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Brown seeks binding climate deal Brown seeks binding climate deal
(30 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has pledged to lead a campaign to establish a legally binding treaty on tackling climate change.Gordon Brown has pledged to lead a campaign to establish a legally binding treaty on tackling climate change.
Speaking at the Copenhagen summit, the prime minister said that was the next step after the US reached agreement with some major developing economies.Speaking at the Copenhagen summit, the prime minister said that was the next step after the US reached agreement with some major developing economies.
As delegates recognised a US-led agreement, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said he had wanted a stronger deal. As delegates passed a motion recognising a US-led deal, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said he had wanted a stronger outcome.
Friends of the Earth called the US-led deal "a toothless declaration". Talks are ongoing in an effort to get consensus between the 192 countries.
Mr Miliband spoke as talks continued to get consensus between the 192 countries on a temperature increase limit of 2C (3.6F) and $100bn dollars to help poorer countries cope. Mr Miliband spoke as the countries debated the merits of the US-led agreement, which would see a temperature increase limit of 2C (3.6F) and $100bn dollars to help poorer countries cope.
'Good' start
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We would have wanted a more comprehensive agreement, a legally binding one.He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We would have wanted a more comprehensive agreement, a legally binding one.
"It's good we made a start, in terms of the emissions cuts countries are going to do and crucially, in terms of finance. But that does rely on getting agreement."It's good we made a start, in terms of the emissions cuts countries are going to do and crucially, in terms of finance. But that does rely on getting agreement.
"Today's events show the difficulty we face, which is, we are dealing with incredibly complex issues and getting 192 countries signed up. In anyone's book that's not an easy task.""Today's events show the difficulty we face, which is, we are dealing with incredibly complex issues and getting 192 countries signed up. In anyone's book that's not an easy task."
Greenpeace UK chief John Sauven said a "radically different" kind of politics on climate change was needed.
I am now going to lead a campaign around the world with other countries for the legally binding treaty that is the obvious next stage from this Gordon BrownI am now going to lead a campaign around the world with other countries for the legally binding treaty that is the obvious next stage from this Gordon Brown
US President Barack Obama said the deal would be a foundation for global action but there was "much further to go".US President Barack Obama said the deal would be a foundation for global action but there was "much further to go".
He said the US, China, Brazil, India and South Africa had "agreed to set a mitigation target to limit warming to no more than 2C and, importantly, to take action to meet this objective".He said the US, China, Brazil, India and South Africa had "agreed to set a mitigation target to limit warming to no more than 2C and, importantly, to take action to meet this objective".
As details emerged of the agreement, Mr Brown said there had been progress, although he added that "it is not enough" and he wants "to go further quickly".As details emerged of the agreement, Mr Brown said there had been progress, although he added that "it is not enough" and he wants "to go further quickly".
Mr Brown said: "I am now going to lead a campaign around the world with other countries for the legally binding treaty that is the obvious next stage from this.Mr Brown said: "I am now going to lead a campaign around the world with other countries for the legally binding treaty that is the obvious next stage from this.
"We've got, for the first time, agreement about the limits to which we can allow emissions to go.""We've got, for the first time, agreement about the limits to which we can allow emissions to go."
The prime minister said he expected all countries to agree to the 2C limit for 2050.The prime minister said he expected all countries to agree to the 2C limit for 2050.
Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband urged delegates to accept the draft planClimate Change Secretary Ed Miliband urged delegates to accept the draft plan
Mr Brown also said every country would now be expected to produce a national emissions plan that would be open to "international scrutiny".Mr Brown also said every country would now be expected to produce a national emissions plan that would be open to "international scrutiny".
"It is the first time anything global like this has been agreed. Kyoto was not global - it was only a number of countries that signed up," said the prime minister."It is the first time anything global like this has been agreed. Kyoto was not global - it was only a number of countries that signed up," said the prime minister.
He said once countries publish their plans in the coming weeks it would become clear that "it is a major number of gigatonnes that are being reduced in carbon emissions".He said once countries publish their plans in the coming weeks it would become clear that "it is a major number of gigatonnes that are being reduced in carbon emissions".
Friends of the Earth's Andy Atkins said the "toothless declaration" made by the US "condemns millions of the world's poorest people to hunger, suffering and loss of life as climate change accelerates".
'Radically different' politics
He said: "A 2C rise in temperature would still mean the deaths of millions of people and the complete destruction of at least four low-lying island states.
"And asking countries to list their national actions on climate change is absolutely no substitute for a legally binding international agreement."
Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said it was now clear that "beating global warming" would require "a radically different model of politics" than the one that had been on display in Copenhagen.
I see the big step forward is a range of nations committing themselves to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions Sir David King
He added: "We don't yet know the small print of what Copenhagen will give us, but it looks like it won't deliver anything close to what the world needs."
Former government chief scientific adviser, Sir David King, said the summit had come one year too early for Mr Obama to be able to take leadership of the issue.Former government chief scientific adviser, Sir David King, said the summit had come one year too early for Mr Obama to be able to take leadership of the issue.
"He's in a hostage position in relation to his own Senate. He has to wait until next March when his Senate has declared what the United States can do before he can take an internationally leading position," he said."He's in a hostage position in relation to his own Senate. He has to wait until next March when his Senate has declared what the United States can do before he can take an internationally leading position," he said.
"I see momentum has gathered, I see the big step forward is a range of nations committing themselves to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.""I see momentum has gathered, I see the big step forward is a range of nations committing themselves to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions."
He said these were voluntary commitments but were led by the EU so "they go a quite long way".He said these were voluntary commitments but were led by the EU so "they go a quite long way".