Principle Of Equity Must In Future Talks New Delhi: The Durban climate talks finally ended more than 36 hours after the scheduled close on Sunday with the world agreeing to a new global climate change regime that will come into effect from 2020. India took centrestage as a force to reckon with and regained its position as the leader and moral voice of the developing world, forcing the EU and US to address its demands. The principle of equity found its place back on the table and life was infused into Kyoto Protocol, which will continue to be in force beyond 2012. Beginning next year, the 195 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will start negotiating a new global regime that will be finalized by 2015 and become operational from 2020. The decision came after the EU was forced to go into a huddle with India in the early hours of Sunday, when talks seemed on the brink of collapse, and address its concerns even as the developing world, including China, backed India on its demand for an equitable future deal. Environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan said, “After intense negotiations, we got the extension of Kyoto Protocol from 2013-2017 and restored equity as a central dimension of the debate. We firmly reiterated the right of India and other developing countries to their growth under the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and equity.” She added, “We welcome the establishment of the Green Climate Fund and other institutions under the Cancun Agreements like the technology centres, adaptation and transparency mechanisms. Equally important is the Durban programme for post-2020 arrangements for climate change.” India had gone to Durban with two major demands — that the principle of equity remain intact in any new climate regime and that this new global deal be launched after 2020. NEW DEAL FROM 2020 Major Decisions New deal to be finalized by 2015 and launched by 2020 Second phase of Kyoto Protocol secured Green Climate Fund launched, though empty as yet Green tech development mechanism put in place Equity finds place back in future climate talks Adaptation mechanism Transparency mechanism Geopolitical Fallout India regains leadership of developing world EU gains heft at cost of US but also generates bad relations with developing countries Small island states lose respect by becoming EU front BASIC grouping looks more fragile than before with India and China remaining close but Brazil and South Africa drifting India’s Gains And Losses Wins on all its important non-negotiables Common but differentiated responsibility principle retained Secures 10 years of economic growth without carbon containment IPR and technology not as well anchored in new deal Loopholes for developed world not fully blocked Agriculture brought in by developed nations under climate change Agenda Ahead For India Fight to deploy principle of equity in practice in a new deal Ensure that review of existing commitments of developed world is mandated Ensure Kyoto Protocol’s second phase from 2012-2017 takes off Negotiate for 5 yrs the hard talks that will set out terms of new global regime Can’t write blank cheque, sign away progress, India told EU New Delhi: During the climate talks in Durban, the EU had demanded that equity be set aside and the world kickstart a new deal from 2015 with all countries, regardless of their historical responsibilities, be orced to take legally binding obligations. However, India achieved its objectives with environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan becoming the voice and leader of the developing world, gaining unflinching support from its ally China and the respect of many other developing countries in the G77+ China group. When the EU, backed by the small island states, demanded that China, India and other developing countries stop objecting and accept a globally binding agreement, Natarajan took on the inflexible developed world, saying, “Am I to write a blank cheque and sign away the livelihoods and sustainability of 1.2 billion Indians without even knowing what the EU roadmap contains? I wonder if this is an agenda to shift the blame on to countries who are not responsible (for climate change). I am told that India will be blamed. Please don’t hold us hostage. We will not give up the principle of equity.” China’s minister Xie Zhenhua stood up in support, saying, “What qualifies you to tell us what to do? We are taking action. We want to see your actions.” Other developing countries too added their voice. Countries like Pakistan, Philippines and Egypt came out in support, demanding a more equitable deal. The host and chair of the meeting was forced to adjourn the main talks and ask the EU and India to find a compromise. Other key countries, including China and the US, huddled around the Indian minister and her team to find the right language that would be acceptable to all. Showing leadership and flexibility, India agreed to phrases for a final decision that ensured that the world could transit to a new regime post 2020 but not be locked into commitments that have not even been tabled so far. The countries decided “to launch a process to develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force”. The meeting decided that this would be done after a review of existing deliverables under the UN convention and the IPCC’s report on climate change science due in 2015.