BASIC Expectations High at Doha Conference

The BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) Group has high expectation for the Doha conference, according to BASIC ministers at a press conference held during the UN Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar, on December 4.

Ambassador Luis Alberto Figueiredo Machado, Vice Minister for the Environment, Energy, Science and Technology of the Ministry of External Relations, Brazil, illustrated the three expectations of Doha conference representing all the BASIC ministers. He said: "The key result should be the adoption of the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol."

The Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action should accomplish its mandate at Doha, he said. After that, a new Durban Platform can be pursued to bring about a new and promising phase in the international fight against climate change.

Edna Molewa, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs of South Africa, pointed out that the emission reduction targets put forward by developed countries remains low, and finance, technology transfer and capacity building are so important that such instruments cannot be implemented without genuine supports.

Xie Zhenhua, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission of China, hosted the conference, and emphasized finance as the most pressing issue facing BASIC countries. Developing countries ought to receive funding next year through negotiations held at Doha, he said.