Developing countries oppose foreign climate oversight

Four major emerging economies will oppose international supervision of their actions to slow climate change as part of a new pact due to be agreed at UN talks in Copenhagen, a top Indian delegate said on Friday.

Giving details of a common front by India, China, Brazil and South Africa, he also said the four would oppose long-term goals for limiting climate change, except one of curbing warming to a maximum 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

"This is more of a framework document that is available for negotiation," according to the top delegate, who has intimate knowledge of the proposal for the December 7-18 negotiations in Copenhagen.

"The developing world is seeking an alternate architecture for a new climate deal," he said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said the four nations would only agree to international supervision of their actions to slow climate change when donor money or technology funded the measures – such as building wind turbines or solar panels.

Otherwise, supervision would be done by each nation.

Developed nations such as the United States want to ensure that developing nations stick to promised actions to slow global warming, fearing that countries could otherwise drop expensive commitments to shift away from fossil fuels.