UN talks set 2009 deadline for new climate pact as US isolated

Shaun Tandon Yahoo News 15 Dec 07;

Environmentalists accused the world of bowing to US pressure, forcing a compromise that left the document lacking the scientific punch needed to address what experts say is one of the gravest problems facing the world today.

A drama-filled 190-nation conference on Saturday set a 2009 deadline for a landmark pact to fight global warming after an isolated United States backed down on last-ditch objections.

After all-night talks and an impassioned intervention by UN chief Ban Ki-moon, the Bali conference agreed to launch a process to negotiate a new treaty that will take effect when the UN Kyoto Protocol's commitments expire in 2012.

The United States, the only major industrial nation to reject Kyoto, reached a compromise with the European Union (EU) to avoid mentioning any figures as a target for slashing greenhouse gas emissions.

The agreement instead only makes an indirect reference to scientists' warnings that the world must sharply cut back emissions to prevent a rise in temperatures that would put millions of people at risk.

But on an unscheduled 13th day of talks, the United States said it would not accept the statement as it wanted developing countries such as fast-growing China to make tougher commitments.

Senior US negotiator Paula Dobriansky said she had heard "many strong statements from many major developing country leaders on a greater role in helping to address urgently this global problem."

It "doesn't seem it's going to be reflected in our outcome here in the declaration," she said, telling the conference that the United States would reject the draft.

Dobriansky was loudly booed by other delegations. A US environmental activist representing Papua New Guinea said on the floor to rousing cheers: "If you're not willing to lead, please get out of the way."

After repeated verbal lashings, Dobriansky again took the microphone and said that Washington would "go forward and join consensus," to the cheers of the conference.

Indian Science Minister Kapil Sibal, who had been vocally critical of the US position, offered his thanks to the United States for not blocking the consensus.

"We believe that they too are as equally committed as the rest of the world to combat climate change. So thank you very much to the delegation of the United States for coming on board," Sibal said.

The agreement came only after the head of the United Nations jetted in, the UN climate chief nearly broke down in tears and chairman Indonesia apologised abjectly for a disastrous procedural mix-up.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon flew in to make an unscheduled last-minute appeal for a deal.

"Seize the moment, this moment, for the good of all humanity," Ban pleaded.

"The world is watching," said Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"The worst thing that can happen is for our great project, for the human race and our planet Earth to crumble because we cannot find the right wording."

Environmentalists accused the world of bowing to US pressure, forcing a compromise that left the document lacking the scientific punch needed to address what experts say is one of the gravest problems facing the world today.

"What you've got is a situation where the overwhelming majority of countries are progressive, they're pushing for a deal, and the (US) administration was out on a wrecking mission," said Hans Verolme of conservation group WWF.

In a bid to break the deadlock, the proposed document ditched European calls for an "ambition" of the rich world to cut its emissions by 25 to 40 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels.

And there was no mention of a target of halving global levels of greenhouse gases by 2050 -- a goal that scientists say is essential to limiting the warming to around two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Washington, backed by countries including Japan, Canada and Russia, argued that putting in numbers would prejudge the outcome of upcoming negotiations and supported individual national efforts to battle climate change.

Instead, the document included a footnote which referred to work of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and emphasised "the urgency to address climate change" in this context.

The future negotiations will also address how to step up financial and technical support for poor countries that bear least responsibility for global warming but have most to fear from its impacts.

Climate treaty talks get green light
Emma Graham-Harrison, Reuters 15 Dec 07;

NUSA DUA, Indonesia (Reuters) - U.N.-led climate talks in Bali agreed on Saturday to launch negotiations on a new global warming pact to succeed the Kyoto Protocol after the United States dropped last-minute opposition.

Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar, the host of the talks, banged down his gavel on the deal to rapturous applause from delegates after an impassioned plea by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

"This is the defining moment for me and my mandate as secretary-general," he said over the breakthrough.

"I am deeply grateful to many member states for their spirit of flexibility and compromise," Ban told Reuters, in remarks echoed by the head of the U.N. Climate Change Secretariat, Yvo de Boer.

"I think it was encouraging, That was a real sign of willingness to compromise," he said of the U.S. climbdown.

The deal after two-weeks of talks is a step towards slowing global warming that the U.N. climate panel says is caused by human activities, led by burning fossil fuels.

The meeting approved a "roadmap" for talks to adopt a new treaty to succeed Kyoto at a meeting in Copenhagen in 2009.

After being berated by numerous nations, a wave of relief swept the room filled with weary delegates when the United States relented.

The U.S. delegation dropped it opposition to a proposal by the main developing nation bloc, the G77, for rich nations to do more for the developing world to fight rising greenhouse emissions.

"The United States is very committed to this effort and just wants to make sure that we all act together to really ensure we all act together," said Paula Dobriansky, head of the U.S. delegation.

"With that, Mr Chairman, let me say to you we will go forward and join consensus," she said to cheers and claps from delegates who had tried to break the impasse long after talks ran past their Friday deadline.

ROADMAP

The proposal by the 150-nation developing country bloc dilutes the "mitigation actions", which the Bali "roadmap", asks developing nations to consider.

The new, stronger climate pact would succeed the existing Kyoto Protocol, and embrace the United States and major developing economies, such as China and India, in emissions actions for the first time.

Scientists say rising temperatures could cause seas to rise sharply, glaciers to melt, storms and droughts to become more intense and mass migration of climate refugees.

"We have the Bali roadmap. We are not entirely satisfied but the outcome is good," a senior Chinese delegate told Reuters.

Kyoto binds all industrial countries except the United States to cut emissions of greenhouse gases between 2008 and 2012. Developing nations are exempt and the new negotiations will seek to bind all countries to emission curbs from 2013.

(Reporting by Adhityani Arga, Sugita Katyal, Alister Doyle, Ed Davies, Gde Anugrah Arka and Gerard Wynn; Writing David Fogarty; Editing by XX)