The goal is to keep global temperatures in the future from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahernheit, above pre-industrial levels, though some participants are arguing for a more stringent curb.
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That was weaker language than in previous drafts that included more specific emissions cuts and timeframes. He said he wants different rules for different countries “clearly stipulated” in the global warming pact.
Marshall Islands foreign minister Tony de Brum, the driving force behind the coalition, warned there had been a “co-ordinated campaign to gut the text” of ambition by some countries, and pledged to fight for a strong agreement.
Not being a part of the coalition of “high ambition” doesn’t mean China has less ambition in advancing the United Nations climate change talks toward as successful Paris outcome, she said.
Liu dismissed the coalition as a “performance”.
The two-week talks are the culmination of years of U.N.-led efforts for a long-term climate deal.
“But the way the developed countries have taken the stance today and not showing flexibility…that is why hurdles are coming”. “We will act on climate change”.
But says Kerry: “If all the industrial nations went down to zero emissions – it still wouldn’t be enough – not when more than 65 per cent of the world’s carbon pollution comes from the developing world”.
He says the disagreements are focused on “differentiation” – how to define the responsibilities of countries in different stages of economic development.
Another remaining flashpoint issue is how to compensate developing nations that will be worst hit by climate change but are least to blame for it.
The U.S. and European countries want to move away from this “differentiation” among economies, and want big emerging countries like China and India to pitch in more in a final climate deal.
Normally, security is tightened at the end of climate conferences because several dozen heads of state or government arrive in the venue to give the negotiations a final push.
As World Wildlife Fund vice president of climate change Lou Leonard told me this week, “1.5 is an empty number if we don’t come back, if the next time we come back is in 2035”.
“We’re working on it”, Kerry said as he emerged from one meeting room with an entourage of security agents and State Department aides.
However, concerns remain about other sections of the draft agreement as rich countries and developed nations clashed over how responsibility for tackling climate change should be shared between them.
Fabius said the outstanding differences were “without mystery … the most complex”.
Secretary of State John Kerry and his lieutenants at the conference here in a suburb of Paris have been holding a stream of bilateral meetings in recent days with Indian and Chinese negotiators, according to a person familiar with the issue.
Negotiators took a key step last Saturday with the release of a draft agreement that has been posted online by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
France said the talks would be extended, with hopes of wrapping them up on Saturday, after ministers failed to bridge deep divides during marathon negotiations.
They said it is not surprising, given that worldwide negotiators are trying for an accord that will change the global economy over the long term.
“This needs consensus”, said Michael Jacobs, an economist with the New Climate Economy project, speaking to reporters outside Paris.
“There’s still a lot of negotiating to do”, he said.
The French co-host of the talks said the final accord wouldn’t be ready Friday as hoped but would run until Saturday.
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“We are into the final lap which separates us from a universal, legally binding, ambitious, fair and lasting agreement which the world is waiting for”, he told negotiators.
