U.N. climate talks agree on agenda for next global pact

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Climate negotiators agreed Saturday on an ambitious agenda for talks they hope will lead to a global warming pact, overcoming a dispute between Japan and developing countries on how to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The schedule came after five days of marathon talks in Bangkok and requires negotiators to settle contentious issues, including how countries will cut emissions and how rich nations will help the poor adapt to climate change.

"Not only do we have the certainty that critical issues will be addressed this year, we now have the bite-sized chunks which will allow us to negotiate in an effective manner," U.N. climate chief Yvo de Boer said.

Delegates also welcomed the agreement but warned significant disagreements remain over demands from the U.S. and Japan for developing countries to accept binding targets as part of a pact to stabilize greenhouse gases in the next 10 to 15 years and cut them in half by 2050.

"We can live with the work program but the negotiations ahead will be tough, very tough," said Prodipto Ghosh, a member of the Indian delegation. "There are wide divergences between different groups over the nature of the conclusions to be reached."

Talks had bogged down because of developing nations' opposition to discussion of a Japanese proposal to set industry-specific emissions reduction targets. Developing nations want rich countries to agree to set national targets first.

Representatives from 163 countries met in Bangkok for the first negotiations on a pact meant to take effect after 2012. Scientists say quick action is needed to prevent the worsening floods, droughts and violent storms that would affect billions of people worldwide in a warming world.

The agenda postponed in depth discussions of the Japanese proposal until August to satisfy critics in developing nations. Instead, other issues — such as rich countries' efforts to help poor nations adapt to rising temperatures — will be discussed first.

Delegates also deleted from an earlier draft a call for discussion of what the U.S. emissions reduction targets might be in the new agreement, delegates said, leaving talk of that for 2009 — when a new American president will be in office. The Bush administration has been critical of deep emissions reductions.