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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Climate attitude shifting - Blair | Climate attitude shifting - Blair |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair is to tell the World Economic Forum that a major breakthrough on long-term climate change goals could be close. | Prime Minister Tony Blair is to tell the World Economic Forum that a major breakthrough on long-term climate change goals could be close. |
| Mr Blair will say this is possible because of a "quantum shift" in the attitude of the US. | Mr Blair will say this is possible because of a "quantum shift" in the attitude of the US. |
| He also cites the German presidency of the European Union as a crucial factor. | He also cites the German presidency of the European Union as a crucial factor. |
| Mr Blair will tell the conference, being held in Davos, Switzerland: "I believe we are potentially on the verge of a breakthrough." | Mr Blair will tell the conference, being held in Davos, Switzerland: "I believe we are potentially on the verge of a breakthrough." |
| He will pledge to work with other world leaders towards a more "radical" and "comprehensive" successor to the Kyoto protocol. | He will pledge to work with other world leaders towards a more "radical" and "comprehensive" successor to the Kyoto protocol. |
| Mr Blair will praise Chancellor Angela Merkel's focus on climate change during her EU presidency and India and China's engagement with the G8. | Mr Blair will praise Chancellor Angela Merkel's focus on climate change during her EU presidency and India and China's engagement with the G8. |
| Full house | |
| According to the BBC's Tim Weber, the conference hall where Mr Blair is to make his speech is completely full and there is much anticipation ahead of his address. | |
| Some observers are seeing his speech as an attempt to be viewed as an elder statesman once he steps down as prime minister. | |
| Mr Blair will also say: "The mood in the US is in the process of a quantum shift. | |
| "The president's State of the Union address built on his 'addicted to oil' speech last year and set the first US targets for a reduction in petrol consumption. | "The president's State of the Union address built on his 'addicted to oil' speech last year and set the first US targets for a reduction in petrol consumption. |
| "The German presidency gives us an opportunity to agree at least the principles of a new binding international agreement, to come into effect when Kyoto expires in 2012, but one which is more radical than Kyoto and more comprehensive. | "The German presidency gives us an opportunity to agree at least the principles of a new binding international agreement, to come into effect when Kyoto expires in 2012, but one which is more radical than Kyoto and more comprehensive. |
| "More comprehensive because it includes America, China and India. It is a prize of tantalising significance and I think it is possible." | "More comprehensive because it includes America, China and India. It is a prize of tantalising significance and I think it is possible." |
| Trade ministers from around 30 countries have previously agreed during the conference that full-scale global trade talks should resume quickly. | Trade ministers from around 30 countries have previously agreed during the conference that full-scale global trade talks should resume quickly. |
| Politicians have said it would be "catastrophic" if the talks failed. | Politicians have said it would be "catastrophic" if the talks failed. |