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MEPs want more done to combat climate change

21 December 2007

MEPs have criticised the lack of a clear reference to binding emission cuts by rich nations in the Bali 'roadmap', which was hotly debated at last week's UN conference in Indonesia.

The EU, China and most developing countries had pressed for rich countries to cut emissions by between 25 and 40 per cent, but the US relegated the mention of cuts in the final text to a footnote.

The outcome of the Bali conference was debated by MEPs on the temporary committee on climate change at a meeting on Monday.

Committee chairman, Italian Socialist deputy Guido Sacconi, said: "The most important political result is that we have reached an agreement which includes a roadmap and a timetable for an international treaty by 2009.

"Although the text includes no direct reference to reduction targets all countries, developed and developing alike, are now called upon to take mitigation measures."

Hans-Gert Pottering, EU parliament president, said: "Bali can only be successful if all the participants hold firm to their commitments, in particular in moving together towards a successor agreement to the Kyoto protocol which expires in 2012."

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