SA among four nations calling for climate commitments

Brazil, South Africa, India and China are urging developed countries to adopt more ambitious goals to reduce global warming.

The four countries form the bloc known as BASIC and representatives on Friday ended a two-day meeting to define a common position ahead of November's United Nations' climate change conference in Doha.

BASIC acts jointly in international climate change meetings.

They say developed nations must assume stronger emission reduction commitments under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol that is aimed at stemming pollution and global warming. It has been opposed by the United States.

Chinese climate negotiator Xie Zenhua told reporters that while "developing countries are committed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 70 percent, developed countries are committed to a 30 percent reduction." He says that's insufficient.

- Timeslive