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New climate deal may have to wait Sarkozy backs calls to keep Kyoto
(about 1 hour later)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has backed calls by developing nations to keep the Kyoto Protocol, which only requires rich nations to cut emissions.
Speaking in Copenhagen, he broke away from the EU position of favouring a new deal that saw all nations commit to measures to curb climate change.
Elsewhere, the US and China are at loggerheads over binding targets.
With one day remaining, observers say the climate summit is unlikely to deliver a meaningful deal.
The Danish presidency of the climate summit in Copenhagen has sought to play down expectations of a comprehensive deal emerging from the meeting.The Danish presidency of the climate summit in Copenhagen has sought to play down expectations of a comprehensive deal emerging from the meeting.
Officials said progress could be made, but an international agreement may have to wait until a 2010 meeting in Mexico.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the meeting her country was prepared to work towards mobilising $100bn a year for developing countries.
The deadlock in talks at the climate summit has now been broken.
But the summit's hosts, Denmark, had to drop plans to propose new draft texts on Thursday after opposition from many developing nations.
ANALYSIS Richard Black, BBC News environment correspondentANALYSIS Richard Black, BBC News environment correspondent
On the penultimate day of the UN climate summit, words bandied around in the corridors include "chaos" and "disaster".On the penultimate day of the UN climate summit, words bandied around in the corridors include "chaos" and "disaster".
Rumours abound. Danish media are reporting that the prime minister's office is in "meltdown". US media report President Obama may not be coming after all - and Hillary Clinton was less than unequivocal when asked the question.Rumours abound. Danish media are reporting that the prime minister's office is in "meltdown". US media report President Obama may not be coming after all - and Hillary Clinton was less than unequivocal when asked the question.
Experienced summit advisers say they've seen nothing like it.Experienced summit advisers say they've seen nothing like it.
It appears that leaders will be presented with a document riddled with things that have not yet been agreed. As things stand, they'll have a single day to sort out what some regard as the world's most pressing problem Richard Black's Earth Watch blogIt appears that leaders will be presented with a document riddled with things that have not yet been agreed. As things stand, they'll have a single day to sort out what some regard as the world's most pressing problem Richard Black's Earth Watch blog
A source told the Danish newspaper Politiken: "We are fighting like mad and we haven't given up, but we will need help from world leaders. They must put their money where their mouth is. Otherwise it'll be very difficult." The hosts had to drop plans to propose new draft texts on Thursday after opposition from many developing nations, which saw the talks grind to a halt on Wednesday.
Developed and developing nations remain at odds over who should cut emissions, how deep the cuts should be, and how much aid should go to poor countries. Officials said progress could be made, but an international agreement may have to wait until a 2010 meeting in Mexico.
But there has been some progress - wealthy nations pledged new funds to bankroll adaptation to climate change. In his address to delegates, Mr Nicolas Sarkozy called on nations to "stop posturing".
On Thursday, Mrs Clinton told delegates: "In the context of a strong accord in which all major economies pledge meaningful mitigation actions and provide full transparency as to those actions, the US is prepared to work with other countries towards a goal of mobilising $100bn a year to address the needs of developing countries." "A failure in Copenhagen would a catastrophe for each and everyone of us," he said. "If we keep on heading where we're going we are heading for failure."
"So people want to keep Kyoto, OK let's keep Kyoto. But let us agree on an overall political umbrella," he stated.
The French president went on to urge ministers and leaders to adopt a full climate treaty in June 2010.
"Let's give ourselves six months after the Copenhagen conference to transform political commitments into a legal text."
Money on offer
Eariler, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the meeting her country was prepared to work towards mobilising $100bn a year for developing countries.
She told delegates: "In the context of a strong accord in which all major economies pledge meaningful mitigation actions and provide full transparency as to those actions, the US is prepared to work with other countries towards a goal of mobilising $100bn a year to address the needs of developing countries."
