Brazil blames developed nations for standoff on resource mobilisation

Andre Correa Do Lago. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

Brazil has blamed developed nations for the standoff with developing countries on the crucial issue of resource mobilisation, at the U.N.’s 11 Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 11) under way here.

For the past few days, negotiators from 193 developed and developing nations did not reach an agreement, with the former seeking an “effective reporting framework and robust baseline” to present quantified targets. The stalemate led to the establishment of two contact groups on resource mobilisation and financial mechanism.

In an interview to

The Hindu here on Saturday, André Aranha Correa do Lago, who is heading Brazil’s delegation to the COP 11, made it clear that an agreement on resource mobilisation would be the key to success of the COP 11. Praising India, which took charge of the presidency of the COP last week, he said: “India’s leadership is very clearly felt, and we are in complete agreement with India’s position.”

On the discussions relating to resource mobilisation for achieving the Biodiversity Targets by 2020, as agreed by parties at COP 10 two years ago, he said the issue had become political, and was likely to be resolved in the coming week with higher level officials arriving here on October 16. “Developed countries think we don’t spend well the money they give, and we think that they don’t give enough money. They really don’t give enough money,” he added.

If the developed nations propose that the developing countries increase their national expenditure on biodiversity by 10 per cent annually, that will mean an additional $200 million for India, and $500 million for Brazil.

“Why should we agree to spend so much more in international agreements that don’t have significant amounts from developed countries,” he asked.

Countries such as India and Brazil were already doing a lot in spending on biodiversity and this international agreement was not providing the support from developed countries that it was supposed to do. For instance, Brazil was spending $5 billion annually, and was receiving only $15 million from international funding, he said, and described the difference as “grotesque.”

Mr. Lago said the developed nations were always seeking more information from developing countries to determine if they could receive more. On the issue of robust baseline and reporting framework, the developing countries have maintained that there were enough robust baselines and effective reporting frameworks. “They are always asking for more… we can discuss for years what robust baseline means.”

Noting that developed countries weren’t fulfilling their requirements for the Rio Earth summit and the commitments made in Nagoya, he said the developing nations wouldn’t be in a position to fulfil the 2020 targets without adequate resources from developed nations. “I hope that the developed nations will fulfil their duties the way developing countries are doing,” he said, and added that he was certain that an agreement would be arrived at before the COP 11 concludes on October 19.