No hope of any climate treaty in Mexico: Ramesh

As it joins BASIC members for another round of two-day consultations this weekend, India has said it does not hope of any treaty in Mexico in December as rich nations are yet to fulfil their promise of doling out fund and technology to poor countries.

"I don't expect any agreement at Cancun this December as the developed nations have so far failed to keep their promise of fund release made last year at Copenhagen to the developing countries for meeting climate actions.

"If they continue to adopt same strategy, I can say that the fate of any treaty will remain uncertain even in next two-three years," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told PTI.

Ramesh will leave for Rio de Janeiro on Friday to attend the meeting of BASIC group, comprising Brazil, South Africa, India and China.

For the first time, BASIC meet, beginning July 25-26, is also likely to witness participation from smaller countries such as Yemen, Rwanda and Venenjuela.

Ramesh said it was an effort to reach to them in the climate change negotiations as they bear the brunt of climate change despite being responsible for only a fraction of worldwide emissions.

The BASIC block had played a key role with the US in brokering a political declaration called the Copenhagen Accord in Denmark at the last minute when the UN climate talks were about to fail.

The meeting, which is third in the series, will deliberate implication of global carbon budget and need for equitable space for development of developing nations, besides adequate financing, technology and capacity building needed for the developing nations. India and South Africa have already held similar meeting in February and April respectively.

The meeting agenda also includes a day-long technical workshop on equity and carbon space based on the formula of common but differentiated responsibilities, a move opposed by the developed nations led by the US which is seeking a deal on the contentious issue of scrutiny of mitigation actions.

Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide emitted mostly by burning fossil fuels are causing climate change that threatens potentially catastrophic environmental damage such as floods, droughts and rising sea levels.

China has offered to host a meeting at the end of October 2010, just two months before the UN members meet at a summit in Mexico to finalise a new climate treaty.