The negotiators have unveiled a new shorter draft incorporating major progress as well as the differences, two days ahead of the deadline for the United Nations (UN) accord to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The first draft of the Paris Outcome, prepared after two days of high-level ministerial deliberations, was released by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, which will be discussed by 196 nations further to reach a final agreement to tackle the challenge of climate change.

Fabius, who is the chair of the current round of climate negotiations, said the aim of the text is to enable nations to have an overall view of the progress that has been made so far. The French foreign minister pointed out that the document revealed some compromises by the nations to achieve an ambitious and comprehensive agreement. Negotiators raced against time to clinch a key accord at the climate talks that has been marked by a divide between developed and developing countries.

The developed countries are willing to help but reluctant to make firm commitments as negotiators from over 196 nations look to negotiate a post-2020 deal to curb emissions and limit global temperature rise. India along with other BASIC nations questioned a recent OECD report which claimed that significant progress has been made on $100 billion fund for developing nations to mitigate climate change and sought a transparent mechanism for better accounting of financial flows.

The BASIC is a bloc of four large newly industrialised countries – China, India, Brazil and South Africa.