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Global leaders reach climate deal | |
(about 10 hours later) | |
A meeting in Washington of global political leaders has reached a new agreement on tackling climate change. | |
Delegates agreed that developing countries will have to face targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions as well as rich countries. | |
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 Lieberman, was emphatic on the need for new initiatives. | |
"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 | |
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. |
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. | |
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. | |