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Climate deal sealed by US U-turn Climate deal sealed by US U-turn
(about 3 hours later)
Delegates at the UN summit in Bali have agreed a deal on curbing climate change after days of bitter wrangling.Delegates at the UN summit in Bali have agreed a deal on curbing climate change after days of bitter wrangling.
Agreement was reached after a U-turn from the US, which had wanted firmer commitments from developing countries.Agreement was reached after a U-turn from the US, which had wanted firmer commitments from developing countries.
The US and the EU earlier agreed that industrialised countries would not set firm emissions targets at this stage. Environment groups said they were disappointed by the lack of firm targets for reducing emissions.
The "Bali roadmap" initiates a two-year process of negotiations designed to agree a new set of emissions targets to replace those in the Kyoto Protocol.The "Bali roadmap" initiates a two-year process of negotiations designed to agree a new set of emissions targets to replace those in the Kyoto Protocol.
"I think we have come a long way here," said Paula Dobriansky, head of the US delegation. We said we needed a roadmap, but this conference has failed to give us a clear destination Tony Juniper, Friends of the Earth class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/7145776.stm">Small presents for everyone class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/7145638.stm">Bali deal: Reaction in quotes class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3924&edition=1">Send us your comments The EU had pressed for a commitment that industrialised nations should commit to cuts of 25-40% by 2020, a bid that was implacably opposed by a bloc containing the US, Canada and Japan.
"In this, the United States is very committed to this effort and just wants to really ensure we all act together." The final text does not mention specific emissions targets, but does acknowledge that "deep cuts in global emissions will be required to achieve the ultimate objective" of avoiding dangerous climate change.
"This is a real breakthrough, a real opportunity for the international community to successfully fight climate change," said Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar, who served as conference president. It also says that a delay in reducing emissions will make severe climate impacts more likely.
'Spirit of flexibility'
"This is a real breakthrough, a real opportunity for the international community to successfully fight climate change," said Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar, who served as conference president, at the conclusion of the talks.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he appreciated "the spirit of flexibility" shown by key delegations - and was aware that "there is divide of position between and among countries".UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he appreciated "the spirit of flexibility" shown by key delegations - and was aware that "there is divide of position between and among countries".
"But as this global warming is an issue which affects the whole humanity, whole planet earth, we must have co-ordinated and concerted efforts to address this issue," Mr Ban said. The US was the principal focus of opposition from activists"But as this global warming is an issue which affects the whole humanity, whole planet earth, we must have co-ordinated and concerted efforts to address this issue," Mr Ban said.
This is a real breakthrough, a real opportunity for the international community to successfully fight climate change Rachmat Witoelar, Indonesian Environment Minister class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/7145776.stm">Small presents for everyone class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/7145638.stm">Bali deal: Reaction in quotes class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3924&edition=1">Send us your comments In London, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown declared: "This agreement is a vital step forward for the whole world.
"The Bali roadmap agreed today is just the first step. Now begins the hardest work, as all nations work towards a deal in Copenhagen in 2009 to address the defining challenge of our time."
Environmental groups and some delegates have criticised the draft as being weak and a missed opportunity.Environmental groups and some delegates have criticised the draft as being weak and a missed opportunity.
The US acceptance came just minutes after it had signalled it would reject the compromise, a statement that drew boos from delegates in the conference hall. "This deal is very disappointing," said Tony Juniper of Friends of the Earth.
The EU had earlier thrashed out the compromise text with developing countries including China. "We said we needed a roadmap, but this conference has failed to give us a clear destination."
They had complained that language on reducing their emissions was too strong, and would commit them to measures that could retard their economic development. Emotional times
They also wanted the West to pledge more action on transferring clean technology to developing societies. As talks overran their scheduled close by more than a day, delegates from the EU, US and G-77/China embarked with UN officials on a series of behind-the-scenes consultations aiming to break the remaining deadlock.
Observers spoke of emotional scenes in the conference hall - the UN's top climate official Yvo de Boer in tears after being accused by China of procedural irregularities, and cheers and hugs when the US indicated its acceptance. The EU and US agreed to drop binding targets; then the EU and China agreed to soften language on commitments from developing countries.
