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Developing Nations Strengthen Alliance To Counter Western Pressure

UN Climate Poker In Lima



India on Tuesday said the developing nations, including China, are on the same page on several issues regarding climate and they will work together to push for the conclusion of a historic agreement to be signed next year in Paris to curb potentially disastrous global warming. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, who held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of a climate summit at the Peruvian capital here, said Brazil, South Africa, India, and China – the BASIC countries – have decided to meet frequently throughout this week to resolve their differences. “The countries are all on the same page on several issues,” he told reporters. --Press Trust of India, 9 December 2014
India’s Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar has reportedly held discussions with his Brazil, South Africa, and China (BASIC) counterparts on climate change norms to be adopted. The meeting was hosted by South Africa, a day prior to the commencement of the High Level Segment of COP-20 in Lima. The ministers took stock of the ongoing negotiations in COP-20 and resolved to continue to work together to achieve an ambitious and positive outcome of the COP-20 in Lima, while preserving and strengthening the unity of developing countries to protect their common interests. --Business Standard India, 9 December 2014 European Union insistence on a right to challenge nations about their plans for fighting climate change, in the run-up to a United Nations summit in 2015, has opened a rift at U.N. climate talks in Lima. Washington said a review of national pledges for curbing rising greenhouse gas emissions before the U.N. summit in Paris next December was “not fundamental” and Beijing signaled hostility to the idea of letting other nations challenge its policies. Monday’s dispute has big implications for the deal in Paris, which could either be a patchwork of purely national offers to fight climate change beyond 2020, or one where countries and outside observers including green groups are able to challenge and influence the scope of national pledges. --Reuters, 9 December 2014

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As Lima climate talks entered high ­level segment on Tuesday with beginning intensive discussions over two draft texts, released here a day before, to finalise the elements of next year's global climate deal, countries found themselves deeply divided over the issues of 'review of national pledges' and treating 'adaptation' goal at par with 'mitigation' target. Interestingly, the division doesn't restrict itself at usual rich­ poor (nations) divide on the issue of adaptation and taking responsibility under the principle of CBDRs (common but differentiated responsibilities), but also sees a rich ­rich divide where European Union (EU) and US­ led non­-EU umbrella group appear to be on different pages on matter of 'review of national pledge' by any outside body. --Vishwa Mohan,Times of India, 9 Dec ember 2014 Remember a few weeks ago, when Barack Obama triumphantly declared a deal with China to cut greenhouse gas emissions? We expressed deep skepticism at the time. As it turns out, our skepticism was warranted. When Obama struck his epic climate deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping, we suggested the American leader was engaged in self-delusion while the Chinese were laughing at us. Well, surprise, surprise. This week the South China Morning Post announced that Chinese negotiators have "rejected the scrutiny of (plans) to limit carbon emissions." The Chinese refuse to agree to measurable and enforceable carbon reduction targets. So much for the Reagan maxim of "trust but verify." --Investor’s Business Daily, 8 December 2014 European Union insistence on a right to challenge nations about their plans for fighting climate change, in the run-up to a United Nations summit in 2015, has opened a rift at U.N. climate talks in Lima. Washington said a review of national pledges for curbing rising greenhouse gas emissions before the U.N. summit in Paris next December was “not fundamental” and Beijing signaled hostility to the idea of letting other nations challenge its policies. --Reuters, 8 December 2014


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