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EU wants quicker pace at Copenhagen climate negotiations

BRUSSELS, Dec 12 (KUNA) -- The proposals that are now on the table do not deliver enough to keep the temperature rise to less than two degrees. This was the EU's comment during Saturday's plenary discussion at the Copenhagen climate summit, according to a statement by the Swedish EU Presidency.
After the sixth day of negotiations at today's press briefing in Copenhagen with the EU Troika -- Sweden, the upcoming EU Presidency Spain and the European Commission -- Swedish Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren said "an agreement must include all countries and we must have a legally binding agreement as soon as possible after Copenhagen." "We therefore need to raise the pace for the coming week," said Carlgren.
"We want to go up to 30 per cent emissions reductions. An important requirement is that the USA and China increase their offers and that we consequently reach an ambitious agreement. We do not intend to undersell the climate", he added.
The President of the UN climate conference, Connie Hedegaard said Saturday that "we have made considerable progress over the course of the first week".
Meanwhile, environment ministers started arriving in the Danish capital Saturday for informal talks before world leaders join them at the end of the coming week. (end) nk.bs KUNA 122205 Dec 09NNNN