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UN climate talks near chaotic end UN climate talks near chaotic end
(about 1 hour later)
  By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News, Durban   By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News, Durban
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. UN climate talks have closed with agreement on a package of measures described by the chair as "balanced".
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. The European Union will place its current emission-cutting pledges inside the legally-binding Kyoto Protocol, a key demand of developing countries.
India, backed by some other major countries, had wanted weaker language. Talks on a new legal deal covering all countries will begin next year and end by 2015, coming into effect by 2020.
However, confusion beset the final sessions, as it had the rest of the day, and the talking is not over. Management of a fund for climate aid to poor countries has also been agreed, though how to raise the money has not.
Objections are also being raised on some of the other issues before ministers and negotiators. Talks ran nearly 36 hours beyond their scheduled close, with many delegates saying the host government lacked urgency and strategy.
Nevertheless, there was applause in the main conference hall when South Africa's International Relations Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, brought down the long-awaited final gavel.
Impassioned argumentsImpassioned arguments
The roadmap idea originated with the EU, the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis) and the Least Developed Countries bloc (LDCs). The conclusion was delayed by a dispute between the EU and India over the precise wording of the "roadmap" for a new global deal.
India did not want to specify that it must be legally binding.
Eventually, it was agreed that the deal must "have legal force".
The roadmap 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.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."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.
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
UK Climate Secretary Chris Huhne agreed the weaker text and the longer timeline were not acceptable.
"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. Green fund
And Basic delegates lined up to argue their case. The tight timescale and legally-binding ambitions were criticised by the Basic group - Brazil, South Africa, India and China - and the US.
"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 and some other developing countries weighed in on the side of Aosis, saying a new legally-binding deal was needed.
Aosis and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) agree that rich countries need to do more. Aosis and the 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' The final agreement sets out 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.
Many other issues are tied up in the long documents now before delegates. There has also been significant progress on a Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (Redd).
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.
"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'."
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.
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.
There also appears to be a draft accord on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (Redd).
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