The chairman of United Nations climate talks urged governments on Friday to boost efforts to secure a new deal to tackle global warming by making specific proposals as soon as possible

BONN, Germany; June 9, 2008.- Participants hope to reach an agreement by December 2009 so that it can come into force after the first round of the Kyoto Protocol, which is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, ends in 2012.

“Set down concrete proposals as soon as possible,” Brazilian Luiz Figueiredo Machado told representatives of 170 countries.

Concrete proposals meant “ideas” rather than texts for a new climate deal, which governments may not even start discussing this year given November’s US presidential election, said UN climate chief Yvo de Boer.

A ministerial climate meeting later this year should focus on how countries can work together to cut greenhouse gases, fight poverty and prepare for a warmer world, he added.

“The pressure is building but far too slowly,” said Hans Verolme, a campaigner with development and environment NGO Germanwatch.

But environmental groups also saw some grounds for hope after the latest discussions, which they said including proposals on how to raise funds for emissions cuts.

Switzerland proposed a tax on carbon emissions above a certain per capita level, several environmental groups said. This would imply a big financial burden for the United States, less so for Europe and none at all for the poorest states.

They said Norway had proposed using proceeds from auctioning emissions rights to richer nations to fund the climate fight in developing nations.

The Swiss and Norwegian delegations were unavailable for comment.

Greenhouse gas emissions are rising by several percent a year and climate scientists say they should peak within 10 years to have the best chance to avoid dangerous warming.

At talks last December in Bali ministers struggled, but finally succeeded, to agree to launch the post-Kyoto talks.

The United States is the only rich country not to ratify Kyoto and is the world’s top or second biggest emitter of the planet-warming gas carbon dioxide, after China.

Kyoto caps the planet-warming gases of some 37 industrialised countries. Countries agreed in Bali that a new deal would involve all nations to fight the climate problem.

(Reuters)

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