Climate talks:

Brazil to be world’s ‘bridge’

Brazil will be attending climate talks in Denmark not only on the strength of controlling most of the Amazon, but also as a bridge between rich and developing countries, Environment Minister Carlos Minc said.

“There is a vast trust gap between industrialized countries and countries in development. Brazil proposes being a bridge between the two,” he told AFP in an interview this week. Minc was speaking after French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Brazil to see his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and said the two countries would be taking a “common position” in the climate negotiations to be held in Copenhagen in December.

Two main issues dogging preparations for the UN conference in Copenhagen is extracting commitments from industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and financing the fight against climate change.

According to a group of international government experts, industrialized nations seen as “historic polluters” because of their development since the mid-19th century should reduce their emissions 25-40 percent in the next decade, and 80 percent by 2050, compared to 1990 levels.

“Brazil recognizes that everyone has to assume their responsibility.

If developing countries don’t do anything, the efforts by the industrialized countries will not be enough,” Minc said.

“Something concrete has to be put forward.”

AFP