Durban: Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan will lead the Indian delegation in the second week of negotiation at the stalled climate talks that are yet to see a forward movement on crucial questions of carbon emission reduction and legally binding commitments.
The first week of talks did not see breakthroughs on key issues like reduction of carbon emissions and setting up of the Green Climate Fund, which will provide $100 billion a year from 2020 to developing countries to combat climate change.
The European Union, the United States and the developing countries are firm on their long-stated positions that require the other party to do more.
The Kyoto Protocol, which is the only legally-binding treaty on climate change, hangs in the balance.
Negotiators from 194 countries need to decide on steps to restrict the Earth's temperature rise to 2 degree Celsius. Natarajan, who took over from Jairam Ramesh as the environment minister early this year is set to arrive later in the day to lead the Indian negotiators.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, 37 developed countries have been placed under international legal obligations to reduce carbon emissions during a first commitment period, which expires next year.
Some countries like Japan and Canada are threatening to withdraw from the treaty citing it ineffective because it leaves out the bulk of carbon emissions produced by China and India, and the fact that the US has refused to ratify it.
The EU is willing to sign up for a second commitment period if emerging economies also agree to take internationally binding carbon emissions cuts in the future.
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