‘Developed nations must walk the talk on climate goals’

Photo by The Hindu

The BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) group on Friday reiterated that developed countries should walk the talk on climate change goals, accept their historical responsibilities of polluting the planet and finance technology transfer to the developing world. BASIC proposed joint action on various issues including emission targets and other plans to be set out by next year.

A joint statement issued here after the two-day 18th ministerial meeting said progress after the Warsaw climate talks was reviewed and the 2015 outcome to be adopted at the meeting in Paris should be comprehensive, balanced, equitable and fair in order to enhance the effective implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The BASIC group has been trying to put pressure on the developed world without much success and India is more keen on aligning with the Like Minded Developing Countries group to forge a common position on climate change. With bilateral contacts between the U.S. and India and the U.S. and China gaining momentum on climate change, and also some amount of disagreement among the countries of the BASIC on the issues of equity and emission cuts, it appears a divided house which comes together once in a while, according to sources tracking climate change talks. However, Union Minister of State for Environment Prakash Javadekar was optimistic and said the focus was on evolving a common position on issues related to environment and commitment to actions.

The finalisation of the text for next year’s Paris climate summit should be ready a year ahead by the climate talks at Lima this year end, and not a last minute affair, he told journalists after the meeting.

Mr. Javadekar said all countries should ratify the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol quickly and there should be full operationalisation of the Green Climate FUND. Under the Durban Platform, the countries were expected to increase their ambitions on emission cuts but that is not happening, with some like Japan reducing their targets. Xie Zhenhua, Vice Chairman, Minister National Development and Reform Commission, Chinasaid that China believed in multilateral negotiations. Edna Molewa, South African Minister for Environmental affairs was categorical that developed countries should provide a lead in submitting targets next year.

The Ministers expressed serious concern on the low level of mitigation ambition of developed countries and expressed disappointment over the continued lack of any clear road map for providing $100 billion per year by developed countries by 2020 for the Green Climate FUND.

By The Hindu