BEYOND COPENHAGEN

BASIC Nations to Meet Copenhagen Deadline

The Copenhagen Accord has a new endorsement from four of its authors, but only as a step toward extension of the Kyoto Protocol.

Ministers from China, India, Brazil, and South Africa -- the so-called BASIC countries -- met Sunday in New Delhi.

They say they'll meet the accord's Jan. 31 deadline to list their voluntary climate change mitigation actions. It's unclear how detailed those lists will be.

But they also insisted UN climate negotiations must continue on two tracks -- one on long-term cooperation and one to extend the Kyoto Protocol.

That's an echo of Copenhagen, when developing nations derailed attempts to merge the two tracks. The ministers want at least five negotiating sessions in the 10 months before the next UN climate treaty conference starts in Mexico City. Only one session is now scheduled.

The BASIC group also demanded that developed nations quickly release the $10 billion in "fast track" climate aid pledged in Copenhagen. But they didn't agree on a Brazilian proposal to offer a similar amount of aid themselves.

• Login or register to post comments