New Delhi, Jan. 24: Ministers of the BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) met in New Delhi on Sunday and reiterated that they formed an integral part of G-77 even as they underscored the need to revitalise the entire UNFCCC process. By doing so, it becomes obvious that the BASIC countries are also throwing their weight behind the Kyoto Protocol and the Bali Action Plan. They also said they would meet the January 31 deadline to inform the UNFCCC about voluntary mitigation actions to combat global warming.
Union environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh stressed that the Copenhagen accord was not a legal document and was aimed at facilitating consensus in two-track diplomacy. "We support the Copen-hagen accord. But all of us were unanimously of the view that its value lies not as a standalone document but as an input into the two-track negotiation process under UNFCCC," Mr Ramesh said. He, however, stated that even as UNFCCC boss Yves de Boer had extended the deadline to submit emission target reports, the BASIC nations would meet the January 31 deadline.
The ministers present at this second BASIC meeting were Mr Jairam Ramesh, National Development and Reforms Commission of China vice-chairman Xie Zhenhua, Brazil environment minister Carlos Minc, and South African water and environment minister Buyelwa Patience Sonjica.
Responding to the accusation that the BASIC countries possessed undue economic clout, this group went out of its way to reassure the G-77 nations that "BASIC was not a parallel group but embedded in G-77 even as it wanted to engage in a dialogue with the developed countries".
To prove its sincerity, the current chair of G-77, from Yemen, was invited to this meeting. A question mark remains about the extent to which they were able to convince the G-77 countries about their neutrality since he failed to show up.
Mr Minc stressed that the Copenhagen accord was a political agreement. "This would by its very nature be transferred back to the UNFCCC," without really explaining the logistics of how this would happen.
Ms Sonjica said, "BASIC cannot take decisions but will make proposals which will then be communicated to the G-77. We cannot pursue issues outside the G-77," she said and called for the US to come forward and lead the whole process. "They (the US) were lagging behind at Copenhagen but they have a moral obligation to deliver in 2010," she added.
Commenting on their two meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, she said, "He was extremely positive about BASIC and wants to take it forward but he stressed that we cannot overlook that we are part of G-77."
The ministers called for an early flow of the pledge of $10 billion in 2010 made by developed countries to be used by the least developed countries, small island states and the poorer African nations. "These nations need to identify the projects on which this money will be spent," said Mr Minc.
Meanwhile, BASIC is also stepping up efforts to provide mitigation and adaptation aid to the poorer nations. Mr Minc pointed out, "Brazil’s National Institute of Space Research is assisting, it is fighting desertification in Africa, and is diverting 20 per cent of the Amazon fund of $250 million to Latin American nations as also supplying free transfer of ethanol technology." BASIC was also willing to act in a unified manner in providing technical assistance.
The Chinese minister emphasised the need to set up streamlined technology transfer mechanisms and to follow the principle of common but differentiated responsibility. The ministers, however, reiterated the need to enhance the activities of their group.
The ministers agreed on the need for the UNFCCC to carry forward two-track negotiations on the ad hoc working group on the long-term cooperative action group under the convention and the ad hoc working group on further emission reduction for Annex 1 countries under the Kyoto Protocol.
The UNFCC has to ensure at least six meetings of these two negotiating groups in order to arrive at a successful conclusion in Mexico 2010. The BASIC ministers agreed to meet every quarter. The next meet would be in South Africa in April 2010.
Rashme Sehgal