BASIC for clarity on climate fund by rich nations

China issued a statement on behalf of BASIC countries stressing the need for a transparent process at CoP21 and added that BASIC will work pragmatically with all other parties for an equitable and balanced climate agreement.

BRIC nations also stated the agreement should be as per all the principles and provisions of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) especially equity and common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) even as it asserted that differentiation should be there in each element of the Paris agreement. The Paris 2020 negotiations should have all aspects of the Kyoto Protocol and adhere to differentiation of the developed and the developing countries, the statement said.

Noting that there is a gap in support provided to developing nations, the BASIC countries said that the second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol is an important and necessary step. The previous climate treaty, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, divided the world into developed and developing countries and only required the former to cut their greenhouse gas emissions. The US, the European Union and other developed countries say this time all countries must chip in and that the rich-poor divide is outdated anyway since it classifies countries like Qatar, the wealthiest country on Earth per capital, as developing. 

India and many others want the Paris agreement to state clearly that the developed countries have a bigger responsibility to fight global warming. Countries like China and India have laid out plans for cuts or curbs to their emissions.