Key climate meet to discuss carbon budgets, equity

Times of India , Saturday, June 26, 2010
Correspondent : PTI
MUMBAI: A two-day international meet on "Global Carbon Budget and Climate Change" will be held next week here to discuss the critical question of "equity," a fundamental issue in climate change talks from the perspective of carbon budgets.

To be organised by Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) with support of the environment ministry, the conference will be inaugurated by environment minister Jairam Ramesh on June 28.

"Ensuring equity is fundamental to a global climate change agreement. For this, equity needs to be an operational, implementable concept rather than just a theoretical one," the minister said.

"Events such as these play an important role in giving equity the operational dimension. A number of operational proposals are being presented at the event and we look forward to a good discussion," he said.

India and other developing nations have been at the forefront of putting the issue of equity in burden sharing for any pact to be signed. The carbon budget has implications for the economic growth and poverty alleviation goals of the developing countries.

Delegates from India, China, Brazil, South Africa, Germany, Switzerland and UK are expected to attend the meet to discuss a number of carbon budget proposals.

"It is expected that the conference will undertake an in-depth discussion of carbon budgets and equity that will assist the Government of India in pursuing a strategy for an equitable, fair and feasible outcome in climate negotiations," an official from the environment ministry said.

At the centre of interest will be a more stringent per capita principle in terms of greenhouse gas stocks (rather than in terms of only annual emissions) and issues related to the operationalising of the 'equal per capita' principle.

The 'equal per capita' principle in terms of stock is closely related to the concept of historical responsibility, widely referred to by developing nations in climate negotiations, the official pointed out.

The share of emissions from developed countries in the total stock of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is roughly four times their share of the global population.

The G77+China at the climate negotiations have consistently upheld the principle of "equitable access to global atmospheric space", he said.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Home/Environment/Developmental-Issues/Key-climate-meet-to-discuss-carbon-budgets-equity-/articleshow/6091314.cms
 


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