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Leaders plot path to climate deal Global leaders reach climate deal
(about 10 hours later)
A meeting of politicians in Washington has heard US and European leaders state that the climate change debate is over. A meeting in Washington of global political leaders has reached a new agreement on tackling climate change.
The informal meeting is an attempt to broker a new global deal on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Delegates agreed that developing countries will have to face targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions as well as rich countries.
But a proposal tabled by the British government was rejected by German delegates as being far too lax. The informal meeting also agreed that a global market should be formed to cap and trade carbon dioxide emissions.
The non-binding declaration is seen as vital in influencing a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol, correspondents say.
The forum's closing statement said man-made climate change was now "beyond doubt".
"Climate change is a global issue and there is an obligation on us all to take action, in line with our capabilities and historic responsibilities," said the statement from the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (Globe).
'Tipping point'
The two-day meeting brought together legislators from the Group of Eight industrialised countries plus Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa.
Climate science: what's new?
The BBC's environment analyst Roger Harrabin was at the meeting says that although the declaration carries no formal weight it indicates a real change in mood.
The legislators agreed that developing countries had to face targets on greenhouse gas emissions as well as rich countries.
US senator Joe Lieberman forecast that the US Congress will enact a law on cutting emissions by the end of next year, possibly this year.US senator Joe Lieberman forecast that the US Congress will enact a law on cutting emissions by the end of next year, possibly this year.
And presidential candidate John McCain, who is co-sponsoring climate legislation with Mr Leiberman, was emphatic on the need for new initiatives. And presidential candidate John McCain, who is co-sponsoring climate legislation with Mr Lieberman, was emphatic on the need for new initiatives.
"The debate is over, my friends," he told delegates. "Now the question is: what do we do? "I am convinced that we have reached the tipping point and that the Congress of the United States will act, with the agreement of the administration," he told the forum.
Canada re-opens Kyoto row "Do we act, do we care enough about the young people of the next generation to act seriously and meaningfully, or are we just going to continue this debate and this discussion?" Canada re-opens Kyoto row
Meanwhile, the Canadian parliament moved to force the government to meet its Kyoto Protocol target for reducing emissions.Meanwhile, the Canadian parliament moved to force the government to meet its Kyoto Protocol target for reducing emissions.
The ruling Conservative party argues that meeting the target, of reducing emissions by 6% from 1990 levels by the period 2008-2012, is impossible.The ruling Conservative party argues that meeting the target, of reducing emissions by 6% from 1990 levels by the period 2008-2012, is impossible.
The parliamentary vote gives the government 60 days to formulate a plan for getting back on track.The parliamentary vote gives the government 60 days to formulate a plan for getting back on track.
Watching America With United Nations climate negotiations in November failing to agree a timetable for mandating new cuts in emissions when the current Kyoto targets expire in 2012, the British-led Globe set up the Washington meeting in the hope of stimulating progress in a less formal setting.
With United Nations climate negotiations in November failing to agree a timetable for mandating new cuts in emissions when the current Kyoto targets expire in 2012, the British-led Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (Globe) set up the Washington meeting in the hope of stimulating progress in a less formal setting. The UN's panel on climate change said earlier this month that higher global temperatures caused by man-made pollution will melt polar ice, worsen floods and droughts and cause more devastating storms.
The battle against global warming will only be won with America on side David Miliband Senior US political figures such as Senate committee chairs Jeff Bingaman (energy) and Barbara Boxer (environment) are attending, as are leaders from other G8 countries and major developing world economies.
German chancellor Angela Merkel sent a video message saying she was determined to break through the climate impasse during this year's G8 negotiations, which Germany chairs.
The scientific evidence, she said, "leaves no doubt" that climate change is real and human-induced.
Britain's Environment Secretary David Miliband said US involvement in global moves to reduce emissions was badly needed.
"The battle against global warming will only be won with America on side," he said. "America has a huge amount to gain as well as to contribute from being at the heart of of a global drive to reduce emissions."
Climate science: what's new? However, a proposal which Britain took to the meeting was condemned by German representatives as being too weak.
Mr Blair proposed a deal aiming to limit the rise in average global temperatures to 3C (5.4F).
This would put the UK at odds with the European Union, which is pursuing a 2C (3.6F) maximum rise.
Recent scientific research indicates that 3C could trigger serious disruption in many parts of the Earth, including irreversible drying out of the Amazon rainforest and melting of the Greenland ice sheet.
The talks are expected to conclude on Thursday with a consensus recommentation which can be taken to G8 meetings later in the year and to the next UN climate summit in December.