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Leaders must strike deal - Obama Leaders must strike deal - Obama
(10 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has called on world leaders to come together at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen as time runs out to strike a deal.US President Barack Obama has called on world leaders to come together at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen as time runs out to strike a deal.
President Obama told delegates the international community's ability to take collective action was in doubt.President Obama told delegates the international community's ability to take collective action was in doubt.
Leaders have gathered for the final day of the summit amid uncertainty over the shape of any eventual deal.Leaders have gathered for the final day of the summit amid uncertainty over the shape of any eventual deal.
A draft political agreement drawn up by a small group of countries was rejected during overnight discussions.A draft political agreement drawn up by a small group of countries was rejected during overnight discussions.
Addressing the summit on Friday, President Obama said: "While the science of climate change is not in doubt, I think our ability to take collective action is in doubt right now, and it hangs in the balance."Addressing the summit on Friday, President Obama said: "While the science of climate change is not in doubt, I think our ability to take collective action is in doubt right now, and it hangs in the balance."
He said he had come to Copenhagen "not to talk, but to act".He said he had come to Copenhagen "not to talk, but to act".
Unchecked, he said, climate change would pose "unacceptable risks" to international security, the world economy and the planet.Unchecked, he said, climate change would pose "unacceptable risks" to international security, the world economy and the planet.
Time wasted?Time wasted?
China's premier Wen Jiabao told delegates: "To meet the climate change challenge, the international community must strengthen confidence, build consensus, make vigorous efforts and enhance co-operation." China's Premier Wen Jiabao told delegates: "To meet the climate change challenge, the international community must strengthen confidence, build consensus, make vigorous efforts and enhance co-operation."
He added that in addressing climate change, the international community must not "turn a blind eye to historical responsibilities, per capita emissions and different levels of development".He added that in addressing climate change, the international community must not "turn a blind eye to historical responsibilities, per capita emissions and different levels of development".
After their speeches, President Obama and the Chinese Premier met for talks, a development the White House described as a "step forward".

COPENHAGEN LATEST

  • "America is going to continue on this course of action to mitigate ouremissions and move toward a clean energy economy - no matterwhat happens here in Copenhagen," Barack Obama says
  • The verdict of Nnimmo Bassey, chair of Friends of the Earth International, is: "Nothing we hadn't heard before"
  • The US, the EU, Mexico and others circulated a draft political declaration (4Mb PDF) during the night, but failed to get support
Updated: 13:00 GMT, 18 December
As well as the leaders' session, talks are scheduled on texts that sources say remain full of fundamental divisions.As well as the leaders' session, talks are scheduled on texts that sources say remain full of fundamental divisions.

