Leaders Sour on Copenhagen Climate Talks

VOA News

The climate change talks in Copenhagen remain deadlocked with top officials losing faith that the negotiations will produce any meaningful results.

Before departing for the summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin that news from the talks was "not good."  She also criticized the United States, saying its offers to cut emissions by just four percent are not ambitious enough.

Other officials at the conference have expressed concerns they will not be able to hammer out a global warming treaty before U.S. President Barack Obama and more than 100 other world leaders arrive for the summit's conclusion on Friday.

Environment ministers on Thursday were still far apart on how to cap greenhouse gas emissions and verify that each nation is doing its part.

The United States is demanding that China allow some form of verification mechanism as part of a final deal.

China is refusing to accept the demand.  Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu called on developed nations to "show greater sincerity" when it comes to reducing emissions and helping poor countries pay for the cuts.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be in Copenhagen Thursday for talks with Chinese and Brazilian officials, paving the way for President Obama's appearance on Friday.

Delegates made some progress Wednesday on deforestation and helping poor countries. The United States and five other wealthy nations (Australia, Britain, France, Japan and Norway) agreed to spend $3.5 billion over the next three years to slow down deforestation.

Scientists say trees help absorb the greenhouse gas emissions said to be causing global warming, but forests in such places as Indonesia, Brazil, and Africa have been disappearing because of agriculture and logging.

Japan pledged more than $19 billion to a fund to help developing nations cope with the changes that come with global warming, including rising sea levels.

However, the Japanese say their contribution hinges on whether a final climate change agreement can be reached by the time the conference ends Friday.