/ 8 December 2012

COP 18 talks go into extra time

Negotiators in Doha must extend the greenhouse gas-curbing Kyoto Protocol as an interim measure to rein in climate change.
Negotiators in Doha must extend the greenhouse gas-curbing Kyoto Protocol as an interim measure to rein in climate change.

"We do not expect a deal for at least several more hours," said the official closely involved in the talks as a new day dawned on the meeting that saw haggling continue throughout the night.

Negotiators in Doha must extend the greenhouse gas-curbing Kyoto Protocol as an interim measure to rein in climate change and smooth the way to a new, global pact due to take effect in 2020.

But the issue of funding to help poor countries deal with the fallout from global warming and convert to planet-friendlier energy sources has hamstrung the haggling by envoys from nearly 200 countries gathered in the Qatari capital.

Developed countries are being pressed to show how they intend to keep a promise to raise climate funding for poorer nations to $100-billion per year by 2020 – up from a total of $30-billion in 2010-2012.

Developing countries say they need at least another $60-billion between now and 2015 – starting with $20-billion from next year – to deal with a climate change-induced rise in droughts, floods, rising sea levels and storms.

But the United States and European Union have refused to put concrete figures on the table for 2013-2020, citing the tough financial times.

There was also deadlock on a separate demand by least developed countries and those most at risk of sea level rise that provision be made for the losses they suffer because of climate change – a phenomenon they blame on the West's polluting ways since the industrial era. – Sapa-AFP