Bali climate talks reach agreement

Dec. 15 - Delegates at the United Nations Climate Change Conference agree to launch climate treaty talks after previous deadlock.

The level of ambition to guide rich countries' efforts to fight climate change was one of the most contentious issues at the Bali talks. The United States opposed a European Union-backed range for greenhouse gas emissions cuts by 2020. Earlier drafts had mentioned a goal for rich countries to cut emissions by 25-40 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.

Michelle Carlile-Alkhouri, Reuters.

Soundbites:
Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations Secretary.
Paula Dabrionsky, U.S. Chief Negotiator to the talks.