Sees itself as spearhead for G-77, to press for twin-track talks in run-up to Mexico.
Brazil, South Africa, India and China, the four BASIC countries, announced their support to the Copenhagen Accord to combat climate change and initiated what could be the start of a climate fund to help poor countries with technology to address global warming. They also called for an early flow of the $10 billion pledged by developed countries for this in 2010.
The ministers who represented their governments agreed to meet every three months. South Africa will host the next meeting, in Capetown in April.
After a seven-hour meeting here today, members of the BASIC group made it clear, while addressing a news conference, that the Accord itself was a political rather than a legal document, that must feed into a legally-binding global accord negotiated by all countries. India’s environment minister, Jairam Ramesh, when asked if the Accord would become a legal document, said: “There is no hope”.
They hoped this would facilitate the two-track process of negotiations under the Bali road map to lead to a successful conclusion of ongoing negotiations in Mexico. The Vice-Chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, Xie Zhenhua, hoped the negotiations would come back to the two-track system and involve all countries who were part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
“All voices will be heard in negotiations and that will determine the success of Conference Of Parties (COP)-16 at Mexico,” he said.
In this second meeting at the ministerial level, the group said they were very much part of the Group of 77 developing countries, even though Yemen, chair of G-77, could not make it to this meeting.
In a joint communiqué, the group of countries expressed “their intention” to communicate information on their voluntary mitigation actions to the UNFCCC by January 31. “We participated in the process that gave the Accord. We feel obliged that we must commit to what we were part of,” said Buyelwa Sonjca, minister for water and environmental affairs of South Africa.
The ministers called upon the COP president (Denmark) to convene meetings of the two negotiating groups in March and ensure there were at least six meetings of the two working groups for a successful conclusion at Mexico.
“The proof of credentials of the developed countries will be if the promised $10-billion actually flows in 2010. If it does not come to Africa, small island states and least developed countries (LDCs), we will feel developed countries are not serious. They need to put the money on the table,” Ramesh said.
| BASIC COUNTRIES' JOINT STATEMENT * BASIC is not just a forum for negotiation coordination but also for cooperative action on mitigation and adaptation * Will work closely with other members of G-77+China to ensure ambitious and equitable outcomes in Mexico * Have already announced voluntary mitigation actions for 2020, will communicate the same to UNFCCC by January 31 * Call for the pledged $10 billion in 2010 for least developed countries, small island developing states and African countries * Welcome the progress made on the proposal for financing and implementation of REDD+ mechanism * Enhancing South-South cooperation with other countries on scientific cooperation and support for adaptation in matters related to climate and climate-related technologies |
Defining the role that BASIC sees for itself, Ramesh said BASIC is not just a forum for negotiations but should explore cooperation in science, forestry management and others forms of mitigation action. “We will see how we can deepen this cooperation, particularly in science and technology,” he said.
Carlos Minc, his Brazilian counterpart, said part of their frustration at Copenhagen were that substantial targets and funds did not happen. But, he said, “we will not just keep crying but act in a unified way,” referring to the possibility of setting up a climate fund.
“The fact that BASIC is able to do this, despite not being historically responsible, is a strong position.” He said BASIC countries will provide technological support to LDCs. “This is a slap in the face of the rich countries which are better placed to do so,” he said.
Ramesh said they had discussed ways to support different projects. “Each of us has an assistance programme. But, we discussed it as a collective entity. There has been no conclusion. It will be taken up at the next meeting.”
Sonjica said they hoped the US would now take the lead in the process. “They were lagging at Copenhagen.” After Copenhagen, the US has a moral obligation to make sure we deliver in Mexico, she said.
G-77 chair, Yemen, did not attend BASIC meet
“BASIC is very much a part of G-77. The current G-77 Chair-Yemen- was invited to the second meeting of the ministers of the BASIC group today but could not attend because of other commitments,” said environment minister Jairam Ramesh. At the Copenhagen Summit, Sudan, the G-77 chair, had expressed reservations on the Accord there.
