The rise of basic in un climate change negotiations

South African Journal of International Affairs

Volumn 18, Issue 3, 2011, Pages 295-318

  Qi, Xinran ^a  

^a GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

Brazil; China; Climate change; COP; India; Negotiations; South Africa; UN

Indexed keywords

EID: 84859118927     PISSN: 10220461     EISSN: 19380275     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/10220461.2011.622945     Document Type: Article

References (73)

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3. For example, one of the most-cited references on UN climate change negotiations, the Earth Negotiations Bulletin published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, is mainly a description of countries' (including the BASIC countries') negotiation stances and behaviour. Some BASIC-focused articles, such as Machado FH & E Viola, 'China, India and Brazil: A bloc or individual countries making efforts to combat climate change?', paper presented at the IPSA-ECPR Joint Conference, S̃o Paulo, Brazil, 16 19 February 2011
4. As well as Olsson M, 'Together alone? Brazil, South Africa, India, China (BASIC) and the climate change conundrum', Stockholm Environment Institute Policy Brief, 2010, etc., analyse the common and different interests of the four countries but mostly in the contemporary rather than historical context.
5. The Montreal Protocol formula takes into account existing consumption in an agreed base year along with the export, import and manufacture situation in each country, i.e. consumption production imports exports. See Article 2 of the Montreal Protocol. 5. IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), 'Overview: Preface to the IPCC Overview', in IPCC First Assessment Report. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990, p. 52.
6. UN (United Nations), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, FCCC/INFORMAL/84 of June 1992, p. 4.
7. South Korea and Mexico were widely recognised as developing countries that had the obligations and economic capabilities to make significant contribution to combating climate change as members of the OECD. They were also specifically mentioned in the Byrd-Hagel Resolution adopted by the US Senate in July 1997.
8. See Kim CW, 'Negotiations on climate change: Debates on commitments of developing countries and possible responses', East Asian Review, 14, 1, Spring 2002, p. 52.
9. The US Congress had highlighted its serious concerns about the Montreal Protocol formula in the late 1980s and further registered its opposition to 'common but differentiated responsibilities' in the Byrd-Hagel Resolution in 1997.
10. US Embassy at Vienna, 'Fact sheet: United States policy on the Kyoto Protocol', 2001, p. 1.
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15. Annex B Countries are those listed in the UNFCCC as Annex I countries but bear quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments for the period 2008-2012.
16. IMF (International Monetary Fund), 'Nominal GDP list of countries', World Economic Outlook Database, accessed 20 April 2011, Http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/01/weodata/index.aspx
17. See Figure 2.
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19. th Pan-European Conference on EU Politics, Porto, Portugal, 24 26 June 2010, p. 2.
20. European Parliament, 'The environmental imperative: Declaration by the European Council', in Annexes to the Conclusions of the Presidency. Dublin: European Council, 25 26 June 1990, pp. 6-11.
21. Gupta J, et al., 'Engaging developing countries in climate change negotiations', note requested by the European Parliament's Temporary Committee on Climate Change, IP/A/CLIM/NT/2007-17 of March 2008, pp. 4-5.
22. Ibid.
23. Giddens A, The Politics of Climate Change. Cambridge: Policy Press, 2009, p. 195.
24. Gupta J, et al., 'Engaging developing countries in climate change negotiations', note requested by the European Parliament's Temporary Committee on Climate Change, IP/A/CLIM/NT/2007-17 of March 2008, pp. 4-5.
25. The title of the project is 'Linking national and international climate policy: capacity building for challenges ahead for Brazil, China, India and South Africa', accessed 3 May 2011, Http://www.basic-project.net/
26. Yamin F, 'Strengthening the capacity of developing countries to prepare for and participate in negotiations on future actions under the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol', BASIC Project Final Report, September 2007, p. 4.
27. Haites E, et al., 'The Sao Paulo Proposal for an agreement on future climate policy: Revised version September 2007', BASIC Project Working Paper 17, September 2007, pp. 4 7.
28. Hohne N, et al., 'History and status of the international climate change negotiations on a future climate agreement', BASIC Project Working Paper 15, September 2007, p. 16.
29. UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), 'Bali Action Plan', in Report of the Conference of the Parties on its Thirteenth Session, held in Bali from 3 to 15 December 2007. Addendum. Part Two: Action Taken by the Conference of the Parties at its Thirteenth Session, FCCC/CP/2007/6/Add.1 of 14 March 2008, pp. 3-5.
30. Machado FH & E Viola, 'China, India and Brazil: Abloc or individual countries making efforts to combat climate change?', paper presented at the IPSA-ECPR Joint Conference, SãoPaulo,Brazil, 16 19 February 2011, p. 7.
31. Houser T, et al., 'Leveling the carbon playing field: International competition and U.S. climate policy design', paper co-published by the Peterson Institute for International Economics and the World Resources Institute, Washington, DC, USA, May 2008, p. 72.
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33. Sources of the information include the four countries' submissions to the official negotiation process under the AWG-LCA before COP 15, official publications such as national plans and white papers, and relevant academic publications.
34. Watts J, 'China and India agree to cooperate on climate change policy', The Guardian, 22 October 2009, Http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/oct/22/china-india-climate-change-cooperation
35. Brazil's new forest code would reduce the area of forest that farmers and ranchers must preserve and would allow clearing forest along rivers and on hilltops. See Black R, South African Journal of International Affairs 317 'Brazil passes "retrograde" forest code', BBC News, 25 May 2011, Http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13544000
