- Title: DENMARK: Africa Group presses for climate deal
- Date: 18th December 2009
- Summary: COPENHAGEN, DENMARK (DECEMBER 17, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF OGADEN PROTESTERS OUTSIDE BELLA CENTRE VARIOUS OF OGADEN PROTESTERS/FLAGS AFRICA GROUP DELEGATES STANDING IN HALLWAY WIDE OF INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAMEL DJEMOUAI, HEAD OF AFRICA GROUP, SAYING: "Since last 24 hours or more, 36 hours, without concrete and real negotiations on text, it's quite difficult. But well, today we heard that we are going to restart our negotiations, we're waiting and we will see what will be going on." MORE OF JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) TIEMOKO SANGARE, MALI MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND SANITATION, SAYING: "By nature, I'm rather optimistic. I think that all the state leaders that are gathered here do not have the option to not see what's happening in our countries. The world population is expecting from those leaders that they take a decision to avoid the worst to happen." VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS
- Embargoed: 2nd January 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Denmark
- Country: Denmark
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAE6RJPV5A5LR1NUIS8O7EKT04I
- Story Text: Africa Group presses on for a climate deal as talks enter final phase.
As UN climate talks enter its last two days, various protesters outside the convention centre gathered on Thursday (December 17) to publicise their campaign.
Among those protesting outside freezing temperatures were 50 protesters campaigning for the living in the volatile Ethiopian region of Ogaden.
Inside the venue, negotiations continued with divisions remaining deep.
"Since last 24 hours or more, 36 hours, without concrete and real negotiations on text, it's quite difficult. But well, today we heard that we are going to restart our negotiations, we're waiting and we will see what will be going on," said Africa Group chairman Kamel Djemouai.
Danish hosts re-launched U.N. climate talks on Thursday after the United States backed a 100 billion U.S. dollar global fund to support poor countries and world leaders gathered for a final effort to reach a deal.
Ministers urged action as Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen dropped plans to present his own proposed draft texts which had stalled the process for more than 24 hours -- developing countries had insisted everyone should be involved.
The European Union has proposed a 50 billion U.S. dollar global fund, and the head of the African group of countries Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Wednesday supported climate aid for the world's poorest of 100 billion U.S. dollars.
Agreement on a climate fund could add political drive to the U.N. talks which meant to agree a host of other measures on Friday, from saving rainforests to boosting carbon markets and stiffening global carbon emissions cuts.
Earlier on Thursday prospects for a strong U.N. climate pact appeared remote at the climax of two-year talks as ministers and leaders blamed leading emitters China and the United States for deadlock on carbon cuts.
Dozens of heads of state arrived in the Danish capital to address the Dec. 7-18 conference.
The summit is meant to agree a global climate deal, as a basis for a legally binding treaty next year, to succeed the Kyoto Protocol after 2012, to avoid dangerous climate change and drive a greener global economy less dependent on fossil fuels. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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