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EU strikes climate funding deal | EU strikes climate funding deal |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The EU has agreed a conditional deal on how to help other nations fight global warming, ahead of a key climate summit, but set no figure on what it would pay. | The EU has agreed a conditional deal on how to help other nations fight global warming, ahead of a key climate summit, but set no figure on what it would pay. |
The EU agreed climate change would need 100bn euros ($148bn; £90bn) a year by 2020, and would pay its "fair share", conditional on other nations. | The EU agreed climate change would need 100bn euros ($148bn; £90bn) a year by 2020, and would pay its "fair share", conditional on other nations. |
UK PM Gordon Brown said the deal, which came after a deadlock on cost sharing was broken, was a "bold proposal". | UK PM Gordon Brown said the deal, which came after a deadlock on cost sharing was broken, was a "bold proposal". |
However, Green groups criticised the deal, saying it was not nearly enough. | However, Green groups criticised the deal, saying it was not nearly enough. |
The accord had been threatened by a coalition of nine poorer EU nations, which argued that richer countries should pay more. | The accord had been threatened by a coalition of nine poorer EU nations, which argued that richer countries should pay more. |
[The EU] failed to use this opportunity to put its money where its mouth is Joris den Blanken, Greenpeace class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/sci_tech/2009/copenhagen/">Special report: Copenhagen summit class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8334809.stm">EU's heavy burden | |
To meet the concerns, the initial funding will be voluntary and no cost targets for individual EU nations were announced. | To meet the concerns, the initial funding will be voluntary and no cost targets for individual EU nations were announced. |
Details of how the burden will be shared will be sorted out later by a working group. | Details of how the burden will be shared will be sorted out later by a working group. |
Earlier EU leaders agreed a deal designed to secure the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, which aims to streamline decision-making and bolster the bloc's role on the world stage. | Earlier EU leaders agreed a deal designed to secure the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, which aims to streamline decision-making and bolster the bloc's role on the world stage. |
Vaclav Klaus, president of the Czech Republic, the only country that had been holding out on ratification, said it would no longer raise objections. | Vaclav Klaus, president of the Czech Republic, the only country that had been holding out on ratification, said it would no longer raise objections. |
'Bold proposals' | 'Bold proposals' |
Mr Brown, announcing the climate deal, said the EU discussions had been a success. | Mr Brown, announcing the climate deal, said the EU discussions had been a success. |
ANALYSIS Oana Lungescu, BBC European affairs correspondent | ANALYSIS Oana Lungescu, BBC European affairs correspondent |
"We can look the others in the eye," said the president of the European Commission, "we Europeans have done our job." But to critics, that job may look only half-done. | "We can look the others in the eye," said the president of the European Commission, "we Europeans have done our job." But to critics, that job may look only half-done. |
EU leaders have agreed that developing nations would need $150bn a year to tackle climate change and pledged they would pay their fair share. But they haven't said how much. | EU leaders have agreed that developing nations would need $150bn a year to tackle climate change and pledged they would pay their fair share. But they haven't said how much. |
And poorer EU nations like Poland will continue on a voluntary basis or according to their means. It's now up to the other big global players - the US, China and India - to decide if that's enough for them to put an offer on the table and avoid failure in Copenhagen. | And poorer EU nations like Poland will continue on a voluntary basis or according to their means. It's now up to the other big global players - the US, China and India - to decide if that's enough for them to put an offer on the table and avoid failure in Copenhagen. |
"We were aware that if we did not come together to make progress, the possibility of a deal [in Copenhagen] would be a lot less likely." | "We were aware that if we did not come together to make progress, the possibility of a deal [in Copenhagen] would be a lot less likely." |
He said: "Europe is leading the way with these bold proposals - do not allow years to go by without action." | He said: "Europe is leading the way with these bold proposals - do not allow years to go by without action." |
The EU said the amount to come from public funding from all countries to meet the estimated 100bn euros a year needed by 2020 would be between 22bn and 50bn euros a year. | The EU said the amount to come from public funding from all countries to meet the estimated 100bn euros a year needed by 2020 would be between 22bn and 50bn euros a year. |
