India's counter to Danish draft

Wednesday December 9, 2009, Copenhagen

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Amid raging controversy over leaked draft by the Danish government, emerging economies like India, China, Brazil and South Africa came up with a counter draft which ostensibly takes into consideration the interests of the developing countries. Following are the key points of the draft known as BASIC draft as put forward by India, China, South Africa and Brazil: BASIC draft counters Danish Draft India, China, South Africa and Brazil party to this draft Agree that increase in temperature should not exceed 2 degrees Developed countries need to undertake ambitious long-term and mid-term quantified emission targets Developed countries to provide sustainable financing and technology to enable voluntary action by developing nations to reduce emissions from deforestation/forest degradation Mechanism for technology development and transfer to be established under the convention Want a global climate fund to be set up Wednesday saw huge controversy at the Copenhagen climate summit after a draft by Danish government was leaked and published by UK based newspaper The Guardian. Developing and poor countries protested against the draft which said that global emissions will peak by the end of the next decade, but did not include any emissions targets for 2020 or specific proposals for the creation of a green fund to help the poorest countries. The divide between developed and developing countries was clearly visible at the global climate summit on Day two.