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India sets three terms for climate change accord

Environment minister Jairam Ramesh said that from the BASIC group, Brazil and South Africa have communicated their association.

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India on Tuesday announced its formal association with the Copenhagen Accord, hoping to consolidate its position in negotiations surrounding climate change. India is among the last major emitters to have formally announced its decision.

Environment minister Jairam Ramesh said that from the BASIC group, Brazil and South Africa have communicated their association. Simultaneously, the two countries elaborated circumstances under which they have associated with the accord. China expressed support for the accord. In fact, the minister said, many countries from the G77 and China have associated themselves with the accord.

Although China has come out in support of the accord, and it was closely associated with closed door negotiations in Denmark last year, the economic giant has not formally associated itself with it.
Making a statement in Parliament, Ramesh said India had associated itself with the accord, but with conditions.

“India has communicated its decision to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat with three conditions,” Ramesh said. “First, the accord is a political document and is not legally binding. It is not a template for outcomes. Secondly, the accord is not a separate, third track of negotiations outside the UNFCCC.”

He also said that the accord’s purpose was to bring about a consensus in the ongoing, two-track multilateral negotiations process under the UNFCCC.

“The accord could have value if the areas of convergence reflected in it are used to help parties reach agreed outcomes under the United Nations multilateral negotiations in the two tracks. Our decision to be listed reflects the role India played in giving shape to the Copenhagen accord. It will strengthen our negotiating position on climate change,” Ramesh said. 

The minister said that on February 3, the government had received a letter from the UNFCCC executive secretary asking whether India’s wishes should be listed.

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