Germany Warns That Time Is Running Out For Post-Kyoto Climate Pact - Reuters

[hatrack]

BERLIN - Germany's environment minister said on Thursday that governments around the world must agree before the end of the year on a plan to negotiate an extension of the Kyoto Protocol on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Speaking ahead of a two-day meeting of environment ministers from the Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations and top developing countries beginning in Potsdam on Friday, Sigmar Gabriel said time was running out for the Kyoto Protocol. "In Bali there must be a decision made on a negotiating mandate that enables a follow-up regime for the period after 2012, after the expiration of the Kyoto Protocol," Gabriel said.

He was referring to a December meeting of the world's environment ministers in Bali, Indonesia. "There has to be progress made on climate protection. We can't let it end in 2012," he told reporters.

Gabriel said the aim of the Potsdam meeting was not to produce documents but to discuss climate change and explore ways of bridging the wide gap between the positions of the industrialised and developing countries. Some UN officials say the disagreements are so intense there may be no deal on a negotiating mandate in Bali.

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