This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/8422031.stm

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Climate talks battle to save deal Climate talks battle to save deal
(10 minutes later)
Delegates at the climate summit are battling to prevent the talks ending without reaching a final deal.Delegates at the climate summit are battling to prevent the talks ending without reaching a final deal.
Earlier, a US-led group of five nations - including China - tabled a last-minute proposal that President Barack Obama called a "meaningful agreement".Earlier, a US-led group of five nations - including China - tabled a last-minute proposal that President Barack Obama called a "meaningful agreement".
However, it was rejected by a few developing nations who felt it failed to deliver the actions needed to halt dangerous climate change.However, it was rejected by a few developing nations who felt it failed to deliver the actions needed to halt dangerous climate change.
But the majority of nations are urging the Danish hosts to adopt the deal.But the majority of nations are urging the Danish hosts to adopt the deal.
To be accepted as an official UN agreement, the deal needs to be endorsed by all 193 nations at the talks.To be accepted as an official UN agreement, the deal needs to be endorsed by all 193 nations at the talks.
'Devoid of morality''Devoid of morality'
On Friday evening, the US, China, India, Brazil and South Africa reached a last-minute agreement on a number of issues, such as a recognition to limit temperature rises to less than 2C (3.6F).On Friday evening, the US, China, India, Brazil and South Africa reached a last-minute agreement on a number of issues, such as a recognition to limit temperature rises to less than 2C (3.6F).
AT THE SCENE Richard Black,BBC News environment correspondent Mr Obama may have a deal with Brazil, China, India and South Africa - but it is not at all clear that he has a deal with anyone else.AT THE SCENE Richard Black,BBC News environment correspondent Mr Obama may have a deal with Brazil, China, India and South Africa - but it is not at all clear that he has a deal with anyone else.
While the White House was announcing the deal, most other delegations had not even seen it.While the White House was announcing the deal, most other delegations had not even seen it.
This has clearly annoyed a number of countries who, when the agreement document, expressed their distaste in vigorous language - a "coup d'Etat against the UN".This has clearly annoyed a number of countries who, when the agreement document, expressed their distaste in vigorous language - a "coup d'Etat against the UN".
With no firm target for limiting the global temperature rise, no commitment to a legal treaty and no target year for peaking emissions, countries vulnerable to climate impacts are pointing out this "deal" does not guarantee the temperature targets they need.With no firm target for limiting the global temperature rise, no commitment to a legal treaty and no target year for peaking emissions, countries vulnerable to climate impacts are pointing out this "deal" does not guarantee the temperature targets they need.
Richard Black's Earth Watch blogRichard Black's Earth Watch blog
Mr Obama said it would be a foundation for global action but there was "much further to go". However, BBC environment correspondent Richard Black says the language in the text shows 2C is not a formal target, just that the group "recognises the scientific view that" the temperature increase should be held below this figure.
Mr Obama said the deal would be a foundation for global action but admitted there was "much further to go".
However, a number of developing nations were angered by the draft proposals.However, a number of developing nations were angered by the draft proposals.
Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, the Sudanese negotiator, said the draft text asked "Africa to sign a suicide pact".Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, the Sudanese negotiator, said the draft text asked "Africa to sign a suicide pact".
Saying it was "devoid of any sense of responsibility and morality", he added: "The promise of $100bn will not bribe us to destroy the continent."Saying it was "devoid of any sense of responsibility and morality", he added: "The promise of $100bn will not bribe us to destroy the continent."
The five-nation deal promised to deliver $30bn (£18.5bn) of aid for developing nations over the next three years, and outlined a goal of providing $100bn a year by 2020 to help poor countries cope with the impacts of climate change.The five-nation deal promised to deliver $30bn (£18.5bn) of aid for developing nations over the next three years, and outlined a goal of providing $100bn a year by 2020 to help poor countries cope with the impacts of climate change.
The agreement also included a method for verifying industrialised nations' reduction of emissions. The US had insisted that China dropped its resistance to this measure.The agreement also included a method for verifying industrialised nations' reduction of emissions. The US had insisted that China dropped its resistance to this measure.

