Industrial Nations Reach 2020 Climate Compromise
Date: 03-Sep-07
Country: AUSTRIA
A draft text to be put to delegates for approval at the end
of the Aug. 27-31 meeting noted that leading climate scientists
reckon that cuts in greenhouse gas emissions of 25 to 40 percent
below 1990 levels are needed by 2020 to slow global warming.
It said that the range "provides useful initial parameters
for the overall level of ambition of further emissions
reductions".
It fell short of calls by the European Union and developing
nations for the range to be a stronger "guide" for future work
on a new pact beyond 2012. Countries including Russia and Japan
had objected to the idea of a "guide", fearing it was too
binding.