'Reintroduce equity in climate talks'

India wants the quantity of carbon the developing world could emit clearly spelt out in future climate deal. Environment minister Jairam Ramesh expects the deal to be signed in Mexico in December.

Re-introducing the concept of equity in climate talks, India had said the developing countries should get “equitable space” to carbon space, 70 per cent of which is occupied by 20 countries in the developed world.

“This is crucial if we are to have an international agreement at Cancun,” Ramesh said at a meet of Major Economies Forum in Rome on Wednesday.

While most countries accept that principle of equity is essential, its meaning is different for various countries.

The developed world means emerging economies take emission reduction targets, which is opposed by the developing world. For least developed nations it means developed world paying them much more to adapt to climate change.

“Carbon space is development space,” Ramesh said, while objecting to climate negotiating draft on long-term action to fight climate change submitted to countries on June 10.

Ramesh said he asked the UN to re-introduce the equity concept in the negotiating text.

India wants that equity in carbon space be decided on the basis of cumulative per capita emissions considering the per capita emissions required for a country to develop.

“A country with low per capita income, with little infrastructure, few climate friendly technologies and little organisational capacity requires a higher per capita entitlement...,” Ramesh said.

The environment ministry this week organised a conference on equity with experts from Germany, China, the UK stressing on a need for defining equity for a climate treaty.