US-LED COPENHAGEN DEAL

  • No reference to legally binding agreement
  • Recognises the need to limit global temperatures rising no more than 2C above pre-industrial levels
  • Developed countries to "set a goal of mobilising jointly $100bn a year by 2020 to address the needs of developingcountries"
  • On transparency: Emerging nations monitor own efforts and report to UN every two years. Some international checks
  • No detailed framework on carbon markets - "various approaches" will be pursued
Updated: 06:40 GMT, 19 December

    US-LED COPENHAGEN DEAL

    • No reference to legally binding agreement
    • Recognises the need to limit global temperatures rising no more than 2C above pre-industrial levels
    • Developed countries to "set a goal of mobilising jointly $100bn a year by 2020 to address the needs of developingcountries"
    • On transparency: Emerging nations monitor own efforts and report to UN every two years. Some international checks
    • No detailed framework on carbon markets - "various approaches" will be pursued
    Updated: 06:40 GMT, 19 December
      During the two-week gathering, small island nations and vulnerable coastal countries have been calling for a binding agreement that would limit emissions to a level that would prevent temperatures rising more than 1.5C (2.7F) above pre-industrial levels.During the two-week gathering, small island nations and vulnerable coastal countries have been calling for a binding agreement that would limit emissions to a level that would prevent temperatures rising more than 1.5C (2.7F) above pre-industrial levels.
      "Can I suggest that in biblical terms, it looks like we're being offered 30 pieces of silver to sell our future," Tuvalu's lead negotiator Ian Fry said during the main meeting. "Our future is not for sale.""Can I suggest that in biblical terms, it looks like we're being offered 30 pieces of silver to sell our future," Tuvalu's lead negotiator Ian Fry said during the main meeting. "Our future is not for sale."
      Mr Fry said his country could not accept the deal, as did Venezuelan delegate Claudia Salerno Caldera.Mr Fry said his country could not accept the deal, as did Venezuelan delegate Claudia Salerno Caldera.
      She said: "Mr President, I ask whether - under the eye of the UN secretary general - you are going to endorse this coup d'etat against the authority of the United Nations."She said: "Mr President, I ask whether - under the eye of the UN secretary general - you are going to endorse this coup d'etat against the authority of the United Nations."
      'Not perfect''Not perfect'
      Delegates are still angrily debating the agreement and there are doubts whether Danish PM Lars Loekke Rasmussen will be able to declare it approved.Delegates are still angrily debating the agreement and there are doubts whether Danish PM Lars Loekke Rasmussen will be able to declare it approved.
      It is now evident that beating global warming will require a radically different model of politics than the one in Copenhagen John Sauven, Greenpeace UK What do you think of the deal? Reaction in quotesIt is now evident that beating global warming will require a radically different model of politics than the one in Copenhagen John Sauven, Greenpeace UK What do you think of the deal? Reaction in quotes
      But the majority of speakers addressing the conference have been urging the Danish hosts to adopt the proposed text, saying the US-led deal was better than no deal.But the majority of speakers addressing the conference have been urging the Danish hosts to adopt the proposed text, saying the US-led deal was better than no deal.
      EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told reporters: "I will not hide my disappointment regarding the non-binding nature of the agreement here."EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told reporters: "I will not hide my disappointment regarding the non-binding nature of the agreement here."
      "In that respect the document falls far short of our expectations.""In that respect the document falls far short of our expectations."
      However, he added that the EU would accept the US-led deal.However, he added that the EU would accept the US-led deal.
      The two-week summit had been deadlocked as world leaders had struggled to hammer out a deal.The two-week summit had been deadlocked as world leaders had struggled to hammer out a deal.
      "The text we have is not perfect," said French President Nicolas Sarkozy."The text we have is not perfect," said French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
      But he added: "If we had no deal, that would mean that two countries as important as India and China would be freed from any type of contract.But he added: "If we had no deal, that would mean that two countries as important as India and China would be freed from any type of contract.

      CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY

      Glossary in full

      CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY

      Glossary in full
      "The United States, which is not in Kyoto, would be free of any type of contract. That's why a contract is absolutely vital.""The United States, which is not in Kyoto, would be free of any type of contract. That's why a contract is absolutely vital."
      A number of leaders have now left the Danish capital, including the US president and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.A number of leaders have now left the Danish capital, including the US president and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
      Reacting to the Copenhagen "deal", John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK, said: "The city of Copenhagen is a crime scene tonight, with the guilty men and women fleeing to the airport.Reacting to the Copenhagen "deal", John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK, said: "The city of Copenhagen is a crime scene tonight, with the guilty men and women fleeing to the airport.
      "There are no targets for carbon cuts and no agreement on a legally binding treaty," he observed."There are no targets for carbon cuts and no agreement on a legally binding treaty," he observed.
      "It is now evident that beating global warming will require a radically different model of politics than the one on display here in Copenhagen.""It is now evident that beating global warming will require a radically different model of politics than the one on display here in Copenhagen."