Copenhagen, December 14
The crucial climate talks were suspended today after India and other emerging nations walked out protesting that the rich countries were making attempts to shirk responsibility in tackling global warming.

The talks resumed after the BASIC bloc comprising India, Brazil, China and South Africa succeeded in extracting an assurance from the Connie Hedegaard, the Danish President of the COP, that the conference would proceed in a “fully transparent” manner without any “surprises”.

“There was concern that the Kyoto Protocol track was not given the importance it deserves,” Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said referring to the pact that asks rich nations to make commitments to cut their carbon emissions beyond 2012.

The talks, which resumed after a weekend break, hit turbulence with the African countries, supported by the G77 and BASIC bloc, walked out angered that the conference was weakening in support for the Kyoto Protocol.

Though there was no official word on what led the leaders to stage a walkout from the ministerial-level talks, sources said the development followed a disagreement between the developing countries and the developed nations on the second commitment period after 2012.

It is understood that the four countries also protested that enough focus was not being given to the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol that puts obligations on developed nations to undertake emission cuts.

After a 35-minute meeting with Hedegaard, the ministers emerged out, with Ramesh indicating that the issue had been resolved. Asked if the issue had been resolved, Ramesh said: “I think so...I am heading to the plenary now”.

The development came hours after India said it has prepared an integrated document emphasising on “equitable access” to atmospheric space for all in close co-ordination with China and several countries including from Africa. Ramesh said the integrated draft of a potential treaty prepared by the BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) has been merged with another text prepared by the Africa group within the G77.

“We have merged the Africa draft and the BASIC draft. We now have a common Africa-Basic draft but we are not unveiling it now,” he said.

Ramesh also made it clear that India will not compromise on its three key principles - no legally binding emission cuts, no peaking year and no international review of domestic-funded mitigation actions.

“India will not compromise on its ‘teen-murti’,” he said adding that the outcome of the talks must be within the UN Framework on Climate Change, stick to the Kyoto Protocol and abide by the Bali Action Plan.

“Some countries think that we are going to do a new convention. Some countries think we’re going to do a new protocol. So we made it absolutely clear that India is here not to renegotiate the teen-murti,” the minister said.

“I have made it absolutely clear that we’re not here to negotiate a new agreement, we have not come here to negotiate a new protocol,” he said.

Ramesh also said India’s proposal to set up a network of climate innovation centers in various countries for developing and sharing green technologies has been accepted and will form the basis of the final Copenhagen agreement.

“It is my understanding that the Delhi Declaration on technology development has been very substantially accepted and will form the basis of the Copenhagen agreement when it is finally released,” Ramesh said.

The climate innovation centres are aimed at identifying and developing local technology requirements and also for facilitating dissemination of current technologies.

Meanwhile, China’s vice foreign minister He Yafei indicated that Beijing might not seek a share in the funding flowing from developed countries to poor nations to reduce carbon emissions.

“Financial resources for efforts of developing countries (to combat climate change are) a legal obligation... That does not mean China will take a share - probably not,” He told Financial Times.

Around 100 Presidents and Prime Ministers, including Manmohan Singh, are expected to attend the final leg of the 12-day Summit on December 17-18. — PTI