Bali climate conference successfully concluded

In a dramatic finish to a U.N. climate conference, world leaders adopted a plan Saturday [15 Dec 2007] for negotiating a new global warming pact by 2009, after the United States backed down in a battle over wording supported by developing nations and Europe. The U.S. stand had drawn loud boos and sharp rebukes - "Lead ... or get out of the way!" one delegate demanded - before Undersecretary of State Paula Dobriansky reversed her position, clearing the way adoption of the so-called "Bali Roadmap."

"The United States is very committed to this effort and just wants to really ensure we all act together. We will go forward and join consensus," she said. The sudden reversal was met with rousing applause. "This is the beginning, not the end," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in an interview with The Associated Press. "We will have to engage in more complex, long and difficult negotiations."

The upcoming two years of talks, which will hammer out a successor to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, could determine for years to come how well the world will cut emissions of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. A year of scientific reports have warned that rising temperatures will cause widespread drought, floods, higher sea levels and worsening storms.

The document does not commit countries to specific actions against global warming. It was limited to setting an agenda and schedule for negotiators to find ways to reduce pollution and help poor countries adapt to environmental changes by speeding up the transfer of technology and financial assistance. The roadmap is intended to lead to a more inclusive, effective successor to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which commits 37 industrialized nations to cut greenhouse gases by an average of 5 percent between 2008 and 2012.

(2007-12-15 20:00:50 SGT) [Env] Permalink

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