Talks have been intense, and the meeting has run more than a day beyond its scheduled close, with several night-time sessions. With delegates anxious to make a deal and catch aeroplanes home, the US delegation announced it could not support the amended text.
A chorus of boos rang out. And a member of Papua New Guinea's delegation told the US: "If you're not willing to lead, please get out of the way."
Shortly after, the US delegation announced it would support the revised text after all.
There were a number of emotional moments in the conference hall - the UN's top climate official Yvo de Boer in tears after being accused by China of procedural irregularities, and cheers and hugs when the US indicated its acceptance.
On the roadOn the road
The document coming out of the meeting, the "Bali roadmap", contains text on emissions cuts, the transfer of clean technology to developing countries, halting deforestation and helping poorer nations protect their economies and societies against impacts of climate change such as rising sea levels and falling crop yields.The document coming out of the meeting, the "Bali roadmap", contains text on emissions cuts, the transfer of clean technology to developing countries, halting deforestation and helping poorer nations protect their economies and societies against impacts of climate change such as rising sea levels and falling crop yields.
The roadmap sets the parameters and aims for a further set of negotiations to be finalised by the 2009 UN climate conference, to be held in Denmark.The roadmap sets the parameters and aims for a further set of negotiations to be finalised by the 2009 UN climate conference, to be held in Denmark.
By that stage, parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Kyoto Protocol should have agreed on a comprehensive plan for curbing global warming and adapting to its impacts. By that stage, parties should have agreed on a comprehensive plan for curbing global warming and adapting to its impacts.
The US was the principal focus of opposition from activists This will include:
  • emissions targets for industrialised countries, possibly but not necessarily binding
  • some softer form of targets or ambitions for major developing countries
  • mechanisms for leveraging funds from carbon trading to fund adaptation projects
This will include firm emissions targets for industrialised countries to replace those in the Kyoto Protocol which expire in 2012, some softer form of targets or ambitions for major developing countries, and mechanisms for leveraging funds from carbon trading to protect forests and fund adaptation projects.
The EU came to the talks demanding that industrialised nations commit to cuts of 25-40% by 2020, a bid that was implacably opposed by a bloc containing the US, Canada and Japan.
This dispute was resolved with a text that did not mention specific emissions targets but did acknowledge that "deep cuts in global emissions will be required to achieve the ultimate objective".
France's Deputy Ecology Minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet acknowledged the deal amounted to far less than the EU had wanted.
But, she told the AFP news agency: "The public can understand that we brought the United States into the negotiations.
"It's a framework that is quite weak but which still moves forward."
Tree line
Earlier, consensus was reached on the principle of rewarding poorer countries to protect their forests.Earlier, consensus was reached on the principle of rewarding poorer countries to protect their forests.
This is widely acknowledged as the cheapest single way of curbing climate change, and brings benefits in other environmental areas such as biodiversity and fresh water conservation.This is widely acknowledged as the cheapest single way of curbing climate change, and brings benefits in other environmental areas such as biodiversity and fresh water conservation.
Delegates agreed on a framework that could allow richer nations and companies to earn "carbon credits" by paying for forest protection in developing countries.Delegates agreed on a framework that could allow richer nations and companies to earn "carbon credits" by paying for forest protection in developing countries.
"We need to find a new mechanism that values standing forests," said Andrew Mitchell, executive director of the Global Canopy Programme, an alliance of research institutions."We need to find a new mechanism that values standing forests," said Andrew Mitchell, executive director of the Global Canopy Programme, an alliance of research institutions.
"Ultimately, if this does its job, [deforestation] goes down to nothing.""Ultimately, if this does its job, [deforestation] goes down to nothing."
Mr Mitchell said the only feasible source of sufficient funds was a global carbon market.Mr Mitchell said the only feasible source of sufficient funds was a global carbon market.
But many economists believe mandatory emissions targets are needed to create a meaningful global market.But many economists believe mandatory emissions targets are needed to create a meaningful global market.