UN climate chief calls for quick action at China talks

The UN climate change chief on Monday warned feuding countries they must immediately begin working towards a deal to combat global warming, as gridlocked talks resumed in China. The six-days of talks in the northern city of Tianjin are part of long-running efforts through the United Nations to secure a post-2012 treaty to limit global warming and avoid potential environmental catastrophes.

The event is the first time that China, the world's biggest source of greenhouse gases, which scientists say cause global warming, has hosted a UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting.

Little progress has been made since world leaders failed to broker a deal in Copenhagen last year and the delegates were told they had to break the stalemate ahead of another UN climate summit in Mexico starting next month.

"As governments you can continue to stand still or move forward. Now is the time to make that choice," UNFCCC executive secretary Christiana Figueres said in an address at the start of the conference.
"Now is the time to accelerate the search for common ground."

The final goal of the process is a treaty aimed at curbing greenhouse gases, which could potentially be clinched late next year at a UN summit in South Africa, in time to replace the Kyoto Protocol which expires at the end of 2012. More at:http://www.terradaily.com/reports/UN_climate_chief_calls_for_quick_action_at_China_talks_999.html

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