Yes Minister

So the first week of negotiations are coming to an end and we have the ministers of every state arriving in minute by minute. As they arrive , make themselves comfortable and delve into the luxuries of the moon palace hotel the negotiators are busy trying get to a consensus on a text which the ministers can use for negotiations.

We all remember exactly how things changed when the high level segment of the conference started in Copenhagen , with not only the civil society but also the negotiators booted out from the main plenary. So why have a high level segment in the first place? The idea is mainly to get more media coverage and political will on the floor for a decision . But are these ministers in the capacity to negotiate a deal with 500 or more acronyms and a six track negotiating process? Will they even be able to find their way across to the meeting room in a hotel with over 18 meeting rooms and 2 venues . Even though it is really great to see so many ministers coming down and expressing interest in this cause but on the flip side they also bring with them all the dirty internal politics of the ministries and of course lack of technical knowledge.

Jai Ram Ramesh

In Copenhagen , Jai Ram Ramesh was at loggerheads with our then lead negotiator Shyam Saran on the stance we took at the negotiations. Admitting that there might have been differences between him and former special envoy on Climate Change Shyam Saran, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said bureaucracy cannot decide policies as it was ultimately the minister who had to face Parliament. “The differences might have been over style or how one approaches the problem, but I was not aware of them. I am a political personality, he (Saran) is a bureaucrat,” Ramesh said during an interaction with journalists last year. “But ultimately I was sure of one thing that I have to answer questions in Parliament. So whatever I do or say I would ultimately have to go to Parliament. That is the reality,” said adding, “we tried to work together as far as it was possible”. “It is my job to set the policy. Bureaucracy cannot dictate policies. They are consultants, they are part of us,” he said adding, “I am not a rubber stamp to the bureaucracy”. Read more about this here.

Due to the differences between the negotiating team and the minister we say the oust of some of the best negotiators I know , Prodipto Ghosh, Ambassador Dasgupta and Shyam Saran from the official negotiating team .

shyam saran

Apparently there have not been any internal frictions known of between the new lead negotiator and the Minister. Most believe its a “Yes minister” relationship. I guess that was proved when Jai Ram had written to the United Nations backing the candidature of Mr Vijai Sharma, Secretary with the Ministry. “Mr Vijai Sharma is our official candidate for UNFCCC Executive Secretary. I have written to the United Nations Monday and also to BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India, China) countries seeking their support.

But lets hope that within this COP atleast the very flexible nature of Jai Ram doesnt make us make a deal with the devil and get the hard end of it!