Climate catastrophe looming large: Ban Ki-moon tells negotiators

Le Bourget: The final leg of the high-stakes climate talks on Monday witnessed some tough-talking by UN chief Ban Ki-moon who told environment ministers from across the world including India that "half-measures" to forge a concrete deal will not work to combat a looming "climate catastrophe".

"The clock is ticking towards a climate catastrophe," UN Secretary-General Ban told policymakers from 195 countries who converged here for crucial talks during the climate summit amid hopes to hammer out a concrete pact to curb greenhouse gas emissions as a "pro-active" India eyes a stronger say in the parleys.

"The world is expecting more from you than half-measures and incremental approaches. It is calling for a transformative agreement. Paris must put the world on track for long-term peace, stability and prosperity," he said.

"The decisions you make here will reverberate down the ages."

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar joined counterparts to deliberate on the 48-page draft delivered last week by lower-level negotiators that has all the key issues left unresolved.

The blueprint formed the basis of efforts to formulate a binding deal.

"Your work here this week can help eradicate poverty, spark a clean energy revolution and provide jobs, opportunities and hope for tomorrow," Ban said.

As the 12-day climate talks enter its crucial final week, negotiators appeared confident that some kind of deal will be reached before the next weekend and they will be able to avert a repeat of the 2009 Copenhagen summit - that failed miserably.

Analysts said any deal emerging from Paris is likely to fall short of what is needed to cap global warming at 2.0 degrees Celsius or below.

In 2009, rich countries had pledged to mobilise USD 100 billion a year in climate finance for developing nations from 2020. Developing countries including India have been demanding them for early disbursal of the funds and clean technology to mitigate the greenhouse gas pollution.

Yesterday, Javadekar said India is determined not to make the Paris climate meet like past summits where nations returned with "false optimism and fictitious hopes" and would ensure that rich countries pay back their "debt for overdraft" drawn on the carbon space.