Bangkok: Two weeks of crucial UN climate
talks concluded today after exposing huge rifts between rich
and poor nations, just weeks ahead of the deadline for sealing
a planet-saving global deal.
Only five negotiating days remain, in November, before
192 nations converge for a critical December showdown in
Copenhagen, where they have pledged to conclude a treaty to
tackle global warming.
Without rapid action, scientists say, the world faces
catastrophe in the form of drought, flooding, famine and
forced migration.
"My feeling is that the ball, immediately, is in the
developed country court to make it clearer what they are
looking for," said Malta`s Michael Cutajar, co-chair of the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) talks.
A few minutes later at a separate press conference, US
negotiator Jonathan Pershing countered: "I think the ball is
in the court of all countries."
He highlighted a key demand from rich countries that
emerging giants such as China, India and Brazil commit to
binding actions on climate.
The key stumbling blocks are how to share out the job of
slashing the heat-trapping greenhouse gases, and how much
money wealthy nations will stump up to help developing ones
fight climate change and cope with its consequences.
Bureau Report
