COPENHAGEN : Negotiators at the climate change summit have prepared the first official draft for a potential treaty on December 18, but India was unhappy, saying it was not a negotiated text and mention of "time-frame" for peaking of emissions was objectionable.
Produced after tough negotiations spanning four days, the draft says that parties should cooperate in achieving the global and national emissions as soon as possible.
It recognises that the "time-frame of peaking" will be longer in developing countries and "bearing in mind that social and economic development and poverty eradication are the first and over-riding priorities of developing parties.
It also stresses on low emission development, saying it is "indispensable to sustainable development".
Expressing unhappiness, an Indian delegation member said the draft was not a negotiated one.
"It has been hastily written. There are technical issues which needs to be clarified," he said, adding the most concerning part of the draft is the "provision on peaking".
The text also puts forward three proposals for reduction of global emissions by "all parties" -- by 50 or 85 or 95% --from 1990 levels by 2050.
It is significant that the text writes 1990 levels as opposed to 2005 levels, which has been the basis for several countries, including the United States.
For "developed countries as a group" it put forward three options - "should reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 75-85 or at least 80 to 95 or more than 95% levels by 2050."
The draft says the countries shall combat climate change in order to ensure that the "global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius."
The maximum temperature is a highly contested issue with rich nations as well as emerging economies like India and China, which are pushing for 2 degree Celsius.
But small island states and African nations are pushing for 1.5 degree Celsius as science shows that anything above this temperature would have a catastrophic impact on their countries, with many of them sinking in rising sea levels.
The draft says developing nations shall take appropriate mitigation actions with support of finance and technology from the developed world, a demand that India has been advocating.
It also provides for the establishment of mechanism to record mitigation actions and also states that national communications, including greenhouse gas inventories, shall be prepared by developing countries and submitted to the COP
every 10 years, which is subject to change.
It also says developing countries can take mitigation actions under Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD) and beyond.
The goal for mitigation actions is bracketed (subject to change) which is in the range of 15-30% by 2020.
"Developing countries shall undertake nationally appropriate mitigation actions enabled and supported by finance, technology and capacity building provided by developed country parties," the draft says.
