Climate deal sealed by US U-turn

After days of wrangling the US finally did a U-turn in Bali, shortly after their intransigence provoked booing from the rest of the delegates present, and agreed that future negotiations will have to ensure "deep cuts in global emissions".

In order to obtain this the EU had to remove the inclusion in the road map of a specific reference of 25% to 40% emissions cuts by developed countries by 2020, which scientists have said are necessary to avoid dangerous climate change. The US said that this would "prejudge" the outcome of the negotiations.

However, the US have had to drop their demand for stronger action from poorer nations, the demand which set off the booing from the rest of the delegates.

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 US was the principal focus of opposition from activists 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.

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 final draft is weaker than it could have been because of US intransigence, but it's certainly a step in the right direction.

As I have always thought, we will simply have to wait for a wiser occupant of the White House to fully commit to the actions needed. But, with this document, even Bush has conceded that "deep cuts in global emissions" are needed.

Click title for full article.