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UN welcomes climate summit deal UN welcomes climate summit deal
(about 1 hour later)
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed a US-backed climate deal in Copenhagen as an "essential beginning".The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed a US-backed climate deal in Copenhagen as an "essential beginning".
He was speaking after delegates passed a motion recognising the agreement, which the US reached with key nations including China and Brazil.He was speaking after delegates passed a motion recognising the agreement, which the US reached with key nations including China and Brazil.
But Mr Ban said the agreement must be made legally binding next year.But Mr Ban said the agreement must be made legally binding next year.
Earlier, the meeting failed to secure unanimous support, amid opposition from some developing nations.Earlier, the meeting failed to secure unanimous support, amid opposition from some developing nations.

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
Several South American countries, such as Nicaragua and Venezuela, were among a group saying the agreement had not been reached through proper process.Several South American countries, such as Nicaragua and Venezuela, were among a group saying the agreement had not been reached through proper process.
The BBC's environment correspondent Richard Black says the deal may disappoint many countries that wanted tougher action on climate change.
He says the Copenhagen Accord looks unlikely to contain temperature rises to within 2C (3.6F) and it is not yet clear whether it counts as a formal UN deal or not.
Not perfect
"The conference decides to take note of the Copenhagen Accord of December 18, 2009," the chairman of the plenary session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) declared on Saturday morning, swiftly banging down his gavel."The conference decides to take note of the Copenhagen Accord of December 18, 2009," the chairman of the plenary session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) declared on Saturday morning, swiftly banging down his gavel.
Mr Ban told journalists: "Finally, we sealed the deal."Mr Ban told journalists: "Finally, we sealed the deal."
"It may not be everything we hoped for, but this decision of the Conference of Parties is an essential beginning.""It may not be everything we hoped for, but this decision of the Conference of Parties is an essential beginning."
AT THE SCENE Richard Black,BBC News environment correspondent When President Obama left Copenhagen last night, he appeared to think he carried a nice, neat deal in his back pocket.AT THE SCENE Richard Black,BBC News environment correspondent When President Obama left Copenhagen last night, he appeared to think he carried a nice, neat deal in his back pocket.
Perhaps he didn't realise that having it formally adopted in the closing plenary session here would mean getting it past a hall full of smart diplomats and lawyers from countries that hate the contents of the deal and the way it was done.Perhaps he didn't realise that having it formally adopted in the closing plenary session here would mean getting it past a hall full of smart diplomats and lawyers from countries that hate the contents of the deal and the way it was done.
Objections from several countries mean it has not been formally adopted. Delegations are now trying to introduce language making some bits legally binding.Objections from several countries mean it has not been formally adopted. Delegations are now trying to introduce language making some bits legally binding.
A global deal? That's looking less and less likely… whether it matters, whether the Chinese and US architects care, is another matter. Richard Black's Earth Watch blogA global deal? That's looking less and less likely… whether it matters, whether the Chinese and US architects care, is another matter. Richard Black's Earth Watch blog
But the UN Secretary General also said: "We must transform this into a legally binding treaty next year.But the UN Secretary General also said: "We must transform this into a legally binding treaty next year.
"The importance will only be recognised when it's codified into international law.""The importance will only be recognised when it's codified into international law."
'Suicide pact''Suicide pact'
Delegates at the climate summit had been battling through the night to prevent the talks ending without reaching a final deal.Delegates at the climate summit had been battling through the night to prevent the talks ending without reaching a final deal.
The Copenhagen Accord is based on a proposal tabled on Friday by a US-led group of five nations - including China, India, Brazil and South Africa - that President Barack Obama called a "meaningful agreement".The Copenhagen Accord is based on a proposal tabled on Friday by a US-led group of five nations - including China, India, Brazil and South Africa - that President Barack Obama called a "meaningful agreement".
The accord includes a recognition to limit temperature rises to less than 2C (3.6F) and promises to deliver $30bn (£18.5bn) of aid for developing nations over the next three years. The accord includes a recognition to limit temperature rises to less than 2C and promises to deliver $30bn (£18.5bn) of aid for developing nations over the next three years.
It outlines a goal of providing $100bn a year by 2020 to help poor countries cope with the impacts of climate change.It outlines a goal of providing $100bn a year by 2020 to help poor countries cope with the impacts of climate change.
THE COPENHAGEN ACCORD Documents in full [163 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereTHE COPENHAGEN ACCORD Documents in full [163 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
The agreement also includes a method for verifying industrialised nations' reduction of emissions. The US had insisted that China dropped its resistance to this measure.The agreement also includes a method for verifying industrialised nations' reduction of emissions. The US had insisted that China dropped its resistance to this measure.
Earlier, the proposal had been rejected by a few developing nations which felt that it failed to deliver the actions needed to halt dangerous climate change.Earlier, the proposal had been rejected by a few developing nations which felt that it failed to deliver the actions needed to halt dangerous climate change.
The main opposition to the five-nation accord had come from the ALBA bloc of Latin American countries to which Nicaragua and Venezuela belong, along with Cuba, Ecuador and Bolivia.The main opposition to the five-nation accord had come from the ALBA bloc of Latin American countries to which Nicaragua and Venezuela belong, along with Cuba, Ecuador and Bolivia.
Copenhagen in graphics Global warming: A future glimpseCopenhagen in graphics Global warming: A future glimpse
Venezuelan delegate Claudia Salerno Caldera said before the motion was passed: "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."Venezuelan delegate Claudia Salerno Caldera said before the motion was passed: "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."
Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, the Sudanese negotiator, had said the draft text asked "Africa to sign a suicide pact".Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, the Sudanese negotiator, had said the draft text asked "Africa to sign a suicide pact".
During the two-week gathering, small island nations and vulnerable coastal countries had 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 had 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.