When four emerging economies banded together at the international climate change negotiations in Copenhagen (COP15) and dramatically altered the path of the negotiations, much of the world was taken by surprise. What was this “BASIC” alliance that struck a deal with the United States to produce the Copenhagen Accord? And what role would these powerful developing nations play in future climate talks?

A new report from the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), documents how China, India, Brazil and South Africa – four very different countries with disparate agendas – joined forces as their profile rises in the United Nations and the global economy.

The report – Together Alone: BASIC countries and the climate change conundrum – also shows that individual BASIC members, especially China and India, have shown a substantial willingness to compromise and to broker agreements that require them to take on greater responsibilities.

- Many ask, what do we do about the BASIC countries, how do we engage with them? There is no good answer to that. But you do no reach them by telling them they are not doing enough, because they are doing a lot more than many developed countries, says Karl Hallding, lead author of the report and director of SEI’s China Group.

Understanding of emerging power’s climate diplomacy

-This is the most comprehensive analysis of BASIC ever written, says Bo Kjellén, former chief climate negotiator for Sweden and an expert in global climate diplomacy.

- The report provides a sophisticated, nuanced understanding of BASIC, that can help international negotiators overcome differences and break deadlocks, he adds.

Other climate experts agree:

-  By delving in-depth into the so called BASIC alliance, and the unique domestic and foreign-policy situations of these countries, this report contributes to a constructive engagement between the BASIC countries and the rest of the world, according to members of the report’s review panel.

Towards COP 17 in Durban and beyond

Looking ahead to COP17 in Durban and beyond, the authors predict that rather than act as a “tight negotiation bloc” with a unified negotiating position – which has not been the pattern to date – the BASIC countries will focus on a few “bottom line issues”.

The report finds that the BASIC cooperation to date operates on an ad hoc basis” to meet strategic objectives.

-  Ultimately, BASIC may fade away, having served its purpose, says co-author Aaron Atteridge, research fellow at SEI.

- But it seems more likely that it could provide ‘firewalll’ protection, when the countries feel ambushed by the developed world, as they did in Copenhagen. Optimally, it could serve as a forum for constructive dialogue, he sums up

About the authors and the report
Together Alone: BASIC countries and the climate change conundrum was written by Karl Hallding, Marie Olsson, Aaron Atteridge, Marcus Carson and Mikael Román of the Stockholm Environment Institute and Antto Vihma of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. The research has been carried out in collaboration with the Nordic Working Group for Global Climate Negotiations (NOAK), under the Nordic Council of Ministers, who has co-funded the research.

Outi Leskelä
Phone +358 40 154 9701
Email outi.leskela@ymparisto.fi

Michael Funch
Phone +45 33960332
Email mifu@norden.org

Ylva Rylander – Press and Communications Adviser, Stockholm Environment Institute (European media)

ylva.rylander@sei-international.org +46 73 150 3384