Two or 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming: Goal post to be shifted?

Paris: The goal of capping the global warming to 2 degrees Centigrade may be giving way to demands for the ceiling to be fixed at 1.5 degrees.

The island countries have raised the demand for a lower cap, saying they stand to lose if the global temperature rises by 2 degrees. Some scientists have predicted catastrophic events, including sea rise and glacier melting if the warming goes above that level.

But island nations say that even at 2 degrees, they would face the wrath of nature.

This cry has been taken up by NGOs, who are present in large numbers here at CoP21, although in relative terms, their presence is felt far less than what has been seen at previous climate change conference.

Asked at a press conference about this new number, Brazilian Environment Minister Izabella Teixeria, talking for the four-member BASIC group of Brazil, South Africa, India and China, said that they were very much in sympathy with the island countries.

She said they would all come out with a joint position on this, including the Group of 77 developing countries and China.