Durban, Dec 5 (IANS) Rich and poor countries failed to arrive at a common ground on extending the Kyoto Protocol – the only legally binding regime controlling hot house gas emissions – beyond its expiry date next year as the UN climate change talks in Durban entered the second week Monday.
The African Union Monday called the European Union (EU) proposal for a new global treaty on climate change as ‘a political commitment’ rather than a ‘legal commitment’, saying rich countries should first respect the existing regime.
While the EU said it is ready for a second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol – which expires 2012 – if there are ‘mutual assurances’ by other non-party developed nations and emerging economies to cut down their emissions.
India on other hand is in support of extension of the Kyoto Protocol but is not ready for any new global treaty. China has shown some flexibility, saying it can take legally binding cuts post 2020.
‘They (developed nations) should act responsibly and respect the existing regime, and if they can’t keep their word, then they should be pointed out and not trusted,’ said Tosi Mpanu Mpanu of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Countries like Russia, Japan and Canada have said they don’t want to make any commitment for extension of the Kyoto Protocol.
Mpanu appealed to developed nations to show ‘climate leadership’ to save the planet. ‘They have shown economic leadership, political leadership and even military leadership and this is the time for them to show climate leadership.’
‘It is sad that the country on whose soil Kyoto Protocol was made and was committed to, is going to dishonour it. For me, it is a very grave thing as it creates a bad precedence. How can you build trust among developing economies to make the commitment when you don’t respect the existing one,’ he said.
Kyoto Protocol, which ensures legally binding emission cuts by developed countries, came into existence in 1997 at Japan’s Kyoto city. The US is one of major emitters that has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol so far.
India on the other hand came under pressure from developed countries over its rigid stand to not agree to any new global treaty. ‘There is a complete logjam over Kyoto Protocol and there is no light at the end of the tunnel,’ said Ajay Mathur, member of the Indian delegation.
EU Commissioner of Climate Change Connie Hedegaard said the world does not need any more time to think on what needs to be done, and rather should swung into action to check climate change.
‘We need a roadmap on internationally legally binding agreement. We are ready to commit to the second period for Kyoto Protocol but we need reassurances that if we lay the brick of foundation, some other needs to follow,’ she said.
‘We cannot continue to have some major emitters acting voluntarily. We do respect the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, but there must be same kind of legal regime for countries whether they are poor or rich, big or small,’ she said.
China as of now is the biggest emitter followed by the US, EU, Russia and India.
(Richa Sharma can be contacted at richa.s@ians.in)
