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Climate change summit ends with 'more talks' plan
18/12/2004 - 09:14:34
A United Nations conference ended today with a vague plan for informal new talks on how to slow global warming, but without a US commitment to
multilateral negotiations on next steps, including emissions controls.
“The Americans reached a good agreement with the Europeans,” Argentine diplomat Raul Estrada Oyuela said of the plan, which he helped broker in long
hours of late-night talks in Buenos Aires.
Others described it as at best a small step to keep the multilateral process moving on climate change. “It’s a finger-hold, like hanging on by your
nails,” said Michael Zammit Cutajar of Malta, a veteran climate negotiator.
European and other delegates to the annual climate conference wanted to begin discussions about what would follow the Kyoto Protocol when it expires
in 2012. That pact, which takes effect on February 16, requires most industrial nations to make specified cuts in emissions of carbon dioxide and
other “greenhouse gases” blamed for global warming.
Mod Edit: to add quote from the article.
[edit on 19-12-2004 by kinglizard]
