As ministers begin two days of talks on climate change, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the world's financial woes must not block climate progress.
As ministers begin two days of talks on climate change, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the world's financial woes must not block climate progress.
Ministers from 189 nations aim to finalise agreements drawn up here at the annual UN climate conference.
Ministers from 189 nations aim to finalise agreements drawn up here at the annual UN climate conference.
As they talk, EU heads of state will be meeting in Brussels to agree energy and climate reforms including promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
As they talk, EU heads of state will be meeting in Brussels to agree energy and climate reforms including promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
EU leadership is widely seen as crucial in reaching a new global climate deal.
EU leadership is widely seen as crucial in reaching a new global climate deal.
The Poznan talks mark the half-way point in a two-year process initiated at the UN talks in Bali last year. Over the last year, governments have submitted ideas on what they would like to see in a new global pact, which is supposed to be finalised by next year's meeting in Copenhagen.
The Poznan talks mark the half-way point in a two-year process initiated at the UN talks in Bali last year. Over the last year, governments have submitted ideas on what they would like to see in a new global pact, which is supposed to be finalised by next year's meeting in Copenhagen.
'Unprecedented crises'
'Unprecedented crises'
However, environmental groups are concerned that as governments in the EU and elsewhere reach for ways to tackle the global financial crisis, they will put climate change to one side.
However, environmental groups are concerned that as governments in the EU and elsewhere reach for ways to tackle the global financial crisis, they will put climate change to one side.
Mr Ban said that must not happen.
Mr Ban said that must not happen.
"We are going through unprecedented multiple crises starting from global financial crisis, food crisis and also climate change crisis," he told BBC News.If we take action today, it may not be too late, says Ban Ki-moon
"We are going through unprecedented multiple crises starting from global financial crisis, food crisis and also climate change crisis," he told BBC News.If we take action today, it may not be too late, says Ban Ki-moon
"If we take action today it may not be too late. But if we take action tomorrow, we may have to regret it for not only us, but for coming generations and even for planet Earth."
"If we take action today it may not be too late. But if we take action tomorrow, we may have to regret it for not only us, but for coming generations and even for planet Earth."
The Poznan talks must set the stage for an agreement next December that includes "ratifiable, balanced and ambitious" targets for reducing the emissions of developed nations, he added.
The Poznan talks must set the stage for an agreement next December that includes "ratifiable, balanced and ambitious" targets for reducing the emissions of developed nations, he added.
UK energy and climate secretary Ed Miliband agreed.
UK energy and climate secretary Ed Miliband agreed.
"While these are challenging economic times, the world must not turn its back on climate change; indeed we must step up the pace," he said.
"While these are challenging economic times, the world must not turn its back on climate change; indeed we must step up the pace," he said.
"So all of us at Poznan have a duty to come here and show the path to a deep and comprehensive deal."
"So all of us at Poznan have a duty to come here and show the path to a deep and comprehensive deal."
Protection fund
Protection fund
Many of the documents under discussion for the last two weeks have been agreed with little demur.
Many of the documents under discussion for the last two weeks have been agreed with little demur.
However, there have been serious wrangles over some issues which could not be resolved before the ministerial segment.
However, there have been serious wrangles over some issues which could not be resolved before the ministerial segment.
One concerns the UN Adaptation Fund, a pot of money that is designed to help developing countries protect their societies and economies against potential impacts of climate change.
One concerns the UN Adaptation Fund, a pot of money that is designed to help developing countries protect their societies and economies against potential impacts of climate change.
Current proposals see the World Bank as a major player in managing the money.
Current proposals see the World Bank as a major player in managing the money.
Developing countries are unhappy with this, and want a separate body set up that would, as they see it, be more responsive to their needs.
Developing countries are unhappy with this, and want a separate body set up that would, as they see it, be more responsive to their needs.
Protesters want action as soon as possible"There needs to be more equity in the process," said Harjeet Singh, a campaigner with Action Aid in India.
Protesters want action as soon as possible"There needs to be more equity in the process," said Harjeet Singh, a campaigner with Action Aid in India.
"The most vulnerable countries should be able to get more from the fund, and it must be responsive to the national adaptation plans that governments have drawn up."
"The most vulnerable countries should be able to get more from the fund, and it must be responsive to the national adaptation plans that governments have drawn up."
The sting in the tail for developing countries is that the wrangle could delay the first payments from the fund.
The sting in the tail for developing countries is that the wrangle could delay the first payments from the fund.
No Obama role
No Obama role
Many observers here feel there are two issues that have reduced the impetus for progress here.
Many observers here feel there are two issues that have reduced the impetus for progress here.
One is the fact that the EU has yet to agree its climate and energy package, under which the bloc is set to pledge emissions cuts of 20% from 1990 levels by 2020, or by 30% if there is a global deal.
One is the fact that the EU has yet to agree its climate and energy package, under which the bloc is set to pledge emissions cuts of 20% from 1990 levels by 2020, or by 30% if there is a global deal.
"The EU is to be blamed here," said Mr Singh. "If the EU had concluded its agreement by now, others would have followed suit."
"The EU is to be blamed here," said Mr Singh. "If the EU had concluded its agreement by now, others would have followed suit."
The other issue is that the US delegation here represents the outgoing administration of George Bush, with the incoming one of Barack Obama playing no visible role, despite the proposals he has floated on reducing US emissions.
The other issue is that the US delegation here represents the outgoing administration of George Bush, with the incoming one of Barack Obama playing no visible role, despite the proposals he has floated on reducing US emissions.
The EU package could yet unravel - though few believe it will - or it could be weakened by concessions to countries such as Poland which believe it will incur unpalatable costs.
The EU package could yet unravel - though few believe it will - or it could be weakened by concessions to countries such as Poland which believe it will incur unpalatable costs.
In addition, the bloc has not yet published proposals on giving financial assistance for developing countries that could help them restrain the growth in their carbon emissions.
In addition, the bloc has not yet published proposals on giving financial assistance for developing countries that could help them restrain the growth in their carbon emissions.
This will be a key ingredient of any agreement in Copenhagen, and developing nations will need to study it - as they will Mr Obama's eventual policies - before deciding how far they are prepared to go in a package.
This will be a key ingredient of any agreement in Copenhagen, and developing nations will need to study it - as they will Mr Obama's eventual policies - before deciding how far they are prepared to go in a package.
It may mean, some observers say, that the timescale is too tight to reach a Copenhagen deal that includes the "ratifiable, balanced and ambitious" targets that Mr Ban considers necessary.
It may mean, some observers say, that the timescale is too tight to reach a Copenhagen deal that includes the "ratifiable, balanced and ambitious" targets that Mr Ban considers necessary.
Does world financial crisis mean we have to reconsider measures on climate changes? Or should governments move forward with climate reforms? You can send us your comments using the form below:
Does the world financial crisis mean we have to reconsider measures on climate changes? Or should governments move forward with climate reforms? You can send us your comments using the form below:
