This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7145608.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Climate deal sealed by US U-turn | Climate deal sealed by US U-turn |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Delegates at the UN summit in Bali have agreed a deal on curbing climate change after days of bitter wrangling. | Delegates at the UN summit in Bali have agreed a deal on curbing climate change after days of bitter wrangling. |
| Agreement was reached after a U-turn from the US, which had wanted firmer commitments from developing countries. | Agreement was reached after a U-turn from the US, which had wanted firmer commitments from developing countries. |
| Earlier, the EU and US agreed that industrialised countries would not set firm emissions targets at this stage. | Earlier, the EU and US agreed that industrialised countries would not set firm emissions targets at this stage. |
| The "Bali roadmap" initiates a two-year process of negotiations designed to agree a new set of emissions targets to replace those in the Kyoto Protocol. | The "Bali roadmap" initiates a two-year process of negotiations designed to agree a new set of emissions targets to replace those in the Kyoto Protocol. |
| "I think we have come a long way here," said Paula Dobriansky, head of the US delegation. | "I think we have come a long way here," said Paula Dobriansky, head of the US delegation. |
| "In this, the United States is very committed to this effort and just wants to really ensure we all act together." | "In this, the United States is very committed to this effort and just wants to really ensure we all act together." |
| Dramatic scenes | Dramatic scenes |
| The US acceptance came just minutes after it had signalled it would reject the compromise, a statement that drew boos from delegates in the conference hall. | The US acceptance came just minutes after it had signalled it would reject the compromise, a statement that drew boos from delegates in the conference hall. |
| This is a real breakthrough, a real opportunity for the international community to successfully fight climate change Rachmat Witoelar, Indonesian Environment Minister The EU had earlier thrashed out the compromise text with developing countries including China. | |
| They had complained that language on reducing their emissions was too strong, and would commit them to measures that could retard their economic development. | They had complained that language on reducing their emissions was too strong, and would commit them to measures that could retard their economic development. |
| They also wanted the West to pledge more action on transferring clean technology to developing societies. | They also wanted the West to pledge more action on transferring clean technology to developing societies. |
| Observers spoke of emotional scenes in the conference hall - the UN's top climate official Yvo de Boer in tears after being accused by China of procedural irregularities, and cheers and hugs when the US indicated its acceptance. | Observers spoke of emotional scenes in the conference hall - the UN's top climate official Yvo de Boer in tears after being accused by China of procedural irregularities, and cheers and hugs when the US indicated its acceptance. |
| "This is a real breakthrough, a real opportunity for the international community to successfully fight climate change," said Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar, who served as conference president. | |
| "Parties have recognised the urgency of action on climate change and have now provided the political response to what scientists have been telling us is needed." | |
| Talks have been intense, and the meeting has run more than a day beyond its scheduled close, with several night-time sessions. | |
| On the road | |
| The document coming out of the meeting, the "Bali roadmap", contains text on emissions cuts, the transfer of clean technology to developing countries, halting deforestation and helping poorer nations protect their economies and societies against impacts of climate change such as rising sea levels and falling crop yields. | |
| The roadmap sets the parameters and aims for a further set of negotiations to be finalised by the 2009 UN climate conference, to be held in Denmark. | |
| By that stage, parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Kyoto Protocol should have agreed a comprehensive plan for curbing global warming and adapting to its impacts. | |
| This will include firm emissions targets for industrialised countries to replace those in the Kyoto Protocol which expire in 2012, some softer form of targets or ambitions for major developing countries, and mechanisms for leveraging funds from carbon trading to protect forests and fund adaptation projects. |