Merkel
concerned over Copenhagen pace
German
Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced concern Tuesday about the
pace of climate negotiations in Copenhagen and said she
is "somewhat nervous" about prospects of success.
15/12/2009 - The crucial conference in the Danish capital,
which is due to end Friday, has been marked by deep divisions
between rich and poor nations. It is supposed to deliver
a deal to curb emissions of the gases that cause global
warming.
"These
kinds of big conferences with many, many interests frequently
get stuck, but it's Tuesday already and we want to be done
on Friday," Merkel said after meeting Indonesian President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
All
involved should make a "constructive contribution so
that Copenhagen can be a success," Merkel said. However,
she added: "I don't want to hide the fact I am somewhat
nervous as to whether we will manage all that."
Yudhoyono
said climate talks in Bali two years ago had shown that
deadlocks can be broken. "We just need good will and
openness on the part of all involved," he said.
The
hoped-for deal in Copenhagen is supposed to pave the way
for a final treaty to be negotiated over the next six to
12 months.
"We
need international monitoring of the results of Copenhagen
... otherwise every country can promise something (and)
that's not enough," Merkel said.
"We
need an international mechanism that monitors things"
under the auspices of the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change, she added.
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China
accuses developed countries on climate China has accused
developed countries of backsliding on what is says are their
obligations to fight climate change and has warned that
the UN climate talks in Copenhagen have entered a critical
stage.
15/12/2009
- Foreign Ministry spokewoman Jiang Yu said Tuesday there
had been "some regression" on the part of developed
countries, who had "put forward a plethora" of
demands on developing countries.
She
said it "will hamper the Copenhagen conference."
China
and the United States are the world's top two carbon polluters
and have been at odds in Copenhagen.
Beijing's
view is that the US and other rich nations have a heavy
historical responsibility to cut emissions, and any climate
deal should take into account a country's development level.
Da UNFCCC
