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Brown hails EU climate 'progress' PM hails climate 'breakthrough'
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown has said "real progress" had been made with EU leaders towards a deal to help developing countries cope with climate change. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has hailed a "breakthrough" in climate talks as EU leaders named the price of tackling carbon emissions.
He said there had been a "breakthrough" in Brussels and EU states were "leading the world" and "ready to contribute their fair share of the costs". In a provisional agreement, EU leaders agreed to make an offer to the rest of the world at a summit in Copenhagen.
Mr Brown wants a global climate change fund to help poorer countries adapt and obtain clean technology.Mr Brown wants a global climate change fund to help poorer countries adapt and obtain clean technology.
But there has been disagreement on how much EU states should pay. But there has been disagreement on how much EU states should pay - with Germany reluctant to name a figure.
Reducing global warming by 2020 may cost 100bn euros (£89.6bn) per year, EU leaders say, with annual public funding estimated at between 22bn and 50bn euros (£19.7bn to £44.8bn).Reducing global warming by 2020 may cost 100bn euros (£89.6bn) per year, EU leaders say, with annual public funding estimated at between 22bn and 50bn euros (£19.7bn to £44.8bn).
I think that this is a breakthrough that takes us forward to Copenhagen and makes a Copenhagen agreement possible Gordon Brown EU strikes climate funding deal I think that this is a breakthrough that takes us forward to Copenhagen and makes a Copenhagen agreement possible Gordon Brown EU strikes climate funding deal
Gordon Brown is believed to have wanted a narrower estimate for the global funding but accepted a wider range of figures to bring German Chancellor Angela Merkel on board.Gordon Brown is believed to have wanted a narrower estimate for the global funding but accepted a wider range of figures to bring German Chancellor Angela Merkel on board.
'Bold proposals'
Asked about Germany's reluctance to sign up to a concrete figure for its own contribution to the fund, Mr Brown said it had never been proposed that individual national contributions would be defined at the summit.Asked about Germany's reluctance to sign up to a concrete figure for its own contribution to the fund, Mr Brown said it had never been proposed that individual national contributions would be defined at the summit.
He said: "We have only suggested that we make an initiative to show the developing countries that we are serious about making a contribution to their cutting of carbon emissions."He said: "We have only suggested that we make an initiative to show the developing countries that we are serious about making a contribution to their cutting of carbon emissions."
Without that developing countries could not be expected to announce ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions, he said.Without that developing countries could not be expected to announce ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions, he said.
"Europe is leading the way making these bold proposals, 100bn euros needed by 2020, much of that to be public financing, which we will pay our share towards," he said."Europe is leading the way making these bold proposals, 100bn euros needed by 2020, much of that to be public financing, which we will pay our share towards," he said.
"We agreed that the European Union and its member states are ready to contribute their fair share of the costs, all of this of course is conditional on other parties playing their part too.""We agreed that the European Union and its member states are ready to contribute their fair share of the costs, all of this of course is conditional on other parties playing their part too."
Under one proposed package, the EU's combined share of that would be between seven and 10bn euros (£6.2bn to £8.96bn) each year by 2020.Under one proposed package, the EU's combined share of that would be between seven and 10bn euros (£6.2bn to £8.96bn) each year by 2020.
'Moral imperative'
UK officials say that, subject to agreement at Copenhagen, the UK share of the EU contribution would work out at about £1bn a year by 2020.UK officials say that, subject to agreement at Copenhagen, the UK share of the EU contribution would work out at about £1bn a year by 2020.
But BBC Europe reporter Dominic Hughes said there had been a strategic argument among EU leaders about exactly what they should sign up to, before knowing what the US, Russia and China would commit to at the talks in Copenhagen.But BBC Europe reporter Dominic Hughes said there had been a strategic argument among EU leaders about exactly what they should sign up to, before knowing what the US, Russia and China would commit to at the talks in Copenhagen.
Germany believed the EU should not commit to firm figures but others felt being more explicit would exert moral and political pressure on other countries to do the same.Germany believed the EU should not commit to firm figures but others felt being more explicit would exert moral and political pressure on other countries to do the same.
And there is a separate disagreement over what the overall EU share of the cost should be. Nine central and eastern European states also say they cannot afford to pay as much as wealthier EU states.And there is a separate disagreement over what the overall EU share of the cost should be. Nine central and eastern European states also say they cannot afford to pay as much as wealthier EU states.
Meanwhile, leaders from across the UK's religious communities have said there is a "moral imperative" to tackle global warming.Meanwhile, leaders from across the UK's religious communities have said there is a "moral imperative" to tackle global warming.
Leaders from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Baha'i, Jain and Zoroastrian faiths have called on G20 nations to cut greenhouse gases.Leaders from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Baha'i, Jain and Zoroastrian faiths have called on G20 nations to cut greenhouse gases.