|
Climate talks in serious disarray
Posted: 12.18.2009 at 7:07 AM
|
COPENHAGEN (AP) -- The U.N. climate talks are in serious disarray.
Major disagreements continue between wealthy nations and developing ones over emissions-cutting targets for rich nations and billions in aid for poor countries.
Delegates are blaming both the U.S. and China for the lack of any political agreement.
Both President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao are in the Danish capital, but Sweden's Environment Minister says no agreed text has emerged.
He says "It is now up to world leaders to decide," suggesting they will be pressed to make last-minute decisions on the thrust of the climate declaration.
Negotiating on behalf of the 27-nation European Union, the Swedish minister blames the morning's impasse on the Chinese for "blocking again and again," and on the U.S. for coming too late with an improved offer, a long-range climate aid program announced Thursday by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Any agreement is expected, at best, to fall well short of the goal of a legally binding pact.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)