Govt must strengthen BASIC initiative on climate change: CPI-M

The CPI(M) on Thursday asked the government to strengthen the BASIC initiative and efforts of the developing countries on climate change, saying there was an "undisguised effort" by the developed world to negate the UN Framework on climate change.

The CPI(M) on Thursday asked the government to strengthen the BASIC initiative and efforts of the developing countries on climate change, saying there was an "undisguised effort" by the developed world to negate the UN Framework on climate change.

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"What emerges from Copenhagen (summit) is an undisguised effort by the developed world to negate the very understanding of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change and to jettison their commitments and responsibilities as contained in the Kyoto protocol and the Bali plan of action," CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said.

In an editorial in the forthcoming issue of party organ 'People's Democracy', he said steps should be taken to "ensure that the developed countries part with their due share and obligations" in terms of providing funds and transferring technology to developing nations.

Yechury said an important element in this effort that played a crucial role in resisting the developed world's moves to "jettison the entire process at Copenhagen was the unity of the four emerging economies -- India, China, Brazil and South Africa, or the BASIC."

Noting that this unity needed to be strengthened along with other member states of G-77 "to resist the pressures" of the developed countries, he said such resistance was important to ensure that "the process of climate change is tackled with the need for necessary justice and equality".