11 Dec 2011

Climate talks end with late deal

5:17 pm on 11 December 2011

United Nations climate talks have closed with agreement on a package of measures described by the chair as "balanced".

The European Union will place its current emission-cutting pledges inside the legally-binding Kyoto Protocol, a key demand of developing countries.

The BBC reports talks on a new legal deal covering all countries will begin next year and end by 2015, coming into effect by 2020.

Management of a fund for climate aid to poor countries has also been agreed, though how to raise the money has not.

Talks ran nearly 36 hours beyond their scheduled close, with many delegates saying the host government lacked urgency and strategy.

The conclusion was delayed by a dispute between the European Union and India over the precise wording of the "roadmap" for a new global deal.

India did not want to specify that it must be legally binding.

Eventually, it was agreed that the deal must "have legal force".

The conference has also agreed on a form of a green climate fund to help poor nations fight global warming.