April 1 (Reuters) - Developing nations have outlined plans to slow the rise of their greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 as part of a deal in Mexico last year to limit global warming.
Almost 200 nations will meet in Bangkok from April 3-8 for the first U.N. climate change talks of 2011, seeking to build on agreements that included a goal of limiting a rise in temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) above pre-industrial times.
Following are promises of action by major developing nations for slowing rising emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020, submitted to the United Nations and confirming promises made at the Copenhagen summit in 2009.
TARGETS (FOR 2020 UNLESS STATED)
CHINA - Aims to cut the amount of carbon produced per unit of economic output by 40 to 45 percent from 2005 levels. This "carbon intensity" goal would let emissions keep rising, but more slowly than economic growth.
China will also seek to raise the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to 15 percent and increase forest cover.
INDIA - Plans to reduce the emissions intensity of gross domestic product by 20 to 25 percent from 2005 levels. Agriculture will be excluded from the goals, which India says are "voluntary in nature and will not have a legally binding character".
BRAZIL - Intends to cut emissions by between 36.1 and 38.9 percent below "business as usual" levels with measures such as reducing deforestation, energy efficiency and more hydropower.
SOUTH AFRICA - Aims to cut emissions by 34 percent below business as usual. It says that, with the right international aid, its emissions could peak between 2020-25, plateau for a decade and then decline in absolute terms from about 2035.
INDONESIA - Intends to reduce emissions by at least 26 percent by 2020 with measures including sustainable peat management, reduced deforestation, and energy efficiency.
MEXICO - Will seek to cut greenhouse gases by up to 30 percent below "business as usual".
SOUTH KOREA - Plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent below "business as usual" projections.
Dozens of other developing nations, from Afghanistan to Tunisia, have outlined goals for curbs in coming years.
Among the most ambitious, Bhutan, Costa Rica, the Maldives and Papua New Guinea have outlined goals of becoming "carbon neutral", by varying target dates. That means that any industrial emissions will be offset, for instance by planting forests which soak up greenhouse gases as they grow.
GLOBAL
The United Nations says that pledges so far are inadequate to meet the goal of limiting temperature rises to 2 deg C.
A scenario by the U.N. panel of climate scientists in 2007 said that major emerging nations should make a "substantial deviation" to rein in the projected growth of their emissions by 2020 to help limit global warming.
Developing nations say that they have to use more energy to help lift their people from poverty and that it is unfair to expect absolute cuts in emissions.
The panel also indicated that developed nations should cut their emissions by between 25 and 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 to give a good chance of limiting warming to 2 deg C.
(Compiled by Alister Doyle in Oslo; Editing by David Fogarty)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
