FROM COPENHAGEN

UN climate talks face uphill battle
December 17, 2009 (AFP)

"UN climate talks move into the final two-day straight on Thursday blighted by bitter wrangling that could wreck efforts to draw up a sweeping pact to combat global warming.

"As world leaders began descending on Copenhagen, wealthy nations gave the fraught negotiations a shot in the arm...by pledging billions of dollars to bankroll the climate war...But as frustration mounted about the slow pace of the high-stakes talks, police used tear gas and clubs to beat back crowds of demonstrators who tried to march on the summit venue on the outskirts of the Danish capital."

"Negotiators from 194 nations have been meeting for 10 days seeking to forge a strategy to head off potentially catastrophic global warming and help the most vulnerable nations but have become bogged down in wrangling between the two top polluters China and the United States and rows between rich and poor...After a day marked by finger-pointing, Britain's climate minister Ed Miliband said he feared a deal could slip away...Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd...played down hopes of striking a deal...

"Providing a chink of light, Japan promised...1.75 trillion yen (19.5 billion dollars) for developing nations -- if a comprehensive deal is reached…It was also one of six countries [with Australia, Britain, France, Norway and the United States] that said they would set up a fund to fight the loss of forests...Europe has already said it would give 7.2 billion euros (10.6 billion dollars) towards an envisioned fund worth 30 billion dollars to help developing nations...from 2010-2012…The United States has yet to announce a [specific] contribution…[T]he six governments also said they would collectively dedicate 3.5 billion dollars...[for] the starting point for a deforestation fund…The announcements were intended to provide fresh momentum as delegates feared an overwhelming amount of work remained to seal a deal ahead of the summit's finale…"

"Developing countries, led by top polluter China, accused host Denmark of a lack of transparency by suggesting language for the agreement without full consultation…The leaders of Bangladesh and Nepal pleaded for the summit to be ambitious, warning they faced some of global warming's worst ravages…Tensions also flared outside, where police used clubs and tear gas to stop some 2,500 activists who tried to march on the tightly guarded Bella Centre…

"The summit climaxes Friday when the leaders, including US President Barack Obama, try to lay out a strategy to deal with climate change after the end of 2012, when obligations run out under the landmark Kyoto Protocol…Obama has offered to cut US carbon emissions by 17 percent [from 2005 levels] by 2020…"