Developed countries relent emissions demands
20th October 2009
Developed countries are preparing to cede their demand that developing countries adhere to long-term greenhouse gas emission cuts in a move that may form the basis of a global deal on climate change, according to reports.
The demand was expected to be made at the international climate change summit in Copenhagen in December.
However, China and India reportedly refused to sign up to it, worried it could be used to force large and unquantified emission cuts on them in the future.
Western governments are now easing on their call for a global target of halving emissions by 2050, in an attempt to reach an agreement on a less demanding arrangement.
Developed countries have already agreed to cut their emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, which will remain unchanged.
The 2050 target is the second recent concession in the talks. Developing countries have also given up attempts to get free access to rich countries’ intellectual property, reports suggest.
A major issue for developing countries is finance. Poor countries reportedly want financial assistance from wealthy nations if they are to agree to binding emissions agreements.
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