29 October 2013: The 17th BASIC Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change brought together representatives from Brazil, India, South Africa and China (BASIC), who adopted a joint statement emphasizing that the upcoming Warsaw Climate Change Conference “should be an implementation Conference of the Parties (COP).”

Ministers add that the effective implementation of the outcomes of recent sessions of the COP will be “paramount for trust building amongst Parties” for a successful conclusion of the work on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP).

In the statement, ministers stress the importance of finance to the success of the Warsaw Conference, urging developed countries “to honor their obligations” in this area and underlining that public financial resources should be the main source of funding.

They call for the full operationalization of, and close coordination between, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Standing Committee on Finance, the Technology Executive Committee (TEC), the Climate Technology Center & Network (CTCN), and the Adaptation Committee. Ministers also emphasize that “enhanced ambition by Annex I countries should not be contingent upon adoption or recognition of any market-based approaches.”

They add that the work of ADP shall be under the Convention and guided by its principles, including that of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CDR&RC). On the 2015 agreement, ministers indicate that it “should not just be confined to mitigation,” calling on developed countries to take the lead in combating climate change. They underscore the need for all parties to ratify “as early as possible” the Doha Amendment on the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, urging developed countries to raise their level of ambition.

On HFCs, ministers reaffirm that they are gases covered under the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol, and “shall be addressed through all relevant multilateral fora.”

On emissions from civil aviation, ministers welcome the Resolution adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at its 38th Assembly that the definition of market-based measures for these emissions should be guided by the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and mutual agreement, reiterating “their strong objection to any unilateral measures regarding emissions from international civil aviation.”

The statement also addresses: the 2013-2015 Review; the Brazilian submission on the Development of a reference methodology on historical responsibilities by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to guide domestic consultations for the ADP 2015 agreement; and cohesion and solidarity within the Group of 77 and China.

The 17th meeting of BASIC countries was held in Hangzhou, China, on 28-29 October 2013. The 18th BASIC Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change will be hosted by India. [Joint Statement of the 17th BASIC Meeting]