A STEELY lot, India’s negotiators for the Copenhagen climate talks, to be held from December 7th, are still afraid of abandonment by China. India’s position looks formidable, so long as the world’s other and mightier billion-strong developing nation shares its demands: for the sanctity of the principles enshrined in the Kyoto protocol (KP), which exempts developing countries from having to curb (or mitigate) their carbon emissions. India’s champions therefore had...

G-77 and China present BASIC draft at Copenhagen, saying it should be the basis of negotiations  India has said it will be "flexible" at the climate meet without compromising its national interests "Developed nations shoulder greater responsibility for carbon cuts" The draft proposal prepared by the host nation Denmark for the climate change summit starting on Monday removes the distinction between the developed and the developing countries and will be disastrous for...

Thrissur: Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said on Sunday that the import of edible oils would continue as there was a huge oil deficit in the market. Speaking to journalists after launching a coconut replanting and rejuvenation project at the Kerala Agricultural University, he said there was a gap of 5 million tonnes between the domestic production of edible oils and demand. “Imports will continue until domestic production is up. To offset...

The group of four emerging economies sets June 2010 as deadline to reach consensus  Further negotiations on any unresolved issues should be in accordance with Bali mandate Rich nations should provide finance and technology support to developing countries Not hopeful of an agreement on climate change at Copenhagen — the negotiations for which begin next week — the group of four emerging economies, Brazil, South Africa, India and China, have set June...

The crucial climate change summit to draw up a new plan to tackle global warming that will replace the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012 will begin in Copenhagen on Monday. Though not much was expected to emerge at the end of the 12-day meet until recently, hopes of some kind of a consensus on a political commitment have been kindled with world leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, deciding to attend...