New pact to be firmer against defaulters: Pachauri

With many rich nations failing to meet Kyoto Protocol goals, top climate expert R K Pachauri said on Wednesday a 'stronger and firmer' regime envisaging punitive action against the defaulters awaits in a new climate treaty, whenever it is framed.

"Kyoto Protocol did not work as it does not have provisions for stringent measures against the defaulters.

"But there is clearly strong expression (among global community) for punitive measures of sort against those countries that don't meet their commitments," Pachauri said noting that the rich nations were not serious in taking any legally binding commitments.

"They (developed countries) just want to push the burden on the developing countries which have done pretty well to combat climate change, whether it was taking up CDM projects or submitting national communication on climate change to the UN...," he told reporters.

Pachauri maintained that in the case of Kyoto Protocol, it (punitive action) was there but it was rather weak.

The goal of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which is based on principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities' exempting the developing nations from taking legally binding cuts, is to reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions to 5.2 per cent below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012.

However, of the 120 countries that signed the Protocol, only 50 have ratified it, and since the Kyoto agreement, worldwide carbon emissions have increased by almost 30 per cent.

Image: R K Pachauri