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UN welcomes climate summit deal | UN welcomes climate summit deal |
(10 minutes later) | |
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed a US-backed climate deal in Copenhagen as an "essential beginning". | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed a US-backed climate deal in Copenhagen as an "essential beginning". |
But he said the accord, reached with key nations including China and Brazil, must be made legally binding next year. | But he said the accord, reached with key nations including China and Brazil, must be made legally binding next year. |
After intense wrangling, delegates passed a motion simply taking note of the deal, without formally adopting it. | After intense wrangling, delegates passed a motion simply taking note of the deal, without formally adopting it. |
The pact did not win unanimous support, amid outrage from some developing nations who said it lacked specific targets for reducing carbon emissions. | The pact did not win unanimous support, amid outrage from some developing nations who said it lacked specific targets for reducing carbon emissions. |
US-LED COPENHAGEN DEAL
| US-LED COPENHAGEN DEAL
|
Climate deal: Key issues | Climate deal: Key issues |
Analysis: Where's the beef? | Analysis: Where's the beef? |
World's media reacts to deal | World's media reacts to deal |
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. | 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 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. |
But the BBC's environment correspondent Richard Black says the Copenhagen Accord looks unlikely to contain temperature rises to within the 2C (3.6F) threshold that UN scientists say is needed to avert serious climate change. | But the BBC's environment correspondent Richard Black says the Copenhagen Accord looks unlikely to contain temperature rises to within the 2C (3.6F) threshold that UN scientists say is needed to avert serious climate change. |
'Toothless failure' | 'Toothless failure' |
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. |
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 blog | 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 blog |
After an all-night negotiating marathon, the 193-nation conference ended at 1426 GMT on Saturday. | After an all-night negotiating marathon, the 193-nation conference ended at 1426 GMT on Saturday. |
"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 earlier in the day, 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 earlier in the day, swiftly banging down his gavel. |
Environmental campaigners and aid agencies branded the deal toothless and a failure. | Environmental campaigners and aid agencies branded the deal toothless and a failure. |
Mr Ban told journalists: "It may not be everything we hoped for, but this decision of the Conference of Parties is an essential beginning." | Mr Ban told journalists: "It may not be everything we hoped for, but this decision of the Conference of Parties is an essential beginning." |
"We must transform this into a legally binding treaty next year," the UN secretary general added. | "We must transform this into a legally binding treaty next year," the UN secretary general added. |
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. | |
The UK's Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said it was very important that the adoption of the accord would allow the flow of money to begin. | The UK's Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said it was very important that the adoption of the accord would allow the flow of money to begin. |
THE 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 COPENHAGEN ACCORD Documents in full [163 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
But, he said: "We recognise there could have been more ambition in parts of this agreement. Therefore we have got to drive forward as hard as we can towards both a legally binding treaty and that ambition." | But, he said: "We recognise there could have been more ambition in parts of this agreement. Therefore we have got to drive forward as hard as we can towards both a legally binding treaty and that ambition." |
Delegates had battled through the night to prevent the talks ending without clinching an agreement. | |
The deal was lambasted by some developing nations when it was put to a full session of the UNFCCC. | |
The main opposition came from the ALBA bloc of Latin American countries to which Nicaragua and Venezuela belong, along with Cuba, Ecuador and Bolivia. | |
Climate 'holocaust' | Climate 'holocaust' |
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." |
Copenhagen in graphics Global warming: A future glimpse | Copenhagen in graphics Global warming: A future glimpse |
Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, the Sudanese negotiator, said the accord spelled "incineration" for Africa and compared it to the Nazis sending "6 million people into furnaces" in the Holocaust. | Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, the Sudanese negotiator, said the accord spelled "incineration" for Africa and compared it to the Nazis sending "6 million people into furnaces" in the Holocaust. |
But the African Union backed the deal and his statement was denounced by other delegations. | But the African Union backed the deal and his statement was denounced by other delegations. |
In a further twist, says BBC environment reporter Matt McGrath, there is to be a list of those countries in favour and against on the front of the final document, with some experts suggesting money will only flow to those who say yes. | In a further twist, says BBC environment reporter Matt McGrath, there is to be a list of those countries in favour and against on the front of the final document, with some experts suggesting money will only flow to those who say yes. |
During the two-week gathering, small island nations and vulnerable coastal countries had demanded a binding agreement that would limit emissions to a level preventing 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 demanded a binding agreement that would limit emissions to a level preventing temperatures rising more than 1.5C (2.7F) above pre-industrial levels. |