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| Blair sees hope of climate deal | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the World Economic Forum 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. | 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." | "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. | However, he said any agreement would not be able to deliver without binding commitments from the US, China and India. |
| He told the World Economic Forum: "If Britain shut down our emissions entirely, ie we closed down the country - not the legacy I want - the growth in China's emissions would make up the difference in just two years. | He told the World Economic Forum: "If Britain shut down our emissions entirely, ie we closed down the country - not the legacy I want - the growth in China's emissions would make up the difference in just two years. |
| "Without the biggest economies being part of the framework to reduce carbon dependence, we have no earthly chance of success," he said. | "Without the biggest economies being part of the framework to reduce carbon dependence, we have no earthly chance of success," he said. |
| But Mr Blair added: "The mood in the US is in the process of a quantum shift. | But 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." | |
| Nuclear power | Nuclear power |
| In a wide-ranging speech on world issues, Mr Blair also said he believed nuclear power had to be part of the future. | In a wide-ranging speech on world issues, Mr Blair also said he believed nuclear power had to be part of the future. |
| "But I look ahead in my country and I see a situation where we're going to move, incidentally, from self-sufficiency in gas to importing 90% of it, and I say for reasons both of energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, how are we going to do that without nuclear energy being part of the mix? | "But I look ahead in my country and I see a situation where we're going to move, incidentally, from self-sufficiency in gas to importing 90% of it, and I say for reasons both of energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, how are we going to do that without nuclear energy being part of the mix? |
| "And I think we've got to get over this false view that it offers nothing by way of the future. I think there is a whole new generation of technology growing up around it," he said. | "And I think we've got to get over this false view that it offers nothing by way of the future. I think there is a whole new generation of technology growing up around it," he said. |
| Standing ovation | Standing ovation |
| According to the BBC's Tim Weber, the conference hall was completely full for Mr Blair's speech. | 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. | 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. | 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. |