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'Crunch time' for climate change 'Crunch time' for climate change
(10 minutes later)
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has opened high-level talks at the climate change conference in Bali with a call to action.United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has opened high-level talks at the climate change conference in Bali with a call to action.
He said that if no action was taken, the world would face impacts such as drought, famine and rising sea levels.He said that if no action was taken, the world would face impacts such as drought, famine and rising sea levels.
Delegates are hoping to agree a "Bali roadmap" leading to further cuts in greenhouse gas emissions when the Kyoto Protocol targets expire in 2012.Delegates are hoping to agree a "Bali roadmap" leading to further cuts in greenhouse gas emissions when the Kyoto Protocol targets expire in 2012.
The US and Canada are among countries opposed to further binding targets.The US and Canada are among countries opposed to further binding targets.
The UN itself wants developed countries to commit to cuts of 25-40% by 2020.The UN itself wants developed countries to commit to cuts of 25-40% by 2020.
"We gather because the time for equivocation is over," said Mr Ban."We gather because the time for equivocation is over," said Mr Ban.
"The science is clear. Climate change is happening. The impact is real. The time to act is now.""The science is clear. Climate change is happening. The impact is real. The time to act is now."
The newly-elected Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd handed documents to Mr Ban confirming his government's ratifification of the Kyoto Protocol.The newly-elected Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd handed documents to Mr Ban confirming his government's ratifification of the Kyoto Protocol.
The Australian decision leaves the US as the only industrialised nation outside the Kyoto process.The Australian decision leaves the US as the only industrialised nation outside the Kyoto process.
Replacing KyotoReplacing Kyoto
Negotiators have been trying to map out the process for a climate change agreement to replace the current targets in the Kyoto Protocol which expire in 2012.Negotiators have been trying to map out the process for a climate change agreement to replace the current targets in the Kyoto Protocol which expire in 2012.
There is general agreement that any such targets should be agreed within two years.
Broad building-blocks have already been agreed but much of the detail remains contentious, in particular how much weight to give to the heavy emissions cuts recommended by the UN's panel of scientists.Broad building-blocks have already been agreed but much of the detail remains contentious, in particular how much weight to give to the heavy emissions cuts recommended by the UN's panel of scientists.
The ministers gathered here now will need to agree on how firmly to commit themselves to the stark target set by the UN's panel of scientists. In a major assessment this year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded that emissions should peak and begin to fall within 10-15 years in order to avoid damaging impacts.
So far agreement on that has been the major sticking-point and the ministers now have three days to come up with an answer. While acknowledging the science, the US argues for voluntary agreements rather than a global system of binding cuts.
There has also been debate about adaptation - how to help devepoing countries protect their societies and economies against the worst impacts of climate change.
Studies indicate that the sums needed run into tens of billions of dollars per year, but sums committed so far amount to tens of millions of dollars.