China, India, Brazil and South Africa, calling themselves the "BASIC" countries, said they would unveil today their list of non-negotiables for the U.N.-sponsored climate change talks set to begin in Copenhagen in less than a week, E&E News PM reported. Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said the countries would oppose legally binding emissions reductions and trade restrictions, adding that unless the countries get foreign aid to help implement emissions reductions programs the international community would not be allowed to monitor their progress. Ramesh said that the BASIC countries would walk out of the Copenhagen talks if their terms were not met.
At the same time, a report from Reuters indicated that the Danish government planned to call on all countries to make a 50-percent cut in GHG emissions by 2050 based on 1990 emissions levels, which has led several developing countries to voice strong dissent. Ramesh was quoted by the newswire as saying: "If the Denmark draft is any indication, then we are heading to a dead end."
Danish officials were quick to downplay the media reports. Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen was quoted as saying: "The Danish government has not put forward a proposal." Connie Hedegaard, the Danish environmental minister, said Denmark would not propose any formal text before the talks were underway.
