Merkel aims go to U.N. climate talks; IEA urges deal

By Noah Barkin and Muriel Boselli

BERLIN/PARIS (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel signaled on Tuesday she would visit Copenhagen to push for a U.N. climate deal with other leaders next month, saying failure would set back climate cooperation by years.

In Paris, the International Energy Agency (IEA) argued strongly for a U.N. carbon-capping deal, projecting that world use of fossil fuels would otherwise surge by 2030 and push up both energy prices and greenhouse gas emissions.

"A failure of the climate conference in Copenhagen would set progress on international climate policy back years. We cannot afford this," Merkel said of bogged-down 190-nation talks on a pact meant to be agreed in Copenhagen in December.

"Time is running out and the EU has developed a clear and distinct negotiating position. Now we expect commitments from the United States and countries like China and India," she said in a speech to the Bundestag lower house of parliament.

"And I will lobby for this personally and obviously, if it is successful...I will go to Copenhagen, just so any doubts about this are allayed here," she said.

The European Union, which plans to cut its emissions by between 20 and 30 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, sees itself as a leader in fighting climate change. China, the United States, the EU, Russia and India are the biggest emitters.

The Copenhagen talks were originally meant to be only for environment ministers but the United Nations said last week that about 40 leaders have indicated plans to attend, including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and leaders of nations in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.

In an interview with Reuters on Monday, U.S. President Barack Obama said he would go to Copenhagen if he felt the world was on the brink of a "meaningful agreement" and his prescence could make a difference to secure a deal.