COPENHAGEN LATEST

  • "I think our ability to take collective action is in doubt right now," Barack Obama says
  • UK Green activist Tony Juniper says he "laid down where the American position lies and challenged everyone else to move there"
  • The US, the EU, Mexico and others circulated a draft political declaration (4Mb PDF) during the night, but failed to get support
Updated: 11:55 GMT, 18 December
One developing country negotiator told BBC News that the rejected draft political accord had arrived "as if from God".One developing country negotiator told BBC News that the rejected draft political accord had arrived "as if from God".
BBC environment correspondent Richard Black said some developing countries have repeatedly complained during the two weeks here of high-handed treatment by the Danish hosts and the West in general.BBC environment correspondent Richard Black said some developing countries have repeatedly complained during the two weeks here of high-handed treatment by the Danish hosts and the West in general.
"It is very confusing, and developing countries are very disappointed because they've invested a lot of time in the documents they're negotiating here," said Martin Khor, executive director of the South Centre, a Geneva-based think-tank."It is very confusing, and developing countries are very disappointed because they've invested a lot of time in the documents they're negotiating here," said Martin Khor, executive director of the South Centre, a Geneva-based think-tank.
"People feel their time has been wasted," he told BBC News."People feel their time has been wasted," he told BBC News.
There were reportedly a number of sticking points over the draft agreement. One of them appears to have been the absence of a commitment to a legally binding treaty, which many developing countries have been insisting on.There were reportedly a number of sticking points over the draft agreement. One of them appears to have been the absence of a commitment to a legally binding treaty, which many developing countries have been insisting on.
President Obama is due to meet individual leaders including the Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao. Correspondents say it is the US and China - the world's two largest carbon emitters - that hold the key to striking an agreement. Key countries
Both countries have indicated they might make concessions. China signalled it might allow some monitoring of emission curbs while the US said it would commit money for developing countries. Correspondents say it is the US and China - the world's two largest carbon emitters - that hold the key to striking an agreement. Both countries have indicated they might make concessions. China signalled it might allow some monitoring of emission curbs while the US said it would commit money for developing countries.
Addressing the meeting on Friday, UN Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon urged delegations to "seal a deal", adding: "It will be your legacy."Addressing the meeting on Friday, UN Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon urged delegations to "seal a deal", adding: "It will be your legacy."
COPENHAGEN CLIMATE SUMMIT Delegates from 193 nations are in Copenhagen to negotiate an agreement on curbing greenhouse gas emissions, in order to prevent dangerous climate changeDeveloping nations want rich nations to cut emissions by at least 25% by 2020 - rich nations are reluctant to go so farThe US insists China curbs its emissions, and allows international verificationPoor nations want climate aid to come largely from public finances, while the West favours schemes like carbon trading Q&A: Copenhagen summit
Despite many expressions of concern about projections of climate change, finance has emerged as an issue more likely to make or break a deal than emission pledges, the BBC's Richard Black reports from Copenhagen.Despite many expressions of concern about projections of climate change, finance has emerged as an issue more likely to make or break a deal than emission pledges, the BBC's Richard Black reports from Copenhagen.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US was prepared to help establish funding of $100bn a year for developing countries if a deal emerged that met US requirements.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US was prepared to help establish funding of $100bn a year for developing countries if a deal emerged that met US requirements.
The key US demand is "transparency" from China, seen as a must if the US Senate is to pass legislation controlling emissions.The key US demand is "transparency" from China, seen as a must if the US Senate is to pass legislation controlling emissions.
COPENHAGEN CLIMATE SUMMIT Delegates from 193 nations are in Copenhagen to negotiate an agreement on curbing greenhouse gas emissions, in order to prevent dangerous climate changeDeveloping nations want rich nations to cut emissions by at least 25% by 2020 - rich nations are reluctant to go so far and want developing countries to curb emissions tooThe US will not accept legally binding emissions cuts unless China does the same. China has been vague on allowing international scrutiny of its emission cutsOngoing disagreement on how funds to mitigate and adapt to climate change will be provided. Poor nations want direct aid, while the West favours schemes like carbon trading
While Beijing has been hostile to this notion, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei said China was ready to engage in "dialogue and co-operation that is not intrusive, that does not infringe on China's sovereignty".While Beijing has been hostile to this notion, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei said China was ready to engage in "dialogue and co-operation that is not intrusive, that does not infringe on China's sovereignty".
There was no immediate reaction from the US delegation to the Chinese offer but, an Associated Press correspondent reported that it went a long way toward meeting American demands.There was no immediate reaction from the US delegation to the Chinese offer but, an Associated Press correspondent reported that it went a long way toward meeting American demands.

CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY

Glossary in full
Earlier, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called for all states, both developed and developing, to be flexible about verification.Earlier, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called for all states, both developed and developing, to be flexible about verification.
He indicated the possibility of setting up an international mechanism for monitoring emission cuts.He indicated the possibility of setting up an international mechanism for monitoring emission cuts.
The draft declaration is reportedly set to mention a cap of 2C but a document prepared by the UN climate convention secretariat, which was leaked earlier, confirms that current pledges on cutting greenhouse gas emissions are almost certainly not enough to keep the rise in the global average temperature within that level.The draft declaration is reportedly set to mention a cap of 2C but a document prepared by the UN climate convention secretariat, which was leaked earlier, confirms that current pledges on cutting greenhouse gas emissions are almost certainly not enough to keep the rise in the global average temperature within that level.
The analysis says that to achieve that goal, global emissions should be kept at or below 44 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2020.

CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY

Glossary in full
But if enacted, the current maximum pledges from developed countries would leave emissions 1.9Gt above that figure; minimum pledges would mean missing the target by 4.2Gt.
Unless this gap is closed, it says - for example by developed nations raising their current overall offer to a cut of 30% from 1990 levels by 2020 - global emissions will "remain on an unsustainable pathway that could lead to concentrations equal or above 550ppm, with the related temperature rise around 3C".
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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