China Hails Climate Change Agreement

VOA News Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi says the accord was a positive step forward in recognizing different responsibilities between emerging and rich nations.

The Copenhagen accord was approved Saturday after marathon negotiations by the United States, China, India, Brazil and South Africa.

The accord says greenhouse gases and other emissions by all nations must be reduced enough to prevent average global temperatures - the key index of global warming - from rising more than two degrees Celsius. However, it does not set specific emissions guidelines for achieving that goal.

China and the United States are the world's biggest contributors to global warming. U.S. President Barack Obama called the accord a "breakthrough" in attempts to control global warming, but he said it still "not enough."

Obama Urges World to Unite Behind Climate Pact as Talks Falter

VOA News: 18/12/2009

U.S. President Barack Obama joined world leaders from over 100 countries for the final sessions of the U.N. Climate Change conference in Copenhagen. As negotiations drew to a close, no new compromise proposals were evident and talk turned to forging a political commitment with details of measures to be taken left for future negotiations.

"We can embrace this accord, take a substantial step forward, continue to refine it and build upon its foundation," said U.S. President Barack Obama

Photo: AP

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at the morning plenary session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, 18 Dec 2009

"We can embrace this accord, take a substantial step forward, continue to refine it and build upon its foundation," said U.S. President Barack Obama.

Addressing the gathering of world leaders President Obama urged them to put aside differences and agree on a plan of action.

US Pledges to Work Toward $100 Billion Global Climate Fund for Poor

VOA News

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the United States will work with other nations to establish a $100 billion a year fund for climate financing for poor countries. She made the announcement at the U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen.

"The United States is prepared to work with other countries toward a goal of jointly mobilizing $100 billion a year by 2020 to address the climate change needs of developing countries," Hillary Clinton

Secretary of State Clinton says the United States wants a comprehensive and operational new agreement to come out of the U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives for a press briefing at the climate summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, 17 Dec 2009

She said an agreement must include commitments from all major economies to take decisive action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and strong standards for full transparency over those efforts.

If that can be accomplished, Clinton said the United States will make significant contributions.

"The United States is prepared to work with other countries toward a goal of jointly mobilizing $100 billion a year by 2020 to address the climate change needs of developing countries," Clinton said.