Ministers of the BASIC countries met on Thursday to forge a common ground before the next round of climate talks in Lima this year end. Union minister of State for Environment Prakash Javadekar emphasised the need for capitalisation of the Green Climate Fund, a point he has been making in his trips abroad as well.
The BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) plays a key role in what goes into the draft agreement after 2020 and one of the debates is on the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC)s which each country has to present before March next year. While the BASIC and other groups believe that cutting carbon emissions alone will not help, the major developed countries think otherwise.
Technology transfer and funds for climate mitigation adaptation are some key demands of the developing countries. The meeting is expected to articulate a firm position on the deadline for the INDCs as well as the nature of the climate goals. It is also aimed at putting pressure on developed countries to own up their responsibility in meeting their emission reduction targets and in providing for funds to the developing countries. The meeting continues on Friday.
The 17th BASIC Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change was held in Hanzghou, China last October. The BASIC Ministerial meeting provides an opportunity to Environment Ministers to enhance coordination on important issues in climate change negotiations and to arrive at a common position on such issues. The BASIC Ministers have been meeting regularly since the Conference of Parties in Copenhagen.
