Environmental Monitoring and Governance
By Makereta Komai, Editor, PACNEWS

14 May 2012, Rio de Janeiro - To avoid threats of a derailing of the negotiations by the G77 and China group at the Rio +2o PrepCom negotiations, the host country, Brazil had to step in to call for calm Thursday evening, after a threat of a possible walk-out by the group.

A quick meeting was convened late into the evening after G77 and China resolved to stall the talks to make a political statement to developed countries like the United States, the European Union, Japan and Canada that it will not move on issues of implementation, if these countries refuse to make commitments on finance, technology transfer and capacity building.

Appealing directly to members, Brazil said it felt 'terrible' that members are thinking of introducing new text to current draft text, a day before the end of the PrepCom meeting Friday.

"We must be realistic and fair and not introduce new proposals before the end of the negotiations."

India, Nicaragua and Bolivia recommended new language to a proposal calling for the creation of an international mechanism to identify new technologies for use by developing countries.

As a compromise, the three countries will work on a draft text to be submitted for further negotiations on issues of implementation.