Barack Obama says ‘world running out of time’

President Barack Obama has given warning that the Copenhagen climate conference is “running out of time” amid fears that the meeting could yet end in failure.

President Obama appeared to have reached a deal with China just hours after a speech which had "humilated" Beijing. Photo: AFP

President Obama appeared to have reached a deal with China just hours after a speech which had "humilated" Beijing. Photo: AFP

Mr Obama addressed the summit in Copenhagen as leaders remained unable to agree on a substantive deal to cut their economies’ carbon emissions in an effort to curb the rise in global temperatures.

President Obama arrived in Copenhagen this morning amid anger from some developing countries that the US is not raising its target to cut carbon emissions by 4 per cent from their 1990 levels. Most rich countries are pledging double-digit cuts.

Addressing the summit, Mr Obama warned leaders that the Copenhagen talks are now in danger of failure.

He said: “As the world watches today, I think our ability to take collective action together is in doubt.

The summit “hangs in the balance,” he said. “We are running out of time. The time for talk is over. It is better for us to act than to talk. The question is whether we move forward together or split apart.”

Without an agreement today, he said, the world faces months and years of indecision over climate change.

“We can do that, and everyone who is in this room will be a part of an historic endeavor – one that makes life better for our children and grandchildren,” Mr Obama said.

“Or we can again choose delay, falling back into the same divisions that have stood in the way of action for years. And we will be back having the same stale arguments month after month, year after year – all while the danger of climate change grows until it is irreversible.”

British officials in Copenhagen said that the final day of negotiations is going badly. One said: “The prospects aren’t great. There is a risk of failure.”

A number of “key countries” are holding out against the overall package, the official said: “Time is now short.”

Delegates at the talks said that China is still objecting to calls to allow its progress on emissions targets to be verified by other countries.

And there was still doubt over whether China will sign up to the “transparency” required by America.

Speaking first in the line up world leaders, Premier Wen Jiabao increased the pressure by saying China would make “tremendous effort” to meet and even go beyond its domestic target to cut carbon emissions between 40 to 45 per cent by 2020.

But he made it clear that the world must trust China to honour its commitment without infringing on national sovereignty.

“We will honour our word with real action,” he said. “Whatever outcome

this conference may produce, we will be fully committed to achieving and even exceeding the target.”

Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, attempted to embarrass the rich world into action by offering to give money from his own country to less developed countries to tackle climate change.

“We are willing to participate in the financing mechanisms if we reach an agreemnent on a final proposal from this conference,” he said.

Andy Atkins, executive director of Friends of the Earth, said the world was “deeply disappointed” that the President Obama has not increased the target to cut emissions.

“If the President’s idea of action is to cut US emissions by 4 per cent on 1990 levels then we’re heading for climate catastrophe. Barack Obama should have taken the opportunity to up his proposed cuts to at least 40 per cent by 2020 and ditch carbon offsetting.

“Obama has deeply disappointed not just those listening to his speech at the UN talks – he has disappointed the whole world.”

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