New Delhi: IPCC chairman RK Pachauri
Monday termed the Copenhagen accord "a step forward as it
limits temperature level to two degree Celsius" and said India
has more or less managed to safeguard its concerns on emission
cuts.
"No doubt, it`s a step forward, build on agreements
though non-binding. But, lot of hard work has to be done to
ensure that all the countries, parties to the UN Framework on
Climate Change Convention are agreed upon with it (to make it
a binding deal)," Pachauri said.
In view of major differences among the least
developing nations besides island nations with the developed
and emerging economies, the accord is yet to earn universal
support from the 193 nations participating at the summit,
leaving the conference chair to conclude that participants
merely "take note" of the deal.
"All countries have agreed to work towards a common
long-term goal to limit global temperature rise to below two
degrees Celsius. This would ensure that countries reduce or
limit their emissions," the head of the Nobel award-winning
panel said.
He noted that India has gained in the accord by
preserving its developmental stage. "Moreover, India is seen
as a major player by actively engaging in the negotiations to
happen. It has ensured that it does not take any emission
cuts," he added.
Rejecting apprehensions that the accord will bring in a
new climate regime, he said there was no problem in having a
new treaty provided it is embedded with principles of equity
as in 1997 Kyoto Protocol which is based on "common but
differentiated responsibilities on emission cuts."
"We could have no deal. Hence, something is better than
nothing. We have to give and take, it is an international
accord," the head of The Energy Research Institute (TERI) said
when asked if the accord met the concerns of all the
parties (developed and developing nations).
Pachauri also welcomed the USD 30 billion funding
announced by the developed nations on the concluding day of
the two-week long summit at the capital city of Denmark.
On commitments from the developed nations, he said
developing nations have to be assertive enough in the future
to ensure that the former takes on deep emission cuts by 2020.
PTI
