Urmi Goswami – The Economic Times, 9/24/2012
With the Bangkok round of UN sponsored climate negotiations just through, the BASIC quartet—Brazil, South Africa, India and China – came together in Brasilia to discuss their common negotiating position for the year end talks in Doha, Qatar.
While there are differences within the quartet over the legal nature of the new climate regime talks on which will be held in Doha, and the controversial European Union Emission Trading Scheme, there is enough common ground between these countries. The one issue of clear agreement was the quartet’s commitment to the extension of the Kyoto Protocol, the iconic 1997 treaty, which legally required developed countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol comes to an end on December 31, 2012. The four emerging economies stressed that the second commitment period should start on January 1. They agreed that a decision on the future of Kyoto Protocol should be “a key deliverable for Doha and an essential basis for ambition within the regime.” The BASIC countries are clear that the protocol will remain in force till 2020, when it is slated to be replaced by a new global regime.’
