Lima climate talks: South American diplomats hopeful of progress on deal

South American diplomats expect to make progress towards a global climate deal at this week’s UN talks in Lima, despite growing criticism from NGOs that governments in the region are backtracking on pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment.

Senior officials from the host, Peru, and biggest regional emitter, Brazil, told the Guardian they aimed to help negotiators draw up a draft agreement specifying measures to prevent global warming reaching catastrophic levels.

The draft is expected be finalised and signed at at conference next year in Paris. It will be legally binding and applicable to all signatories, though levels of responsibility to reduce greenhouse gases will vary from nation to nation depending on their level of development.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/dec/09/south-america-cant-hope-for-progress-at-lima-and-renege-on-climate-pledges