solar and geothermal power

* The US Environmental Protection Agency will work with India's ministry of environment and forests to support Indian efforts for the establishment of a National Environmental Protection Authority

* Launch an Indo-US Clean Energy Research and Deployment Initiative supported by the two governments with private sector contributions with focus on energy efficiency, advanced biofuels, and clean coal technologies

* Increase cooperation on developing sources natural gas found associated with coal and shale and ice found undersea

* The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will work with India's ministry of Earth sciences to more accurately forecast monsoons to protect people and crops from extreme floods

* Continue cooperation on nuclear power