CANCUN, Mexico, (Reuters) – Almost 200 nations sought yesterday to break a deadlock between rich and poor on steps to fight global warming and avert a new, damaging setback after they failed to agree a U.N. treaty last year in Copenhagen.
Several environment ministers said that failure at the talks in Mexico could undermine faith in the ability of the United Nations to tackle global problems in the 21st century as power shifts toward emerging nations led by China and India.
“I think that what is at stake here is also multilateralism,” said European Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard. “It’s absolutely crucial that this process, which is the only one we have … can prove that it can deliver results.”
The talks in this Caribbean beach resort of Cancun from Nov. 29 to Dec. 10, have more modest ambitions than at Copenhagen last year, but there are still yawning gaps over the future of the Kyoto Protocol for curbing greenhouse gas emissions by rich nations until 2012.
Japan, Canada and Russia say they will not extend the pact unless poorer nations also commit to emissions cuts. Developing nations, especially Bolivia, insist the rich world must lead by setting deeper cuts beyond 2013 before they take on curbs.
“I believe that an ambitious, broad and balanced package is within reach,” Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa told delegates. “That does not mean that we already have it in our grasp.”
China also saw some signs of hope on Kyoto. Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin, asked if there was room for a deal, told Reuters: “I think that will be possible. That is still under discussion.”
