28 August 2011: Ministers from the BASIC Group of countries (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) convened in Inhotim, Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 27-28 August 2011, in a meeting that formed part of South Africa’s preparations for hosting the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Durban later this year.

Ministers emphasized that the Durban Climate Change Conference must advance all aspects of the negotiations, including the establishment of Annex I commitments for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and comparable commitments by non-Kyoto Protocol Annex I parties, the operationalization of Cancun decisions and resolving pending issues not concluded in Cancun.

In a joint statement, the ministers emphasized the centrality of adaptation and means of implementation as part of a balanced and comprehensive outcome. The BASIC ministers also criticized unilateral approaches, such as the inclusion of emissions from the aviation sector and establishing unilateral carbon accounting rules to address climate challenges. They stressed the importance of: ensuring an appropriate overview of the Green Climate Fund by the COP; the establishment of quantified emission reduction commitments for the continuation of the Clean Development Mechanism; and working constructively to ensure that there is no gap between the first and second commitment periods. [South Africa Government Information News System ] [Joint Statement]