Developed countries should show flexibility in climate talks: CSE

An Indian green body today praised BASIC countries for clearly spelling out their "red lines" in climate change negotiations here and said it is time for the developed nations to show "flexibility" and propose compromise solutions.

Noting that the leadership of BASIC nations -- Brazil, South Africa, India and China -- are important for an "equitable and ambitious" deal in Paris, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that BASIC has clearly spelt their red lines.

"BASIC countries leadership is important for an equitable, comprehensive and ambitious deal at Paris. Today BASIC ministers have shown both firmness and flexibility. They have clearly spelt out their red lines. Now it is on the developed countries to show flexibility and propose compromise solutions," CSE deputy director general Chandra Bhushan said.

He expressed happiness that the BASIC statement also included the concerns of Least Developing Countries (LDC) and said that it is important that BASIC countries work with other developing countries to protect the poor and the vulnerable from the increasing impacts of climate change.

"For the next 3-4 days, BASIC must push for operationalising differentiation between the developed and developing countries in all elements including fairness in the utilisation of carbon space by different countries in the future. This is key for Paris and beyond," Bhushan said.

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Two days into the high-level ministerial segment, BASIC countries including India today expressed "disappointment" at the "low" level of support provided by the developed countries to the developing nations in fighting climate change and asserted that it was "imperative" that these countries must" take "visible" lead in cutting emissions.

The BASIC countries also said they are engaging with nations in a constructive and cooperative spirit and have shown "flexibility" on issues and hoped that an agreement can be reached by Friday.

They also said that they remain committed to reach a "comprehensive, balanced, ambitious and legally binding" agreement on climate change while reaffirming their commitment to the unity of G77 and China.