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| Apec leaders reach climate deal | Apec leaders reach climate deal |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Asia-Pacific leaders meeting in Sydney have agreed an "aspirational" goal to restrain the rise of greenhouse gas emissions to tackle climate change. | |
| China and the US - two of the world's biggest polluters - are among the 21 nations that have signed the statement, which contains no firm commitments. | China and the US - two of the world's biggest polluters - are among the 21 nations that have signed the statement, which contains no firm commitments. |
| Australian Prime Minister John Howard called it "a very important milestone" towards an international deal. | Australian Prime Minister John Howard called it "a very important milestone" towards an international deal. |
| Environmentalists said the declaration was symbolic rather than concrete. | Environmentalists said the declaration was symbolic rather than concrete. |
| Map of key summit locations | Map of key summit locations |
| Protests | Protests |
| "The world needs to slow, stop and then reverse the growth of global greenhouse gas emissions," said Saturday's statement by the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum. | "The world needs to slow, stop and then reverse the growth of global greenhouse gas emissions," said Saturday's statement by the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum. |
| We are serious about addressing in a sensible way, compatible with our different economic needs, the great challenge of climate change John HowardAustralian Prime Minister | We are serious about addressing in a sensible way, compatible with our different economic needs, the great challenge of climate change John HowardAustralian Prime Minister |
| Sydney has seen the biggest security operation ever mounted by Australia for the meeting. | Sydney has seen the biggest security operation ever mounted by Australia for the meeting. |
| Isolated scuffles broke out on Saturday between police and a few of the 5,000 protesters who marched through the heart of Sydney for a rally in Hyde Park, but the day remained peaceful on the whole. | Isolated scuffles broke out on Saturday between police and a few of the 5,000 protesters who marched through the heart of Sydney for a rally in Hyde Park, but the day remained peaceful on the whole. |
| The Apec statement included a non-binding goal of reducing "energy intensity" - the amount of energy used to produce a dollar of gross domestic product - by at least 25% by 2030. | The Apec statement included a non-binding goal of reducing "energy intensity" - the amount of energy used to produce a dollar of gross domestic product - by at least 25% by 2030. |
| The leaders also called for increased forest cover in the Asia-Pacific region of at least 20m hectares (50m acres) by 2020. | The leaders also called for increased forest cover in the Asia-Pacific region of at least 20m hectares (50m acres) by 2020. |
| 'Stunt' | 'Stunt' |
| And they agreed greenhouse gas reduction strategies should reflect "differences in economic and social conditions" in each country. | And they agreed greenhouse gas reduction strategies should reflect "differences in economic and social conditions" in each country. |
| The US has made China's involvement in moves to tackle global warming a priority, but both countries are opposed to binding targets. | |
| Summit host Mr Howard said: "We are serious about addressing in a sensible way, compatible with our different economic needs, the great challenge of climate change." | Summit host Mr Howard said: "We are serious about addressing in a sensible way, compatible with our different economic needs, the great challenge of climate change." |
| But Greenpeace said the agreement was a "distraction" rather than a "declaration". | But Greenpeace said the agreement was a "distraction" rather than a "declaration". |
| In pictures: Fortress Sydney | In pictures: Fortress Sydney |
| A spokeswoman for the organisation, Catherine Fitzpatrick, said: "Without supporting binding targets for developed countries, which is where the rubber really hits the road on climate action, it looks like a political stunt by John Howard." | A spokeswoman for the organisation, Catherine Fitzpatrick, said: "Without supporting binding targets for developed countries, which is where the rubber really hits the road on climate action, it looks like a political stunt by John Howard." |
| The Sydney declaration also included China's and other developing nations' calls for global warming negotiations to take place under United Nations auspices. | The Sydney declaration also included China's and other developing nations' calls for global warming negotiations to take place under United Nations auspices. |
| The UN climate convention is scheduled to host talks in December on the Indonesian island of Bali. | |
| Apec's 21 members, which also include Russia and Japan, together account for about 60% of annual greenhouse gas emissions. | |
| Saturday's deal followed wrangling at the summit over the shape of a treaty to replace the landmark Kyoto Protocol of 1997. | Saturday's deal followed wrangling at the summit over the shape of a treaty to replace the landmark Kyoto Protocol of 1997. |
| Return to story | Return to story |