Kyoto Protocol, finance make or break issues in Cancun: Ramesh

Betwa Sharma
Cancun (Mexico), Dec 6 (PTI) Kyoto Protocol is the "make
or break" issue for UN climate talks here, Indian Environment
Minister Jairam Ramesh said, as he pointed not only Japan but
many other countries are opposed to continuation of the treaty
that legally binds industrialised nations to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
The Indian minister also warned participating nations
that the inability to establish a mechanism for disbursing USD
30 billion to countries most vulnerable to climate change will
be a big failure of the present conference.
"Kyoto Protocol is the make or break issue," he said,
noting that Russia, Australia, New Zealand and Canada also
supported Japan's point of view.
After meeting Todd Stern, US special envoy for climate
change, Ramesh also expressed his "disappointment" with
American contribution of USD 1.8 billion for the first year on
short-term finance.
"We must see by middle of 2011 the disbursement of
fast-start finance on a significant scale," Ramesh told
reporters.
"Action of fast-start finance which is a key to the
grand bargain between the United States and BASIC countries is
absolutely essential," he said referring to the Copenhagen
Accord, agreed between participation nations in last year's
climate change meeting.
Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Vijay Sharma told
delegates that the UN talks should be pursued on two parallel
tracks -- the so called Long Term Cooperative Action as well
as the Kyoto Protocol track, even beyond Cancun.
"We must dispel the clouds over the Kyoto Protocol soon
so as not to handicap the Cancun outcomes," he said. "As we
work hard on the Cancun outcome, the task is heavy, and much
of out work will continue beyond Cancun."
Japan is not willing to sign up for a second commitment
period of the Kyoto Protocol. Under the first commitment
period, which ends in 2012, rich nations committed to cut
emissions by an average 5 per cent over 1990 levels.
Japan and EU, however, have pointed that the Kyoto
Protocol covers only 27 per cent of carbon emissions, and
does not include the largest emitters of greenhouse gases —-
US and China.
While, India and China agree to take voluntary domestic
measures to reduce carbon emissions, they insist it is the
responsibility of developed economies to accept legally
binding commitments.
So far, there is little agreement on the mitigation
targets for the developed countries in either track -- Long
Term Cooperative Action and the Kyoto Protocol. UN scientists
have said that time is running out.
"Substance comes first and the form will come later,"
Sharma said. "Unless we know the substance how can we
speculate over the legal form." PTI BS
AVT



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