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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Climate attitude shifting - Blair | Climate attitude shifting - Blair |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the World Economic Forum that a major breakthrough on long-term climate change goals could be close. | Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the World Economic Forum that a major breakthrough on long-term climate change goals could be close. |
| He told the forum in Davos, Switzerland it was possible because of a "quantum shift" in the attitude of the US. | He told the forum in Davos, Switzerland it was possible because of a "quantum shift" in the attitude of the US. |
| He said the German G8 presidency offered an opportunity for a new international agreement for when the Kyoto Protocol expired in 2012. | He said the German G8 presidency offered an opportunity for a new international agreement for when the Kyoto Protocol expired in 2012. |
| "I believe we are potentially on the verge of a breakthrough," he said. | "I believe we are potentially on the verge of a breakthrough," he said. |
| Mr Blair praised Chancellor Angela Merkel's focus on climate change during her EU presidency and India and China's engagement with the G8. | Mr Blair praised Chancellor Angela Merkel's focus on climate change during her EU presidency and India and China's engagement with the G8. |
| He also pledged to work with other world leaders towards a more "radical" and "comprehensive" successor to the Kyoto protocol. | |
| "The German G8 Presidency gives us the opportunity to agree at least the principles of a new, binding international agreement to come into effect when the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012," Mr Blair said. | "The German G8 Presidency gives us the opportunity to agree at least the principles of a new, binding international agreement to come into effect when the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012," Mr Blair said. |
| "But one which is more radical than Kyoto and more comprehensive, one which this time includes all the major countries of the world." | |
| However, he said any agreement would not be able to deliver without binding commitments from the US, China and India. | |
| Mr Blair added: "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. | |
| Standing ovation | |
| According to the BBC's Tim Weber, the conference hall was completely full for Mr Blair's speech. | |
| Both his speech and following question and answer session received much applause and a standing ovation, our reporter in Davos said. | |
| Some observers are seeing Mr Blair's speech as an attempt to be viewed as an elder statesman once he steps down as prime minister. | |
| 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. |