21 Dec 2009 08:12:02

Copenhagen climate deal unveiled

The two week-long UN climate change summit resulted in a disappointing outcome for negotiators.

A deal was secured to tackle global warming after US president Barack Obama formed an initiative entitled the Copenhagen Accord with developing emerging economies including China and India.

However, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon admitted that some nations may have felt let down by the progress of the conference in Copenhagen.

"The Copenhagen Accord may not be everything everyone had hoped for but this decision ... is an important beginning," he said.

Under the agreement, it is agreed that the average global temperature rise should be kept to under two degrees Celsius.

But critics have pointed out that the deal fails to specify the reduction needed in greenhouse gas emissions in order to achieve this.

"I wanted a stronger agreement … [These] events show the difficulty we face. We are dealing with incredibly complex issues and trying to get 192 countries signed up is not an easy task," commented energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband.

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