India, Brazil, China and South Africa have noted with “deep concern” and “reiterated” their firm opposition to the inclusion of international aviation in the European Union Emission Trading Scheme which violates international law including the principles and provision of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and runs counter to multilateralism.

This has been brought out in a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the 10th Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change that was attended by senior Ministers of the four countries.

Addressing the media, the Minister for Environment and Forest, Ms Jayanthi Natarajan, said “It is a unilateral trade action disguised as a climate change action to which we have expressed total opposition. It cannot be done under the UNFCCC. It is against any norm of multilateral discourse. It cannot be done under the Chicago Convention either.”

Meanwhile, the statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting states: “Ministers noted that the unilateral action by EU in the name of climate change was taken despite strong international opposition and would seriously jeopardise the international efforts to combat climate change. The Ministers recognised the threat of similar unilateral measures being considered by developed countries in the name of climate change in the area of international shipping and expressed their concern.”

Addressing the media, the Chinese Vice-Chairman, National Development and Reforms Commission, Mr Xie Zhenhua, said “We hope that the EU suspends or abolishes the system. BASIC countries (will) try and unite with like-minded countries to take joint action to take this unilateral decision”.

In the statement, the Ministers recognised that the Durban conference represented a significant step forward and helped operationalise several Cancun decisions such as Green Climate Fund, Adaption Committee, Technology Executive Committee and the Climate Technology Centre and Network, the Standing Committee on Finance and the arrangements for transparency.

Ministers welcomed the operationalisation of the Green Climate Fund and called for its early capitalisation. They urged the developed countries to honour their commitments to provide $30 billion as fast start funding and $100 billion annually by 2020.

The Ministers also noted that the developing countries were fully committed to playing their part in the global fight against climate change and have presented actions which express significant ambition to reduce emissions.

>ashphadnis@thehindu.co.in

Related Topics