Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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December 14, 2007

Cautious Optimism as Deadlocked UN Climate Change Talks Wind Down
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1A9495E:A6F02AD83191E1602DDA91CAF14FF8BB5C6F54A6CF9DC2CA& Delegates trying to
start talks on successor to Kyoto Protocol on climate change Europe's
environment minister is cautiously optimistic that a deadlock between
the European Union and the United States over greenhouse gas emission
targets can be resolved. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins reports from the
United Nations Climate Change Conference on Bali, where delegates are
trying to start talks on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol on climate
change.







Reporters and delegates waiting outside room where principle
negotiations are taking place at Bali conference, 14 Dec 2007Stavros
Dimas, the European Union environment minister, said Friday that some
progress had been made in the search for a final statement for the
climate conference.

"I'm optimistic that we can and will agree on an acceptable Bali road
map here, but time is running out for other developed countries to
live up to their responsibilities," said Dimas. "I hope they will do
so in the coming hours so that Bali goes down in history as a
successful step to a new global agreement that will tackle the vital
challenge of climate change."

The roadmap will contain guidelines for negotiations on a successor to
the Kyoto Protocol. The EU and most of the other 190 nations
participating here want firm targets for reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions written into the roadmap.

The U.S., supported by Japan and Canada, says setting firm targets
will prejudge the outcome of the negotiations.


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