BASIC countries to discuss post-Copenhagen climate change scenario

Environment ministers from Brazil, South Africa, India and China (BASIC countries) will meet in New Delhi on 24 January 2010 to discuss the post-Copenhagen scenario on climate change.

The meeting, convened by the Government of India, aims at wider consultations amongst BASIC countries in order to evolve a coordinated approach to climate change related issues in the run-up to Mexico global summit slated for December 2010.

The BASIC meeting follows the Copenhagen climate change conference where it was decided to continue negotiations in two tracks relating to Bali Action Plan and Kyoto Protocol for another one year so as to have a final outcome at the sixteenth Conference of Parties in Mexico.

At Copenhagen, the president of the COP, the prime minister of Denmark, had discussions with a select group of countries on the 'Copenhagen Accord', but was not adopted by the Conference of Parties (COP).

BASIC ministers will take stock of all issues arising from the Copenhagen conference and discuss steps needed to ensure the interests of the developing countries.

Brazilian minister for environment Carlos Minc, South Africa's minister of water and environmental affairs Buyelwa Sonjica and the vice chairman of National Development and Reform Commission of China Xie Zhenhua are expected to participate along with Jairam Ramesh, India's minister of state for environment and forests.