China favours EU plans for Kyoto replacement – but with conditions

[Turborama]

Source: The Guardian

UN climate talks back on track after China and Brazil say they will consider the 'right' legally-binding treaty on emission cuts

John Vidal and Fiona Harvey in Durban | Monday December 05 2011 19.50 GMT

EU plans for a global treaty to legally bind all countries to slash greenhouse emissions by 2020 appear to be – just – on track after China and Brazil, two of the biggest developing countries, indicated they were prepared to consider the proposed accord, with conditions.

As senior ministers from more than 190 countries flew in to the UN meeting in South Africa, to take over the negotiations from officials, the energy secretary, Chris Huhne, arrived on Monday saying there was a "real chance" that the stuttering climate talks could be revived.

With talks entering their seventh day, the EU now leads nearly 100 mostly small developing countries in calls for a treaty to replace the existing Kyoto protocol and to sign up all states to emission cuts.

Huhne said: "There is a real signal from what China is saying that there may be flexibility in its position (and we) could see commitment to a global, legally binding agreement...

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/dec/05/china-eu-plans-kyoto-durban

[applegrove]

1. I'm sure Canada's Harper government is doing its best to scuttle the deal. The Harper government.

Did I mention it was the Harper government?

[DissedByBush]

2. I'm guessing it's along the lines of

they'll support it as long as they get an exception to keep building two coal power plants a week.

[applegrove]

3. Oh no Harper is not supporting Kyoto because Canada has to cook all the oil

in the alberta tar sands. When oil is $200 a barrel you could reduce emissions and still make a profit on the tar sands.