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UN says Copenhagen deal 'a start' UN says Copenhagen deal 'a start'
(about 2 hours 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

  • 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: 13:47 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: 13:47 GMT, 19 December
      Climate deal: Key issuesClimate deal: Key issues
      Analysis: Where's the beef?Analysis: Where's the beef?
      World's media reacts to dealWorld'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 Ministers and scientists and campaigners who dedicated huge swathes of the last year to making a tough deal happen watched aghast as Chinese and US leaders and their entourages flew in, took over the agenda and emerged with what was basically their own private deal, with leaders announcing it live on television before others realised it had happened.
      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. As you'd expect, leaders from EU countries and the developing world that really don't like this deal have been assuming rictus grins and telling us it's a "good first step".
      Objections from several countries mean it has not been formally adopted. Delegations are now trying to introduce language making some bits legally binding. Problem is, Bali in 2007 was the "first step"; come to that, Rio in 1992 was the "first step". Where we go from here isn't clear at the moment.
      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 Richard Black's Earth Watch blog
      After an all-night negotiating marathon, the 193-nation two-week conference ended at 1426 GMT on Saturday.After an all-night negotiating marathon, the 193-nation two-week 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.
      Robert Bailey, of Oxfam International, said: "It is too late to save the summit, but it's not too late to save the planet and its people."Robert Bailey, of Oxfam International, said: "It is too late to save the summit, but it's not too late to save the planet and its people."
      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."
      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 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 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 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.
      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."
      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
      Delegates had battled through the night to prevent the talks ending without clinching an agreement.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 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.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'
      Venezuelan delegate Claudia Salerno Caldera said the deal was a "coup d'etat against the authority of the United Nations".Venezuelan delegate Claudia Salerno Caldera said the deal was a "coup d'etat against the authority of the United Nations".
      class="" href="/2/hi/science/nature/8359629.stm">Copenhagen in graphics class="" href="/2/hi/science/nature/8394886.stm">Global warming: A future glimpse Climate '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.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.
      Copenhagen in graphics Global warming: A future glimpse
      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 summit, small island nations and vulnerable coastal countries had demanded a binding deal to limit emissions to a level preventing temperatures rises above 1.5C (2.7F) over pre-industrial levels.During the summit, small island nations and vulnerable coastal countries had demanded a binding deal to limit emissions to a level preventing temperatures rises above 1.5C (2.7F) over pre-industrial levels.