By Richa Sharma, IANS,
Durban : The United States Thursday denied blocking a global deal at the UN climate change talks here, saying it supports the European Union (EU) proposal for a future agreement even as the small island nations said there is not enough “seriousness” among countries to solve the problem.
“It is completely off base to suggest the US is proposing it will delay action to 2020. The EU has called for a roadmap and we support that,” US climate envoy Todd Stern told reporters here.
The EU had Wednesday criticised the US and China for “hijacking” the climate talks in Durban by not agreeing to a legal treaty to bring down greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
He said the US was deeply engaged in tough issues such as deciding on a second phase of the Kyoto Protocol — the only legal instrument that caps emissions by rich nations — and the shape of a strong future deal.
“The UN summit was rapidly setting up a green climate fund to help developing nations adapt to climate change, ways to share green technology and help poor countries adapt to climate change,” he said.
The Association of Small Island States (AOSIS) said they are not happy with the negotiations in Durban and countries don’t seem to be serious enough to arrive at a conclusion.
“We believe in multilateral process but the discussions here are going around in circles. When we know there is a problem why don’t we address to it now and why do we have to wait till 2020 to take action? We reject any proposal that calls for action post 2020,” said Karl Hood, Foreign Minister of Grenada and Chair of AOSIS.
He said that COP (Conference of Parties) should not become a “corpse” -burial of this whole process.
The EU has proposed for a single legally binding agreement not later than 2015. China has announced it would take conditional legal cuts post-2020 but the US said that conditions are not right for it to take any binding agreement as of now.
India said it is open to a legal agreement if its concerns of equity — right to grow, historical responsibility and common but differentiated responsibility — are taken into account.