US changes stall Copenhagen negotiations

Talks continue overnight

Reuters

MIDNIGHT OIL: A globe with an interactive display glows at the townhall square in Copenhagen as negotiators work through the night.

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The United States has "gone ballistic" over draft texts being considered for a climate deal in Copenhagen, demanding last-minute changes which halted negotiations.

As talks dragged late into the early morning, the US moved to water down provisions over greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for developed countries.

With still no progress after 5am on Wednesday in Copenhagen, negotiators were under pressure to deliver something to ministers for the morning.

The late hour was illustrated on the official United Nations video by the sleeping form of a delegate, lying prone across seats, being visible as the Cook Islands delegate addressed the meeting.

Heads of state have already started sweeping into the Danish capital and a deal is scheduled to be agreed by Friday.

Lead negotiator Jonathan Pershing said the US had "substantial discomfort" with the language being used.

His country was seeking a different structure to the Kyoto Protocol agreement, he said, and countries should take action domestically rather than agree to an internationally agreed figure.

He sought to remove mention of a target range of between 25 and 40 per cent on 1990 levels by 2020 and to insert "or 2005" after 1990, moving the base year.

The text being discussed was about to be signed off on the "long-term cooperative action" talks.

It was aimed at getting a deal with the US and others, including major developing countries, that have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol.

Greenpeace political advisor Geoff Keey said the suggestions toughened the language around actions by developing countries on climate change.

"This has the feeling of a complete ambush."

The talks lapsed while members of the developing country bloc, called G77, considered the changes, but the session resumed just before 5am.

Green groups say the promises tabled by developed nations so far are well short of the 40 per cent cuts on 1990 levels by 2020 which are required.

"We are way below what's needed to keep climate change below dangerous levels of warming," he said.

Developed country negotiators have told Fairfax that the US "went ballistic" over soft language being used over greenhouse gas emissions targets for developing countries.

They said the rift has been caused by procedural problems - that the text was in a mess and more work should have been done before draft conclusions were offered to the parties.

They worry now that a deal is impossible, which would mean: "two years of negotiations down the drain."

At the opening of the high level-segment of the meeting on Tuesday evening, Connie Hedegaard, the Danish environment minister and president of the meeting, said success was within reach but issued a stern warning that the meeting could fail.

"We spend too much time on repeating our positions, on sending signals (and) on formalities," she said.

"If we are going to make it - and we are, because we must - well then we must also change gears."

The European Union later called for tougher language over "mitigation measures" by emerging economies.