Leaders should take climate stage in Copenhagen: UK
LONDON (Reuters) - World leaders can salvage flagging climate talks by brokering a global deal in Copenhagen in December, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Monday.
Brown is one of the few major economy leaders so far planning to attend the U.N.-led December 7-18 conference, supposed to agree curbs on greenhouse gas emissions and funds to help poor countries prepare for and slow global warming.
"Success at Copenhagen is still within reach. But if we falter, the earth itself will be at risk," Brown told representatives of 17 of the world's main polluting nations, gathered in London.
"Leaders must engage directly to break the impasse," he said. "I've said I'll go to Copenhagen, and I'm encouraging them to make the same commitment."
Environment ministers aim to sign in December a pact to extend or replace the Kyoto Protocol, but advance talks are mired in complex drafts and suspicion between industrialized and developing nations.
The two-year U.N. talks, launched in Bali, Indonesia in 2007 are stuck on how big carbon cuts rich nations make by 2020, and how much climate aid they should pay to developing countries.
Some experts doubt the world can agree a deal in December, arguing for example that domestic U.S. legislation won't be in place in time to allow a firm U.S. offer.
"I believe agreement at Copenhagen is possible," said Brown. "But we must frankly face the plain fact that our negotiators are not getting to agreement quickly enough."
The London meeting is the latest in a U.S.-instigated major economies forum (MEF) series meant to bolster momentum. It would focus on the detail of turning a patchwork of national plans into international commitments, and on climate finance and technology cooperation, delegates said.
Brown highlighted the importance of a financing deal in December to help countries most vulnerable to floods, droughts and rising seas.
"The rich countries of the Major Economies Forum must urgently put new money on the table," said Friends of the Earth International Climate Campaigner Asad Rehman.
Todd Stern, Washington's top climate envoy, could not confirm on Sunday that the United States would bring either a firm U.S. emissions reduction target or funding offer to Copenhagen, [ID:nLI607932]
Pressure group Greenpeace said the U.S. negotiating approach had barely changed from former President George W. Bush, who had not prioritized the issue.
"The EU must ... reject U.S. attempts to water down the entire agreement to suit its domestic agenda," said Greenpeace International's Martin Kaiser. EU ministers meet this week and leaders next, with climate one likely topic.
(Reporting by Gerard Wynn; Editing by Janet Lawrence)