BASIC countries environment ministers discuss climate change in Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 27 (ANI): Environment Ministers from BASIC countries - Brazil, South Africa, India and China - met here on Sunday to assess the post Cancun climate change policy and actions at the global and national level and discuss coordination going forward.

This was the sixth meeting of the top officials from BASIC countries where discussions were held on how to approach the Kyoto Protocol in its second commitment period and action in emission reduction.

The ministers also discussed the issue of phase-out of Hydro Fluoro Carbons (HFCs), which is a solution for the ozone depletion but a problem for climate change since it causes global warming.

Representatives from Argentina, Algeria and the Maldives were also invited for the meeting of the group of four countries formed in Beijing in November 2009.

BASIC countries' meeting is significant as this is the first major international meeting of any group of countries since December 2010 when Cancun Agreements were reached under the leadership of Mexico as the Chair of 16th Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol.

The BASIC group was formed in Beijing in November 2009. (ANI)