CHRONOLOGY-U.S. U-turn brings Bali climate deal

Sat Dec 15, 2007 2:10pm GMT
 
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(Reuters) - Following is a chronology of a dramatic 90 minutes on Saturday at 190-nation climate talks in Bali, Indonesia, that led to a deal to launch two years of talks on a broad new climate treaty involving all countries.

5:00 a.m. British time - The two-week talks, meant to end on Friday, are deadlocked long into overtime. Developing nations led by India and China are demanding that rich countries do more to lead the way in fighting climate change. The demands arose overnight, partly after the European Union bowed to U.S. pressure and toned down calls for the final text to lay out clear 2020 guidelines for rich nations to axe greenhouse gas emissions.

5:20 a.m. British time - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, making an unscheduled return after leaving Bali on Friday for East Timor, enters the conference hall with Indonesian President Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"I am disappointed at the lack of progress," Ban said. "Everybody should be able to make compromises."

"The worst thing we can do is for this project to crumble because we can't find the right wording," Yudhoyono said. "The world is watching anxiously and I beg you not to let them down."

Delegates strongly applaud both speeches.

5:44 a.m. British time - The European Union, which had opposed the developing nations' demands, immediately backs down and accepts the developing countries' text that gives stronger promises to share green technologies. Delegates applaud.

5:55 a.m. British time - Paula Dobriansky, under secretary of state for democracy and global affairs leading the U.S. delegation, reaffirms U.S. opposition, bringing boos.

5:56 a.m. British time - Speakers from countries including Brazil and South Africa then make pleas on behalf of the developing countries. And neither Australia nor Japan side with Dobriansky. Papua New Guinea delegate Kevin Conrad wins wild applause by addressing Dobriansky and saying:  Continued...

 

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