"The latest round of international climate change talks finished on Friday in discord and disappoint
ment, with some participants concerned that important progress made last year was being unpicked."
"At the talks, countries were supposed to set out a workplan on negotiations that should result in a new global climate treaty, to be drafted by the end of 2015 and to come into force in 2020. But participants told the Guardian they were downbeat, disappointed and frustrated that the decision to work on a new treaty -- reached after marathon late-running talks last December in Durban -- was being questioned.
China and India, both rapidly growing economies with an increasing share of global emissions, have tried to delay talks on such a treaty. Instead of a workplan for the next three years to achieve the objective of a new pact, governments have only managed to draw up a partial agenda. 'It's incredibly frustrating to have achieved so little,' said one developed country participant. 'We're stepping backwards, not forwards.'
Connie Hedegaard, the EU climate chief, said: 'The world cannot afford that a few want to backtrack from what was agreed in Durban only five months ago. Durban was – and is – a delicately balanced package where all elements must be delivered at the same pace. It is not a pick and choose menu. It is very worrisome that attempts to backtrack have been so obvious and time-consuming in the Bonn talks over the last two weeks.'"
Fiona Harvey reports for the Guardian May 25, 2012.
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