Vienna - Delegates at UN-sponsored climate talks in Vienna were still struggling Friday afternoon over whether to present indicative ranges on greenhouse gas emissions as a non-binding guideline for industrialized nations. A group of countries, consisting of Japan, Canada, Russia, Switzerland and New Zealand rejected the recommendation to cut greenhouse gases by 25 to 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 and suggested the ranges be kept open.
At the week-long meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Control (UNFCCC) delegates from more than 100 states were laying groundwork for negotiations on climate control after the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012.
Participating non-governmental organizations slammed the reluctance of countries to agree on quantitive ranges as "atrocious" and "damning millions in developing countries to doom and misery" as a rise in global temperatures would lead to natural disasters, hunger and rising sea levels.
"Why does Switzerland support ranges that will melt its glaciers, or Japan ranges that lead to rising sea levels severely affecting its population," Angela Ledford-Andersen of the US-based Natural Environment Trust said.
UNFCCC head Yvo de Boer acknowledged the difficulties, saying delegates from small island states were especially concerned. "A rise in temperature of 2 degrees would mean that they have no countries to represent. I can understand their distress."
Nonetheless, de Boer said the talks generated some momentum for the climate conference in Bali, Indonesia in December, and expressed hope for formal negotiations on a post-Kyoto solution to begin.
