Earth Equity News

G77 Members Walk Out of Climate Talks in Bangkok Over Plan to Change Kyoto Pact. By David Fogarty, Reuters, October 7, 2009. "Senior G77 members walked out of a meeting during climate talks in Bangkok last night, saying they would not discuss a future without the Kyoto Protocol climate pact. Senior G77 members walked out of a meeting during climate talks in the Thai capital saying they would not discuss a future without the Kyoto Protocol climate pact, delegates said on Wednesday. South Africa's lead negotiator, China and OPEC countries left the informal session late on Tuesday that was discussing the shape of new climate agreement that would bind all nations in the fight against climate change. Tensions have been rising during marathon U.N. climate talks in Bangkok that end on Friday over accusations that rich nations [Annex 1 Parties] are trying to kill off Kyoto, which binds 37 industrialized nations to emissions targets during its 2008-12 first commitment period. The question negotiators are wrestling with is whether to extend Kyoto into a second commitment period from 2013, amend the pact or create a new one, a step many developing nations resist. 'The G77 is extremely concerned with the notion that there is a clear intention being shown that developed countries, who are party to the Kyoto Protocol, of not agreeing to new targets for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol,' said Alf Wills, spokesman and lead negotiator for South Africa in the G77 of developing nations."