Basic countries expected to submit targets by January 31.
The BASIC nations are expected to formally submit their individual country targets ahead of the UN’s January 31 deadline, agreed under the Copenhagen Accord.
Last week (January 24) Environment Ministers from the four nations (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) met in New Delhi to informally coordinate on Copenhagen outcomes and next steps. The four nations indicated they would stick to the UN's 'soft' deadline of January 31 and submit their respective countries 2020 mitigation targets.
'The Ministers expressed their intention to communicate information on their voluntary mitigation actions to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change by January 31, 2010' the Ministers said in a joint statement.
South African Minister for Water and Environmental Affairs Buyelwa Sonjica told The Hindu: 'We feel obligated that we must commit what we ourselves were part of. That’s a leadership obligation, even if the UN has decided to extend the deadline.'
The BASIC countries plus the US together drafted of the Copenhagen Accord, which subsequently became 'noted' by the COP plenary at the conclusion of the Copenhagen climate negotiations in December 2009.
Keen to build on the progress made at Copenhagen, the focus of many is starting to look towards Mexico, the COP16 host. On behalf of the BASIC group, India’s Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has urged a re-start of the two-track negotiations, arguing that centrality of the UNFCCC is essential for an equitable outcome in Mexico.
'We support the Copenhagen 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,' the BASIC countries said.
The US and EU have recently joined other countries in formally submitting their targets to the UN. Further targets are expected to be announced around January 31.
Last week (January 24) Environment Ministers from the four nations (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) met in New Delhi to informally coordinate on Copenhagen outcomes and next steps. The four nations indicated they would stick to the UN's 'soft' deadline of January 31 and submit their respective countries 2020 mitigation targets.
'The Ministers expressed their intention to communicate information on their voluntary mitigation actions to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change by January 31, 2010' the Ministers said in a joint statement.
South African Minister for Water and Environmental Affairs Buyelwa Sonjica told The Hindu: 'We feel obligated that we must commit what we ourselves were part of. That’s a leadership obligation, even if the UN has decided to extend the deadline.'
The BASIC countries plus the US together drafted of the Copenhagen Accord, which subsequently became 'noted' by the COP plenary at the conclusion of the Copenhagen climate negotiations in December 2009.
Keen to build on the progress made at Copenhagen, the focus of many is starting to look towards Mexico, the COP16 host. On behalf of the BASIC group, India’s Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has urged a re-start of the two-track negotiations, arguing that centrality of the UNFCCC is essential for an equitable outcome in Mexico.
'We support the Copenhagen 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,' the BASIC countries said.
The US and EU have recently joined other countries in formally submitting their targets to the UN. Further targets are expected to be announced around January 31.
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