Speaking at an international workshop on Equity and Climate Change, held on April 12, the minister for environment and forests, Jayanthi Natarajan, sought to build a consensus on the inter-relationship between equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in the Climate Convention, and the nature of the obligations they entail in the new arrangement that is to be negotiated. By focusing on a technical definition of equity the approach continues to be to tweak a failing system arrived at in 1992 rather than develop a global vision for 2032.

An assessment of the Durban outcome should consider how to turn a setback into a strategic opportunity. We have agreed to a new and not well-defined process without the industrialised countries specifying their emissions reductions in the coming years, leaving the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol an empty shell. There are six strategic issues for our new climate policy.

Since 20 years of talks have not resolved the differences, we may need a new paradigm

New data, based on national communications, released by the United Nations, shows that emissions from the US rose over 15% during 1990-2008, and will rise another 7% till 2020. The strategic issue for us now is to consider whether a new paradigm will be necessary to ensure global sustainability.

India

THE increasing global recognition of India