However, it did not fix the EU's contribution, saying it would only pay its "fair share". | However, it did not fix the EU's contribution, saying it would only pay its "fair share". |
But Mr Brown did announce a "fast track" scheme to reduce carbon emissions, with the richest countries providing development finance to the poorest. | But Mr Brown did announce a "fast track" scheme to reduce carbon emissions, with the richest countries providing development finance to the poorest. |
This would come in soon after the Copenhagen summit and would cost 5bn to 7bn euros immediately, to come from all richer countries. | This would come in soon after the Copenhagen summit and would cost 5bn to 7bn euros immediately, to come from all richer countries. |
CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARYGlossary in full | CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARYGlossary in full |
He insisted that all these funding targets would be conditional on other richer countries making funding offers and on developing countries showing how they would spend the money. | He insisted that all these funding targets would be conditional on other richer countries making funding offers and on developing countries showing how they would spend the money. |
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the agreement was "an important breakthrough that brings new momentum". | European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the agreement was "an important breakthrough that brings new momentum". |
He said the EU nations had "agreed a negotiating mandate" for the Copenhagen climate talks. | He said the EU nations had "agreed a negotiating mandate" for the Copenhagen climate talks. |
"Next week, we'll meet the US president and will say 'let's make Copenhagen a success'," Mr Barroso said. | "Next week, we'll meet the US president and will say 'let's make Copenhagen a success'," Mr Barroso said. |
Fredrik Reinfeldt, PM of Sweden, which holds the rotating EU presidency, said: "The EU has a very strong negotiating position. This enables the EU to continue taking a lead in the negotiations and encourages others." | Fredrik Reinfeldt, PM of Sweden, which holds the rotating EU presidency, said: "The EU has a very strong negotiating position. This enables the EU to continue taking a lead in the negotiations and encourages others." |
'Opacity' | 'Opacity' |
However, the Green bloc in the European parliament criticised the EU leaders for failing to fix the costing, calling the deal "a calamitous result for the climate". | However, the Green bloc in the European parliament criticised the EU leaders for failing to fix the costing, calling the deal "a calamitous result for the climate". |
"The EU preferred to give into dissension, opacity and internal tactics during the negotiations between the member states," the bloc's leaders said. | "The EU preferred to give into dissension, opacity and internal tactics during the negotiations between the member states," the bloc's leaders said. |
Gordon Brown: ''Europe is leading the way in making these bold proposals'' | Gordon Brown: ''Europe is leading the way in making these bold proposals'' |
Joris den Blanken of environmental group Greenpeace, said: "[The EU] failed to use this opportunity to put its money where its mouth is. | Joris den Blanken of environmental group Greenpeace, said: "[The EU] failed to use this opportunity to put its money where its mouth is. |
"President Barack Obama should now step up and break the deadlock in negotiations." | "President Barack Obama should now step up and break the deadlock in negotiations." |
International development charity ActionAid said the EU suggestion of 22bn to 50bn euros a year from public finance by 2020 was far below its estimate of 132bn euros a year. | International development charity ActionAid said the EU suggestion of 22bn to 50bn euros a year from public finance by 2020 was far below its estimate of 132bn euros a year. |
Earlier, the Czech Republic was granted an opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights, similar to that of the UK and Poland, paving the way for the full ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. | Earlier, the Czech Republic was granted an opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights, similar to that of the UK and Poland, paving the way for the full ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. |
President Klaus said he accepted this was a "significant exemption". | President Klaus said he accepted this was a "significant exemption". |
He added: "I am not going to raise any further conditions for the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty." | He added: "I am not going to raise any further conditions for the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty." |
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the treaty would "doubtless" come into force on 1 December. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the treaty would "doubtless" come into force on 1 December. |