Climate experts say the US, which is the world's biggest polluter, has dragged down ambitions of the climate conference, and has not ratified the Kyoto protocol which was based on "polluter pays" principle.
Even before negotiations have started at the climate change summit in Paris - scheduled to be held next week -- the battle has begun with US secretary of State John Kerry's comments on India.
World leaders will be meeting in Paris starting November 30 to try and reach an agreement on reducing emissions.
But ahead of that, in an interview to an international business paper, Mr Kerry praised China's role in the talks. But at the same time, he raised concerns regarding India.
"India has been more cautious, a little more restrained in its embrace of this new paradigm, and it's a challenge," he said. "We've got a lot of focus on India right now to try to bring them along."
India has reacted sharply, calling the comments unprovoked.
"As far as John Kerry's comment is concerned, it is untrue, uncalled for," said Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, who will be representing India at the meet. "India is never a blocking country. It has done its fair share to tackle climate change. Mitigation will only happen if all work together. We will not be the roadblocks. But the developed world must also vacate the carbon space."
Though India is at number 4 among the top polluters in the world, the top 3 polluters -- China (29%), US (16%) and EU (10%) together are responsible for 55% of the world's pollution.
Climate experts also say the US -- the world's biggest polluter -- has lowered the aims of the climate conference, failed to ratify the Kyoto protocol based on "polluter pays" principle, and has not done enough to rectify matters.
The climate change meet, also called Cop21 or conference of parties, comes in the backdrop of extreme weather events and UN weather body's prediction that 2015 will be the hottest year ever recorded on the planet.
India and the G77 nations have sent a clear signal to developed nations that the Paris meet will fail unless the discussion is firmly centred on climate justice. Industrialised nations will be under pressure to compensate for the past decades of emissions.