BASIC nations agree with India's stand on HFCs

A powerful group of nations working on climate change has agreed with India's stand against the US and some developed countries' move to push for the phasing out of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
In its meeting held at Brazilian city of Foz de Iguacu, Brazil, South Africa, India and China, known as BASIC group of nations, have agreed with India's stated position that unless there was a cost effective and environmentally sound technology, such a proposal seeking phasing out of HFCs could not be accepted.
"Ministers agreed that hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) should be dealt with through relevant multilateral fora, guided by the principles and provisions of UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol," a joint statement, issued after the meeting concluded yesterday, said.

"The availability of safe and technically and economically viable alternatives and the provision of additional financial resources by developed countries should also be taken into account," it has said.
Environment Ministry Secretary V Rajagopalan represented India in the meeting.
The statement assumes significance in the wake of India having differences with the US and other developed countries over drafting a proposal in the Montreal protocol on substances depleting the Ozone layer.

Environment and Forests Ministry Additional Secretary Susheel Kumar had last week articulated India's stand.
"We are not agreeing to the proposal of phasing out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). We are saying that we don't have any alternative technology. Our stand has been approved by our Cabinet," he had said in Chennai while participating at a function on the theme of preservation of ozone layer.

The Montreal Protocol, which resulted from the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, intends to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of substances, which are believed to be responsible for the depletion of ozone layer.