After the release today of Oxfam´s report showing that developing countries pledge bigger climate emissions cuts than world's richest nations, the Chair of G77 and China said: "We must stop making excuses and sit down at the negotiation table to decide strong terms for a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Some countries are hiding behind fragmented information and cherry-picking numbers to claim that a second commitment period is not possible and blame developing countries. That simply is not true."

He added: "We have said once and again that we are ready to sit at the negotiating table and discuss terms for a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol with high enough levels of ambition to achieve the common goal of limiting temperature rises that would otherwise seem inevitable. We need an agreement on the basis of equity, protection of the environment and the opportunity for development for all."

The Chair of G77 and China called the members of the Umbrella Group to stop their attempts to prevent the negotiation of the next commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, and explained: "The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities is not just a phrase. It is unthinkable that developed countries are still insisting that the poorest of the poor should suffer the burden so they can maintain privileges and levels of consumption that are unsustainable. Developing countries are doing their share, and more than their share, and this hard data unequivocally demonstrates it."

He added: "The pledges by the developing countries are there, and we are measuring up to them. But all developed countries must not only renew their binding commitments at ambitious levels, but also comply with them if we want to stand a chance against the adverse effects of climate change."

A new study launched by Oxfam today reveals that developing countries are pledging to cut their emissions of greenhouse gases by more than developed countries. The new analysis by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), commissioned by Oxfam, compares four of the most widely respected studies of these pledges and concludes that with the current level of pledges, 60 per cent of emissions cuts by 2020 are going to be made by developing countries, compared to a business as usual scenario.

Tim Gore, Oxfam's climate change policy advisor said: "All countries need to do their fair share to tackle climate change. Yet rich industrialized countries which are most responsible for the climate crisis are not pulling their weight.

According to the report, at the current level of commitments the emission reductions of China, India, South Africa and Brazil - the BASIC countries - could be slightly greater than the combined efforts of the 7 biggest developed countries - the US, Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Russia by 2020.

The Group of 77 and China is a party grouping in UNFCCC which includes 131 developing countries from all regions and different realities in the world.