Climate negotiations: agreement on a single paragraph
As negotiations were entering their final day, with long-running issues still dividing the parties, US Secretary of State, John Kerry, told the negotiators that the world was "still on a course leading to tragedy".
An ambitious deal he said was "not an option, it is an urgent necessity". But ongoing battles are threatening to limit any progress in the Peruvian capital. Many developed countries want to see a change in the way the nations are classified in the UN process. Until now, the rich have been obliged to take on commitments to cut emissions while the poor have not.
Countries such as the US say that the old divisions are outdated and they want everyone to take on some form of obligation.
"We are going backwards," said Alden Meyer, who monitors the climate negotiations for the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Those at the talks still have every expectation that Lima will produce some kind of agreement by Friday evening, or more likely early Saturday morning – but the paralysis is in stark contrast to the upbeat backdrop to the summit's opening.
(Source: BBC-Guardian)