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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".
After their speeches, President Obama and the Chinese Premier met for talks, a development the White House described as a "step forward".

COPENHAGEN LATEST

  • "The time for talk is over," Barack Obama says
  • The verdict of Bolivian President Evo Morales: "President Obama said it was time to act, and if we are to act, then I have to ask you - starting from now, please fulfil the Kyoto Protocol"
  • The EU decides not to increase its pledge of a 20% cut in emissions by 2020 to 30%
  • The US, the EU and others circulated a draft political declaration (4Mb PDF) during the night, but failed to get support
Updated: 13:25 GMT, 18 December

COPENHAGEN LATEST

  • "The time for talk is over," Barack Obama says
  • The verdict of Bolivian President Evo Morales: "President Obama said it was time to act, and if we are to act, then I have to ask you - starting from now, please fulfil the Kyoto Protocol"
  • The EU decides not to increase its pledge of a 20% cut in emissions by 2020 to 30%
  • The US, the EU and others circulated a draft political declaration (4Mb PDF) during the night, but failed to get support
Updated: 13:25 GMT, 18 December
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. 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 nearly an hour, a development the White House described as a "step forward".
Correspondents say it is the US and China - the world's two largest carbon emitters - that hold the key to striking an agreement. China has been criticised during the summit for not offering stronger carbon emissions targets and for resisting international monitoring of its emissions controls.
The US has received criticism for making its climate aid offer so late in the talks.
On Thursday, 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.
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
The key US demand is "transparency" from China, seen as a must if the US Senate is to pass legislation controlling emissions.
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.
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".
"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.
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.
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.
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.

CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY

Glossary in full

CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY

Glossary in full
Bolivia's President Evo Morales said: "President Obama said it was time to act. And if we are to act, then I have to ask you - starting from now, please fulfil the Kyoto Protocol".
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.
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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