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COP21: Climate deal due Saturday after more all-night talks COP21: Final push for climate deal amid 'optimism'
(about 3 hours later)
Negotiators at the Paris talks aim to wrap up a global agreement to curb climate change on Saturday - a day later than expected, hosts France said. Negotiators at the Paris summit aim to wrap up a global agreement to curb climate change on Saturday - a day later than expected.
"Things are moving in the right direction," said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who is chairing the summit. "We are nearly there. I'm optimistic," said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who is chairing the summit.
But more compromise is needed if an agreement is to be reached, say analysts. Efforts to forge a deal faltered on Friday, forcing the talks to over-run.
A deal signed in Paris would come into being in 2020. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the negotiations were "most complicated, most difficult, but, most important for humanity".
Mr Fabius told French television that "the atmosphere is good, things are positive", and that a new compromise deal would be presented on Saturday. Mr Fabius told reporters in Paris that he would present a new version of the draft text on Saturday morning at 0800 GMT, which he was "sure" would be approved and "a big step forward for humanity as a whole".
Participants at COP21 - as the UN conference is called - have been working on a new draft text, prepared by the French presidency, since Wednesday. "We are almost at the end of the road and I am optimistic," he added.
This was seen as a significant moment after discussions that began in 2011 for a new global agreement that would stake out a long-term strategy for dealing with climate change.
Live updates on COP21Live updates on COP21
Analysts say a delay in the Paris climate talks is not surprising, given that negotiators are trying for a deal that will lead to long-term changes in the global economy. The summit is entering a final push to try to secure a global agreement that would stake out a long-term strategy for dealing with climate change.
"This needs consensus," said Michael Jacobs, an economist with the New Climate Economy project. "There's a lot of negotiating to do."
A win for the poor? By Roger Harrabin, BBC environment analystA win for the poor? By Roger Harrabin, BBC environment analyst
The French presidency seems to have produced a text with many difficult issues at least partially resolved.The French presidency seems to have produced a text with many difficult issues at least partially resolved.
Vulnerable countries appear to have fared well. The document says money to help them get clean energy and to adapt to climate change should be on the table into the 2020s.Vulnerable countries appear to have fared well. The document says money to help them get clean energy and to adapt to climate change should be on the table into the 2020s.
The statement says that global temperature rise should be held well below 2C, with the ultimate target set at 1.5C. That is what small island states consider safe.The statement says that global temperature rise should be held well below 2C, with the ultimate target set at 1.5C. That is what small island states consider safe.
The document accepts that the combined promises by nations to curb emissions are not nearly enough to meet these targets and there will need to be much greater ambitions from governments in the future.The document accepts that the combined promises by nations to curb emissions are not nearly enough to meet these targets and there will need to be much greater ambitions from governments in the future.
Some nations are still very unhappy with this text and much more compromise will be needed to bring this historic deal to a close.Some nations are still very unhappy with this text and much more compromise will be needed to bring this historic deal to a close.
In graphics: Climate change in six chartsIn graphics: Climate change in six charts
More: BBC News climate change special reportMore: BBC News climate change special report
A deal signed in Paris would come into force in 2020.
Participants at COP21 - as the UN conference is called - have been working on the precise wording of the landmark document since Wednesday.
Consensus needed
Analysts say a delay in the Paris climate talks is not surprising, given that negotiators are trying for a deal that will lead to long-term changes in the global economy.
"This needs consensus," said Michael Jacobs, an economist with the New Climate Economy project. "There's a lot of negotiating to do."
Jennifer Morgan, global director of the Climate Program at the World Resources Institute, said overnight negotiations had made progress.Jennifer Morgan, global director of the Climate Program at the World Resources Institute, said overnight negotiations had made progress.
"I'm still cautiously optimistic," she told BBC News. "But every country just has to go further. They have to reach to the extreme of what they can do here - it's all still within reach.""I'm still cautiously optimistic," she told BBC News. "But every country just has to go further. They have to reach to the extreme of what they can do here - it's all still within reach."
Getting shorterGetting shorter
On Thursday France presented the latest draft version. At 27 pages long, it was considerably shorter than previous versions. On Thursday, France presented the latest draft version. At 27 pages long, it was considerably shorter than previous versions.
It says that temperature rises must be kept "well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5C".It says that temperature rises must be kept "well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5C".
The number of square brackets, indicating significant disagreement, had been reduced to around 50, a major improvement on Saturday when they ran to more than 900.The number of square brackets, indicating significant disagreement, had been reduced to around 50, a major improvement on Saturday when they ran to more than 900.
But there are still considerable difficulties about issues including climate finance and the question of demarcation between developed and developing countries.But there are still considerable difficulties about issues including climate finance and the question of demarcation between developed and developing countries.
Called "differentiation", richer nations want emerging economies to take on more of the burden of cutting emissions and providing finance to the very poor nations hit by the impacts of rising temperatures.Called "differentiation", richer nations want emerging economies to take on more of the burden of cutting emissions and providing finance to the very poor nations hit by the impacts of rising temperatures.
The richer countries were also insisting on a single system of verification of promises for all countries.The richer countries were also insisting on a single system of verification of promises for all countries.
"We feel that when parties have committed themselves to a national target that reflects their ambitions and abilities, they must be ready to tell the global community what type of progress is being made," Elina Bardram, the EU's chief negotiator told reporters."We feel that when parties have committed themselves to a national target that reflects their ambitions and abilities, they must be ready to tell the global community what type of progress is being made," Elina Bardram, the EU's chief negotiator told reporters.
UN climate conference 30 Nov - 11 Dec 2015UN climate conference 30 Nov - 11 Dec 2015
COP 21 - the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties - sees more than 190 nations gather in Paris to discuss a possible new global agreement on climate change, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the threat of dangerous warming due to human activities.COP 21 - the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties - sees more than 190 nations gather in Paris to discuss a possible new global agreement on climate change, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the threat of dangerous warming due to human activities.
Explained: What is climate change?Explained: What is climate change?
In video: Why does the Paris conference matter?In video: Why does the Paris conference matter?
Analysis: Latest from BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrathAnalysis: Latest from BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath
It had been hoped a deal could be reached on Friday but organisers said they wanted to give delegates more time for consultations rather than stick to the original schedule. It had been hoped a deal could be reached on Friday but organisers said they wanted to give delegates more time for consultations.
"The really tough issues in the negotiation are still very much sitting there," warned New Zealand's Climate Change Ambassador, Jo Tyndall."The really tough issues in the negotiation are still very much sitting there," warned New Zealand's Climate Change Ambassador, Jo Tyndall.
Some campaigners were not happy with Thursday's draft, saying it denied "climate justice".Some campaigners were not happy with Thursday's draft, saying it denied "climate justice".
"Rich countries have a responsibility to ensure a fair global deal for everyone, not just themselves, and as we move into these final hours of negotiations poorer countries must not settle for anything less," said Adriano Campolina, from ActionAid."Rich countries have a responsibility to ensure a fair global deal for everyone, not just themselves, and as we move into these final hours of negotiations poorer countries must not settle for anything less," said Adriano Campolina, from ActionAid.
But Helen Szoke from Oxfam called it an "encouraging development".But Helen Szoke from Oxfam called it an "encouraging development".
"The draft has affirmed the need to set quantified funding goals for both climate change mitigation and adaptation for the years after 2020," she said."The draft has affirmed the need to set quantified funding goals for both climate change mitigation and adaptation for the years after 2020," she said.
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