She made it clear - as did Japan on Wednesday when announcing a specific figure for assistance - that the money was contingent on reaching a global deal here that met its criteria.She made it clear - as did Japan on Wednesday when announcing a specific figure for assistance - that the money was contingent on reaching a global deal here that met its criteria.
BBC environment correspondent Richard Black said developing countries are likely to point out that there is no figure for what the US is prepared to provide itself, either from public or private finance.BBC environment correspondent Richard Black said developing countries are likely to point out that there is no figure for what the US is prepared to provide itself, either from public or private finance.
The sum is also less than the amount that UN agencies such as the World Bank and International Energy Agency calculates is necessary to help mitigation and adaptation in the developing world.The sum is also less than the amount that UN agencies such as the World Bank and International Energy Agency calculates is necessary to help mitigation and adaptation in the developing world.

CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY

Glossary in full

CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY

Glossary in full
But transparency is emerging as a major sticking point for the US. It wants some developing countries to open their emissions controls to scrutiny.But transparency is emerging as a major sticking point for the US. It wants some developing countries to open their emissions controls to scrutiny.
China and India say they are willing to take voluntary measures to slow their emissions, but they are reluctant to accept tight international oversight.China and India say they are willing to take voluntary measures to slow their emissions, but they are reluctant to accept tight international oversight.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the administration believed there was still a chance of deal, but China needed to give ground on the US demand for transparency. He told Reuters news agency that if reports were true that China was balking at a climate deal, the US hoped it would reconsider.White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the administration believed there was still a chance of deal, but China needed to give ground on the US demand for transparency. He told Reuters news agency that if reports were true that China was balking at a climate deal, the US hoped it would reconsider.
There has been no immediate response from the Chinese delegation.There has been no immediate response from the Chinese delegation.
New alliance?New alliance?
At least 130 world leaders are due to join the talks on Thursday, hoping to sign a new climate pact on Friday.
THE COPENHAGEN SUMMIT The majority of the world's governments are 'deeply concerned' that greenhouse gas emissions, if left unchecked, will lead to dangerous climate changeDelegates from more than 190 nations are in the Danish capital with the aim of reaching a new global agreement to curb these emissionsObservers say that a series of setbacks during negotiations makes a meaningful outcome increasingly unlikelyAs things currently stand, there is not a framework in place to limit global emissions to a level that scientists say will avoid dangerous climate change Copenhagen talks in quotes Climate change in graphics Q&A: Copenhagen summit
Addressing the summit on Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he feared "a triumph of form over substance" at the outcome of the UN climate summit.Addressing the summit on Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he feared "a triumph of form over substance" at the outcome of the UN climate summit.
In his speech, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged the summit to "summon up the greatest level of ambition". THE COPENHAGEN SUMMIT The majority of the world's governments are 'deeply concerned' that greenhouse gas emissions, if left unchecked, will lead to dangerous climate changeDelegates from more than 190 nations are in the Danish capital with the aim of reaching a new global agreement to curb these emissionsObservers say that a series of setbacks during negotiations makes a meaningful outcome increasingly unlikelyAs things currently stand, there is not a framework in place to limit global emissions to a level that scientists say will avoid dangerous climate change class="" href="/2/hi/science/nature/8418748.stm">Copenhagen talks in quotes class="" href="/2/hi/science/nature/8359629.stm">Climate change in graphics class="" href="/2/hi/science/nature/8278973.stm">Q&A: Copenhagen summit
In his speech, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, meanwhile, urged the summit to "summon up the greatest level of ambition".
"The success of our endeavours depends on us forging a new alliance," he told delegates."The success of our endeavours depends on us forging a new alliance," he told delegates.
He added: "In these few days in Copenhagen which will be blessed or blamed for generations to come, we cannot permit the politics of narrow self-interest to prevent a policy for human survival."He added: "In these few days in Copenhagen which will be blessed or blamed for generations to come, we cannot permit the politics of narrow self-interest to prevent a policy for human survival."
