India, Maldives seek 2nd commitment period of Kyoto Protocol

Ahead of the UN Conference on Climate Change in Durban, India and Maldives today pressed for a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, the only international pact aimed at fighting global warming.

Ahead of the UN Conference on Climate Change in Durban, India and Maldives on Saturday pressed for a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, the only international pact aimed at fighting global warming.

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In a joint statement issued here, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed agreed that the developed countries should take forward a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012 at the forthcoming UNFCCC Conference of Parties in Durban, South Africa at the end of this month.

They also underlined the substantial voluntary pledges of the developing countries towards mitigation.

"Both sides agreed that climate change was one of the most important global challenges," the statement said.

They reaffirmed the provisions and principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including that of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, it said.

"It was agreed to develop and implement programmes for environmental protection and respond to the challenges of climate change through adaptation," the statement said.

"Both Parties shall collaborate on projects of mutual interest to preserve common eco-systems, address vulnerability of the Small Island States to Climate Change and strengthen coastal research," it said.