Bali: Talking climate and 'melting' the COP freeze

Bali: The Bali Environment Forum has begun with a bang. This UN programme is an annual affair and not strictly about climate change yet there was no shaking off the C-word.

It's not a meeting that is meant to be about climate negotiations, but when leaders from 130 countries get together at the global ministerial environment forum, climate talk is inevitable. Which country will cut how much of its carbon emissions - That's the answer the world wants to know from India as well.

Even though India's high profile Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh was absent, India's role at the meet will be critical.

Vijay Sharma, Environment Secretary, Government of India, said "India is very much a part of the negotiating process, but the ad hoc working groups have not yet met.. Two texts that are being negotiated, heavy texts..

NDTV: But any time frame you are looking at?

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Vijay Sharma: We are looking at a time frame.. run-up to Mexico.. maybe 8-9 months.

The UN said countries have to act fast in cutting Greenhouse gas emissions if global temperatures are to be stopped from rising beyond 2 degrees C.

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The UNEP says this is the largest environmental gathering since Copenhagen. It is therefore, natural to expect that world leaders use this bonding time to ensure that what happened in Copenhagen does not repeat in Mexico.