Obama ready to do climate deal 'today'

BY DAVID WILLIAMS IN COPENHAGEN

The United States is ready to do a climate change deal "today", US President Barack Obama told world leaders and ministers.

Speaking at an informal meeting during United Nations climate change negotiations in Copenhagen on Friday (early Saturday NZ time), Obama said the ability of the world to take collective action was in doubt and hung in the balance.

"I believe we can act boldly and decisively in the face of a common threat. I've come here today not to talk but to act," he said.

The debate over climate change had raged for two decades and there was little to show except increased acceleration of the climate change phenomena.

Time was short, he said, and countries had to decide if they preferred posturing to action.

"We are ready to get this done today."

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said China was committed to meeting and "even exceeding" its targets for limiting greenhouse gas emissions growth.

He said China was at important stage of industrialisation and urbanisation.

"However we have always seen addressing climate change as a strategic task," he said.

"We are committed to meeting and even exceeding the target."

China has set a goal of cutting the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of economic output by between 40 and 45 percent by 2020, from 2005 levels.

China's objections to a monitoring system for CO2 emissions remain one of the main stumbling blocks to reaching agreement, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said.

"The discussions lasted all night without interruption," Sarkozy told reporters during a break.

"The good news is that they're continuing, the bad news is they haven't reached a conclusion," he said.

"There is a lot of tension...but even so, things are moving a bit," he said, adding that Chinese objections to allowing international monitoring of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions were among the problems holding up a deal.

Sarkozy welcomed the US decision to approve a $US100 ($NZ140) billion aid package to help poor countries help fight climate change.

"But in exchange, (US President Barack Obama) wants an organism to monitor everybody's efforts," he said.

"Europe is completely united. A large part of Africa agrees with us completely, the United States is very close to our position," he said.

A frustrated Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Brazil was ready to spend money helping other countries if it will help seal a final agreement at Copenhagen.

"I want to be part of this miracle."

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged leaders to come to agreement, saying the finishing line was in sight.

"Now is the time for common sense, compromise and courage," he said.

"It will be your legacy for all time."

Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, who is president of the talks, said he hoped the day would mark a new beginning.

"Now we must chart the future course of our planet."

The two weeks of talks, involving 193 countries, have been  rife with delays and bickering over process and whether there would be a legally-binding outcome.

By Friday morning deadlocked negotiators had not given ministers or leaders any final text to consider as the basis for a new global climate deal.

The meeting is scheduled to finish on Friday night (Saturday morning NZ time).

- with wires

- © Fairfax NZ News