Dec 13, 2007, 12:51 GMT
Bali Island, Indonesia - The US delegation is holding firm Thursday to its stance at the UN climate conference that it does not want to commit to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of up to 40 per cent by 2020.
'We don't have to resolve all issues here in Bali,' said Paula Dobriansky, head of the US delegation, reiterating that the Bali roadmap should not anticipate the outcome of the future talks.
The staunch position of the US has stalled talks to launch negotiations for a post-2012 agreement, when the Kyoto Protocol expires, and has put the only developed country not to ratify the pact in clear conflict with the European Union.
The EU on Thursday threatened the US to not hold any other talks on climate change outside of the UN if no satisfactory consensus is reached by the end of the conference Friday.
'If there is no result in Bali, there will be no further meeting of the countries of the major economies,' said German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel, referring to the US-led talks inaugurated in September by President George W Bush.
Follow-up meetings are scheduled for January in Hawaii and for February in Paris.
New meetings do not make a sense if targets are not on the table, Gabriel said.
According to Bush advisor Jim Connaughton, on some issues 'our friends in Europe are moving slightly ahead of us, but in some areas we have a higher dedication,' he said referring to US government initiatives to promote bio fuels.
Earlier Thursday, UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said the deadlock between the United States and the European Union over emissions cuts threatens to derail the talks.
'I'm very concerned about the pace of things,' he said. 'If we don't get wording on the future, then the whole house of cards falls to pieces.'
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