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TALKING WITH LUIZ GYLVAN MEIRA FILHO
'Indian firms should gear up to reduce emissions'
It is now widely accepted that the climate is changing - the global temperature has gone up by 0.6 degrees in the last century - and that this has ramifications on agriculture, water supply and even the existence of island countries. The Convention of Parties on Climate Change is going to host its 8th meeting in New Delhi later this month. Representatives of 33 countries are here for a two-day meeting to fine-tune the agenda, which will focus on climate change and the Kyoto protocol. Secretary in the Ministry of Science and Technology, Brazil, Luiz Gylvan Meira Filho, who played a key role in finalising it, spoke to
Sonu Jain.
After the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, where nothing concrete came out, what are the expectations from the COP-8?
These are two different things. While the WSSD dealt with the general idea of sustainable development, the Co-Parties of UN Framework of Climate Change is completely different. There are two ways of dealing with global problems - one there is a general statement of policies like the Agenda 21, which is discussed in the WSSD. Climate Change follows a different logic - all countries agree that there is a specific problem of climate change and it is a global responsibility. Climate change and Kyoto protocol are international treaties on how to share this burden...The burden of dealing is apportioned in accordance with the exact responsibility of polluting. The COP has had successes over the past 10 years, including framing the Kyoto protocol.
But is it going to work, with the US, the biggest polluter, walking out?
Although they are not ratifying the Kyoto protocol, they have indicated that they are concerned about the changing climate and will work as per the plan in the climate change convention. Internally, they are taking steps to reduce emissions and we should believe what governments say.
What do the G-77 countries have to guard against?
This is an exercise in solidarity and no one is against each other. India and Brazil have to take significant steps to deal with climate change. And the cost of reducing these emissions is to be borne by the industrialised countries. But it cannot be from the present level because a large proportion of population is still without power or transport, which means the emissions would grow. There is a system of international certification for methods used to reduce emissions. Participation in Clean Development Mechanisms (CDMs) is our contribution to mitigate climate change.
With the US and Australia keeping out, isn't the CDM market severely depleted?
The EU, Japan and Canada are still there. If the US and Australia were there, the value of these credits (for using the CDM) would have been much higher, but not in terms of volume. A country cannot sell as much as it wishes, a viable project is required and not the entire project is funded by industrialised countries.
What's the consensus on deciding the use of forests as sinks or something that would give a country credits?
It has been decided that afforestation and reforestation, for a temporary period, would be considered for the purpose of credits. It cannot be for a long period because then the sovereignty issue comes in. If a country says that one tree saves one tonne of carbon, indefinitely giving away sovereign rights. The other thing is that you get credit for saving already existing forest, because that is an obligation.
India has prepared a paper that talks of the focus of the conference?
The paper is good. Climate has already changed all over the world...hence the stress on vulnerability and adaptability.
How should India's businesses prepare themselves for the business opportunity which the CDMs will bring?
A country like India should have good quality products to reduce emissions. The process of certification is detailed and precise and Indian companies should be ready for it.
Courtesy http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=10418
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