SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A group of four major developing countries on Tuesday called for the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to make substantial progress in talks on global adaptation goals.
The BASIC Group, which is comprised of Brazil, South Africa, India and China, held its 31st ministerial meeting on climate change here, saying that the progress would lay a solid foundation for achieving ambitious and feasible global adaptation goals at COP28.
In the meeting, environment ministers of the BASIC countries introduced the progress made by each member in dealing with climate change and had an in-depth exchange of views on jointly promoting the success of COP27.
As a vital force in the multilateral process of climate change, the BASIC countries have been persistently leading all parties to adhere to the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement and playing an essential role in safeguarding the common interests of developing countries, according to Zhao Yingmin, vice minister of China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
Zhao said that hosted by a developing country, COP27 should reach productive results on the issues of adaptation and finance, which are of most concern to developing countries.
Chaired by South Africa's Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy, the meeting was attended by Brazil's Minister of Environment Joaquim Leite, India's Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, as well as Zhao.
The ministers stressed in the meeting the basis of equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities for tackling climate change. They urged developed countries again to fulfill the annual support pledge of 100 billion U.S. dollars as soon as possible and set a roadmap for doubling adaptation funding.
They also adopted the BASIC Ministerial Joint Statement at the UNFCCC's Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference. In the statement, they pledged full support to the Egyptian COP27 Presidency for a successful conference.
The ministers reiterated their support for Pakistan as the current Chair of the Group of 77 and China to strengthen the unity of the Group of 77 and China and advance the common interests of developing countries.
They also supported launching the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage at COP27. ■
