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UN welcomes climate summit deal UN welcomes climate summit deal
(10 minutes 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.He was speaking after delegates passed a motion recognising the agreement, which the US reached with key nations including China.
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.
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.
Mr Ban told journalists: "Finally, we sealed the deal."Mr Ban told journalists: "Finally, we sealed the deal."
THE COPENHAGEN ACCORD class="" href="http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/cop15/eng/l07.pdf">Documents in full [163 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here rel="stylesheet" href="/nol/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/09/climate_change_factbox/css/climate_change_factbox.css" type="text/css" />

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
    But he added: "We must transform this into a legally binding treaty next year. "It may not be everything we hoped for, but this decision of the Conference of Parties is an essential beginning."
    But the UN Secretary General said at the plenary session: "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."
    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.
    Earlier, a US-led group of five nations - including China - tabled a last-minute proposal that President Barack Obama called a "meaningful agreement". On Friday, a US-led group of five nations - including China - tabled a last-minute proposal that President Barack Obama called a "meaningful agreement".

    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
      However, it had been rejected by a few developing nations which felt it failed to deliver the actions needed to halt dangerous climate change.However, it had been rejected by a few developing nations which felt it failed to deliver the actions needed to halt dangerous climate change.
      The majority of nations had been urging the Danish hosts to adopt the deal.The majority of nations had been urging the Danish hosts to adopt the deal.
      "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.
      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
      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.
      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).
      However, a number of developing nations were angered by the draft proposals.However, a number of developing nations were angered by the draft proposals.
      BBC environment correspondent Richard Black said the language in this text showed 2C was not a formal target, just that the group "recognises the scientific view that" the temperature increase should be held below this figure.BBC environment correspondent Richard Black said the language in this text showed 2C was not a formal target, just that the group "recognises the scientific view that" the temperature increase should be held below this figure.
      Copenhagen in graphics Global warming: A future glimpse
      The five-nation proposal had 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 proposal had 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.
      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.
      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.
      But the African Union appeared to back the deal, along with most of the small island developing states.