A group of rapidly growing carbon emitters, which is important for a global climate change agreement, is now open to discussing the future of the Kyoto Protocol in order to bring the United States on board. The Kyoto Protocol currently obligates around 40 wealthy countries to reduce emissions by 2008-12, but developing nations are pushing for a stricter second commitment phase. This is opposed by many developed nations who want to abandon Kyoto in order to include emerging markets like India and China. The upcoming meeting of environment ministers from Brazil, South Africa, India, and China - known as the BASIC nations - will focus on building trust with wealthy nations, as outlined in the meeting's agenda obtained by Reuters. The question remains, how much longer will the Kyoto Protocol remain in effect? The agenda for the upcoming meeting in South Africa on April 25-26 includes discussions on the possibility of a shorter second commitment period focused on carbon markets. Another question to be addressed is what would replace the Kyoto Protocol if there is no second commitment period. Negotiations for a global deal to combat climate change have been hindered by deep mistrust between wealthier and less wealthy nations regarding their respective responsibilities. Officials are not as optimistic about reaching a comprehensive agreement in Mexico in November. In order to break the stalemate in negotiations and gain the support of the United States, which did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol, it would be helpful for the BASIC nations to show a willingness to compromise on the protocol. An Indian negotiator described the agenda as "realistic" and focused on exploring all possible options for a fair deal. The BASIC meeting agenda also mentioned considering how aspects of the Copenhagen Accord, a non-binding agreement aimed at limiting global warming and providing aid, could be incorporated into the current negotiations. The text outlines the steps taken by many countries, including major greenhouse gas emitters, to reduce their emissions by 2020. Originally, the Copenhagen conference was supposed to establish a global agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol. The upcoming South Africa meeting will also discuss the possibility of expanding the BASIC bloc and using groups like the G20 and Major Economies Forum for negotiations. Developing nations are pushing for dual-track negotiations on a Kyoto successor and long-term climate change actions for all countries.