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UN climate talks near chaotic end UN climate talks near chaotic end
(about 2 hours later)
  By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News, Durban   By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News, Durban
India is emerging as the country leading opposition to a strong binding deal on climate change at the annual UN talks in South Africa. UN climate talks in South Africa look set to reach agreement after India and the EU settled a dispute that had threatened to create an impasse.
Other important countries including the US are prepared to negotiate an emission-curbing "legal instrument" by 2015, taking effect by 2020. Countries are likely to agree to start talks next year on a roadmap leading to a global agreement "with legal force", taking effect by 2020 at the latest.
India is holding out to start after 2020, and the weaker "legal outcome". India, backed by some other major countries, had wanted weaker language.
The EU and large blocs of countries vulnerable to climate impacts say this is a "red line" issue. However, confusion beset the final sessions, as it had the rest of the day, and the talking is not over.
They are concerned that 2020 is too late to prevent dangerous impacts, such as a rise in sea levels that could eventually make low-lying islands uninhabitable. Objections are also being raised on some of the other issues before ministers and negotiators.
Impassioned argumentsImpassioned arguments
"If there is no legal instrument by which we can make countries respnsible for their actions, then we are relagating countries to the fancies of beautiful words," said Karl Hood, Grenada's Foreign Minister, speaking for the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis). The roadmap idea originated with the EU, the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis) and the Least Developed Countries bloc (LDCs).
They are concerned that without a new legal agreement eventually covering emissions from all countries - particularly fast-growing major emitters such as China - the global average temperature since pre-industrial times will rise by more than 2C, the internationally-agreed threshold.
"If there is no legal instrument by which we can make countries responsible for their actions, then we are relegating countries to the fancies of beautiful words," said Karl Hood, Grenada's Foreign Minister, speaking for Aosis.
"While they develop, we die; and why should we accept this?""While they develop, we die; and why should we accept this?"
UK Climate Secretary Chris Huhne agreed the weaker text and the longer timeline were not acceptable.UK Climate Secretary Chris Huhne agreed the weaker text and the longer timeline were not acceptable.
Climate change glossary Select a term to learn more:
Adaptation Action that helps cope with the effects of climate change - for example construction of barriers to protect against rising sea levels, or conversion to crops capable of surviving high temperatures and drought. Glossary in full		 Climate change glossary Select a term to learn more:
Adaptation Action that helps cope with the effects of climate change - for example construction of barriers to protect against rising sea levels, or conversion to crops capable of surviving high temperatures and drought. Glossary in full
"The UK, as part of the EU, will continue to push for the most credible deal that meets the needs of the science," he said."The UK, as part of the EU, will continue to push for the most credible deal that meets the needs of the science," he said.
The latest draft waters down several aspects of a version released earlier in the day, and brings it closer to the original positions of the Basic group - Brazil, South Africa, India and China - and the US.The latest draft waters down several aspects of a version released earlier in the day, and brings it closer to the original positions of the Basic group - Brazil, South Africa, India and China - and the US.
And Basic delegates lined up to argue their case.And Basic delegates lined up to argue their case.
"I stand firm on my position of equity," said an impassioned Jayanthi Natarajan, India's Environment Minister."I stand firm on my position of equity," said an impassioned Jayanthi Natarajan, India's Environment Minister.
"This is not about India, it is about the entire world.""This is not about India, it is about the entire world."
India believes in maintaining the current stark division where only countries labelled "developed" have to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.India believes in maintaining the current stark division where only countries labelled "developed" have to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
Western nations, she said, have not cut their own emissions as they had pledged; and China's Xie Zhenhua agreed.Western nations, she said, have not cut their own emissions as they had pledged; and China's Xie Zhenhua agreed.
Apparently trembling with rage, he berated the established developed world: "We are doing things you are not doing... we want to see your real actions".Apparently trembling with rage, he berated the established developed world: "We are doing things you are not doing... we want to see your real actions".
However, Bangladesh weighed in on the side of Aosis, saying a new legally-binding deal is needed.However, Bangladesh weighed in on the side of Aosis, saying a new legally-binding deal is needed.
Aosis and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) agree that rich countries need to do more.Aosis and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) agree that rich countries need to do more.
But they also accept analyses concluding that fast-developing countries such as China will need to cut their emissions several years in the future if governments are to meet their goal of keeping the rise in global average temperature since pre-industrial times below 2C.But they also accept analyses concluding that fast-developing countries such as China will need to cut their emissions several years in the future if governments are to meet their goal of keeping the rise in global average temperature since pre-industrial times below 2C.
'Kyoto gutted''Kyoto gutted'
Many other issues are tied up in the long documents now before delegates.Many other issues are tied up in the long documents now before delegates.
But if they cannot reach agreement on the key "roadmap" points, there is a real prospect of talks ending in impasse.But if they cannot reach agreement on the key "roadmap" points, there is a real prospect of talks ending in impasse.
The EU itself came in for criticism over its stance on the Kyoto Protocol (KP), with delegates from the Latin American Alba group urging it to increase the depth of its carbon cuts and accept more legally-binding language than is currently in the text.The EU itself came in for criticism over its stance on the Kyoto Protocol (KP), with delegates from the Latin American Alba group urging it to increase the depth of its carbon cuts and accept more legally-binding language than is currently in the text.
"This guts Kyoto," said Paul Oquist Kelley, minister secretary for national policy for Nicaragua."This guts Kyoto," said Paul Oquist Kelley, minister secretary for national policy for Nicaragua.
"And the preamble talks about a 'global response', which means completely the opposite of 'common but differentiated responsibilities'.""And the preamble talks about a 'global response', which means completely the opposite of 'common but differentiated responsibilities'."
Dr Kelley also condemned developed nations for failing to deliver finance that they promised at the Copenhagen summit two years ago.Dr Kelley also condemned developed nations for failing to deliver finance that they promised at the Copenhagen summit two years ago.
The South African hosts have come in for a lot of criticism over a perceived lack of strategy and urgency.The South African hosts have come in for a lot of criticism over a perceived lack of strategy and urgency.
And an added complication is that some ministers have already left, with the meeting running more than a day beyond its scheduled close.And an added complication is that some ministers have already left, with the meeting running more than a day beyond its scheduled close.
Agreement looks within reach on several other aspects, including a management framework for the Green Climate Fund, which will eventually gather and disburse finance amounting to $100bn (£63.8bn) per year to help poor countries develop cleanly and adapt to climate impacts.Agreement looks within reach on several other aspects, including a management framework for the Green Climate Fund, which will eventually gather and disburse finance amounting to $100bn (£63.8bn) per year to help poor countries develop cleanly and adapt to climate impacts.
There also appears to be a draft accord on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (Redd).There also appears to be a draft accord on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (Redd).
But with disagreement manifesting itself in the halls, everything could be held hostage to the main disagreement on the roadmap.
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