New climate pact will be 'firmer' against defaulters: Pachauri

With many rich nations failing to meet Kyoto Protocol goals, top climate expert R K Pachauri today said a “stronger and firmer” regime envisaging punitive action against the defaulters awaits in a new climate treaty, whenever it is framed.

“Kyoto Protocol did not work as it does not have provisions for stringent measures against the defaulters”.

“But there is clearly strong expression (among global community) for punitive measures of sort against those countries that don’t meet their commitments,” Pachauri said noting the rich nations were not serious in taking any legally binding commitments.

“They (developed countries) just want to push the burden on the developing countries which have done pretty well to combat climate change, whether it was taking up CDM projects or submitting national communication on climate change to the UN...,” he told reporters.