36. Kazmin A & G Dyer, 'India welcomes Copenhagen accord', Financial Times, 22 December 2009,Http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/97746ea4-ef07-11de-92d8-00144feab49a.html#axzz1LRpy6rts
37. Atteridge A, 'Shifting sands: India's new approach to the politics of climate change', Stockholm Environment Institute Policy Brief, 2010, p. 4.
38. Lin Z (ed.), 'China stands as constructive player in Copenhagen', Xinhua, 26 December 2009, Http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/26/content_12706368.htm
39. Hallding K & M Olsson, 'Balancing climate concerns and energy security: Balancing climate concerns and energy security', Stockholm Environment Institute Policy Brief, 2010, p. 1.
40. Kazmin A & G Dyer, 'India welcomes Copenhagen accord', Financial Times, 22 December 2009, Http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/97746ea4-ef07-11de-92d8-00144feab49a.html#axzz1LRpy6rts
41. Atteridge A, 'Multiple identities: Behind South Africa's approach to climate diplomacy', Stockholm Environment Institute Policy Brief, 2010, p. 3.
42. Harvey F et al., 'Climate change alliance crumbling', Financial Times, 22 December 2009, Http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c9453654-ef2d-11de-86c4-00144feab49a.html#axzz1LRpy6rts
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44. Carrington D, 'US goes to basics over Copenhagen accord tactics', The Guardian, 3 December 2010, Http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/dec/03/us-basics-copenhagen-accord-tactics
45. Ibid.
46. Kazmin A & G Dyer, 'India welcomes Copenhagen accord', Financial Times, 22 December 2009, Http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/97746ea4-ef07-11de-92d8-00144feab49a.html#axzz1LRpy6rts
47. 'Joint statement issued at the conclusion of the second meeting of ministers of BASIC group', The Hindu, 24 January 2010, Http://www.hindu.com/nic/2010draft.htm
48. A summary from the following documents: 'Joint statement issued at the conclusion of the second meeting of ministers of BASIC Group', New Delhi, 24 January 2010
49. 'Joint statement issued at the conclusion of the third meeting of BASIC ministers Cape Town', 25 April 2010
50. 'Joint statement issued at the conclusion of the fourth meeting of ministers of the BASIC Group', Rio de Janeiro, 25 26 July 2010
51. 'Joint statement issued at the conclusion of the fifth BASIC ministerial meeting on climate change', Tianjin, 11 October 2010
52. And 'Joint statement issued at the conclusion of the sixth basic ministerial meeting on climate change', New Delhi, 26 27 February 2011.
53. IISD (International Institute for Sustainable Development), 'Cancun highlights', in Earth Negotiations Bulletin, 12, 497, 10 December 2010, Http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12497e.html
54. Chen R & DG Guerrero, 'China's new climate diplomacy in the COP16', EU China Civil Society Forum, March 2011, p. 3.
55. UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), 'The Cancun Agreements: Outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention', in Report of the Conference of the Parties on its sixteenth session, held in Cancun from 29 November to 10 December 2010, FCCC/CP/ 2010/7/Add.1 of 15 March 2011, pp. 2-25.
56. Econ Poyry, 'BRIC, BASIC and climate change politics: Status, dynamics and scenarios for 2025', Econ Report commissioned by the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment, Oslo, Norway, 22 December 2010, p. 12.
57. Dutt B, 'Jairam Ramesh satisfied with talks at Cancun', IBNlive, 11 December 2010, Http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jairam-ramesh-satisfied-with-talks-at-cancun/137167-2.html
58. Tang S, 'The Cancun conference rebuilds confidence', China Daily, 20 December 2010, Http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/ctenglish/se/txt/2010-12/20/content_319985.htm
59. Wang G (ed.), 'Cancun climate talks send "positive" signals: Chinese delegation', Xinhua, 11 December 2010, Http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-12/11/c_13645317.htm
60. 'Official statement of Brazilian delegation to COP 16', Portal Brazil, 11 December 2010, Http://www.brasil.gov.br/news/history/2010/12/11/official-statement-of-brazilian-delegation-to-cop-16/newsitem_view?set_languageen
61. Ibid.
62. South Africa, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 'Statement by the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs', all Africa, 15 December 2010, Http://allafrica.com/stories/201012150491.html
63. After the Cancun Conference, the BASIC countries held their sixth ministerial meeting in New Delhi in February 2011 and their seventh in Durban in May to exchange views on the Cancun outcome and coordinate positions in the run-up to Durban.
64. Quinlan J, 'Losing control: The transatlantic partnership, the developing nations, and the next phase of globalization', Transatlantic Academy Paper Series, March 2011, pp. 11 12.
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66. For example, many European countries, such as Germany, have officially identified national investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy as a promising solution to job creation and economic recovery. See 'Green recovery: The way out of the economic crisis', a report published by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany, Berlin, April 2009.
67. Major official statements on climate change issued at those fora in recent years can be found at 'G8 statement on climate change and environment', Reuters, July 8, 2008, Http://uk.reuters.com/article/2008/07/08/us-g8-climate-text-idUKT4252320080708
68. 'The G20 Seoul summit leaders' declaration November 11 12, 2010, G20, November 2010, Http://www.g20.org/Documents2010/11/seoulsummit_declaration.pdf, p. 16
69. 'Declaration of the leaders the major economies forum on energy and climate', Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, 9 July 2009, Http://www.majoreconomiesforum.org/past-meetings/the-first-leaders-meeting.html
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71. And 'Business-expert task force on low-carbon economic prosperity: An open letter to G20 leaders', World Economic Forum, 31 March 2009, Https://members.weforum.org/pdf/climate/G20_ProsperityTaskForceLetter.pdf
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73. Deng S (ed.), 'Full text of Sanya Declaration of the BRICS leaders meeting', Xinhua, 14 April 2011, Http://www.gov.cn/misc/2011-04/14/content_1844551.htm