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Calls for ministerial mettle on climate change

17 December 2007

More commitments are required at ministerial level to ensure a real mandate is secured at the UN Bali conference to help reach an international agreement on climate change, Friends of the Earth has said (FoE).

The environmental group is concerned that talks on the technology transfer fund and facility have reached stalemate, with the US opposing a multilateral fund.

FoE wants ministers to agree in principle to fund and begin talks over terms of reference for the mechanism.

Ministers and high-level government representatives along with six heads of state met in Bali on Wednesday for talks on how best to set out the "roadmap" towards building a successor to the Kyoto protocol, which expires in 2012.

In a press release, FoE urged ministers to set a strong target range for greenhouse gas emission cuts and commitments for more resources to tackle climate change.

FoE climate campaign coordinator Stephanie Long said: "We came to Bali with high expectations that industrialized countries would take the lead here and meet their historical obligations, as outlined in the U.N. convention and the protocol.

"All we have seen so far are empty agreements that will not lead to adequate real action to deal with climate change."

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