No hope of any climate treaty in Mexico: Ramesh

New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) As it joins BASIC members for
another round of two-day consultations this weekend, India has
said it does not hope of any treaty in Mexico in December as
rich nations are yet to fulfil their promise of doling out
fund and technology to poor countries.

"I don't expect any agreement at Cancun this December as
the developed nations have so far failed to keep their promise
of fund release made last year at Copenhagen to the developing
countries for meeting climate actions.
"If they continue to adopt same strategy, I can say that
the fate of any treaty will remain uncertain even in next
two-three years," Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh
told PTI.
Ramesh will leave tomorrow for Rio de Janeiro to attend
the meeting of BASIC group, comprising Brazil, South Africa,
India and China.
For the first time, BASIC meet, beginning July 25-26, is
also likely to witness participation from smaller countries
such as Yemen, Rwanda and Venezuela.
Ramesh said it was an effort to reach to them in the
climate change negotiations as they bear the brunt of climate
change despite being responsible for only a fraction of
worldwide emissions.
The BASIC block had played a key role with the US in
brokering a political declaration called the Copenhagen Accord
in Denmark at the last minute when the UN climate talks were
about to fail.
The meeting, which is third in the series, will
deliberate implication of global carbon budget and need for
equitable space for development of developing nations, besides
adequate financing, technology and capacity building needed
for the developing nations.
India and South Africa have already held similar meeting
in February and April respectively.
The meeting agenda also includes a day-long technical
workshop on equity and carbon space based on the formula of
common but differentiated responsibilities, a move opposed by
the developed nations led by the US which is seeking a deal on
the contentious issue of scrutiny of mitigation actions.
Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide — emitted mostly
by burning fossil fuels are causing climate change that
threatens potentially catastrophic environmental damage such
as floods, droughts and rising sea levels.
China has offered to host a meeting at the end of October
2010, just two months before the UN members meet at a summit
in Mexico to finalise a new climate treaty. PTI AJ
MYR