Global climate talks at Copenhagen on December 5 would be at a “dead end” if a Danish draft proposal, urging the world adopt 2020 as the year when the emissions will peak, is put forward, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Monday.
“If the Denmark draft is any indication then we are heading to a dead end. The draft, which is not based on realistic estimations, is totally unacceptable to us,” Mr. Ramesh told PTI.
Stressing that there was no question of taking binding emission cuts, he said that to counter the Danish draft, the major emerging economies like China, South Africa and Brazil have prepared their own draft in Beijing which, he felt, “is more into what our expectations and objectives are.”
“It is yet to get the support of the G-77. It will be unveiled tomorrow at the Copenhagen, giving our side of the view and our non-negotiable position.”
Mr. Ramesh, who was on a two-day visit to China, recently along with counterparts from Brazil and South Africa signed the 10-page draft which is being conceived as a counter to the text that will be released by western countries next week as a possible basis for talks at the meet slated to start on December 7.
“It meets our expectations and aspirations and supports our non-negotiable stands of no binding emission cuts, mitigation and adaptation actions to be supported by the international fund and no peaking year to be declared at the international forum,” Mr. Ramesh added.
Stressing that the world should cut greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions by 2050 from 1990 levels, the Danish draft suggests that countries adopt 2020 as the year when the emissions will peak.
Mr. Ramesh made clear that “peaking year and emission cuts is not acceptable to us. How can India accept a peaking year when its per capita emission is so low.
“We have already said that we are ready to look at our efficiency level. Of course we want to engage the world. We want to be seen moving ahead as a deal maker.
“But there has to be some sense of realism on the part of developed countries on what the developing countries can and cannot do,” the minister said.
However, if the Denmark draft become the basis of negotiations, we will (developing nations) have a problem,” Mr. Ramesh said almost suggesting that exit from negotiations as well might be opted as well.
Referring to the various measures being undertaken by the country to combat climate change, he said it was willing to do mitigation action on its own.
“We are willing to consider performance targets in different sectors, but for us to say that our emissions will peak by 2020, that is not agreeable to us,” he added.
The four developing countries have also agreed to “co-ordinate” their negotiation positions as well as the timing of their possible exits from the process, with Mr. Ramesh hinting that a tough debate awaits at the Copenhagen meet.
