Emerging nations unite on climate change

CHINA: A group of developing nations has agreed a common position in a bid to pressure rich countries during crunch climate talks in Copenhagen after low-key talks in China, state media said Sunday.

Representatives from China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Sudan, which currently chairs the Group of 77 developing countries, met in Beijing Friday and Saturday, the official People's Daily newspaper reported. They agreed to ask "developed countries to assume responsibility for emissions reduction targets in the second commitment period (from 2013)," the report said.

The December 7-18 United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen is tasked with framing a new deal for tackling global warming and its impacts beyond 2012.

But observers say have warned slow progress in talks, held up especially by US politics, means the meeting is likely at best to yield a framework accord whose details will be hammered out next year.

The group of emerging economies also highlighted their view that the West should provide funds and technology to help poorer countries fight global warming.

Beijing, Monday, AFP