US President Barack Obama has been due to attend the final day of the meeting on Friday, when world leaders will try to lay out a strategy to deal with climate change after the end of 2012, when obligations run out under the landmark Kyoto Protocol.
But asked about rumours that President Obama might not attend, Mrs Clinton said: "The President is planning to come tomorrow. Obviously we hope there will be something to come for."
Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN's climate body, told reporters that negotiators would consider two negotiating texts; one looking at further emission cuts by developed nations (except the US) by 2020, and another that looks at committing all nations to curbing climate change.Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN's climate body, told reporters that negotiators would consider two negotiating texts; one looking at further emission cuts by developed nations (except the US) by 2020, and another that looks at committing all nations to curbing climate change.
STICKING POINTS Emissions - Developing nations want rich nations within the Kyoto Protocol to cut emissions by at least 25% by 2020. Developed nations are reluctant, favouring a new deal that would see all nations commit to curbing climate changeChina/US stand-off - US will not accept legally binding emission cuts unless China does the same. China unlikely to allow international verification of its emission cuts; Hillary Clinton calls this a potential 'deal breaker'Finances - Ongoing disagreement how funds to mitigate and adapt to climate change will be provided. Poor nations want direct aid, while the West favours schemes like carbon tradingTrust - Delegates from some developing nations do not believe that they have been treated fairly by the Danish presidencySTICKING POINTS Emissions - Developing nations want rich nations within the Kyoto Protocol to cut emissions by at least 25% by 2020. Developed nations are reluctant, favouring a new deal that would see all nations commit to curbing climate changeChina/US stand-off - US will not accept legally binding emission cuts unless China does the same. China unlikely to allow international verification of its emission cuts; Hillary Clinton calls this a potential 'deal breaker'Finances - Ongoing disagreement how funds to mitigate and adapt to climate change will be provided. Poor nations want direct aid, while the West favours schemes like carbon tradingTrust - Delegates from some developing nations do not believe that they have been treated fairly by the Danish presidency
Mr de Boer added that the texts would be considered by two working groups, which were expected to report back to the main conference on Thursday evening.Mr de Boer added that the texts would be considered by two working groups, which were expected to report back to the main conference on Thursday evening.
Saleemul Huq, senior fellow in climate change at the International Institute for Environment and Development, told BBC News: "The negotiation process is in a high state of confusion."Saleemul Huq, senior fellow in climate change at the International Institute for Environment and Development, told BBC News: "The negotiation process is in a high state of confusion."
"On the other hand, heads of state are arriving and talking to each other, and within hours every important decision-maker on the planet will be in the same town at the same time."On the other hand, heads of state are arriving and talking to each other, and within hours every important decision-maker on the planet will be in the same town at the same time.
"If they can't do it, no-one can - and I think that they will.""If they can't do it, no-one can - and I think that they will."
India's environment minister Jairam Ramesh said a "blame game" had already begun because of the slow progress towards a deal.India's environment minister Jairam Ramesh said a "blame game" had already begun because of the slow progress towards a deal.
Containing emissions to a level associated with a temperature rise of no more than 2C is the stated aim of the big nations here.Containing emissions to a level associated with a temperature rise of no more than 2C is the stated aim of the big nations here.
As things are going they will miss that target by a considerable margin, our correspondent says.As things are going they will miss that target by a considerable margin, our correspondent says.
The poorest and most vulnerable nations say emissions should be contained to a level associated with a temperature rise of 1 or 1.5C.The poorest and most vulnerable nations say emissions should be contained to a level associated with a temperature rise of 1 or 1.5C.
Are you in Copenhagen? Are you taking part in the demonstrations or are you a delegate at the talks? What is the atmosphere like? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in Copenhagen? Are you taking part in the demonstrations or are you a delegate at the talks? What is the atmosphere like? Send us your comments using the form below.
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