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November 15, 2009

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Draft language watered down on emissions cuts

APEC leaders have watered down a draft text on emissions cuts, dropping a reference to reductions of minus 50 percent by 2050, pledging instead to "substantially" cut carbon pollution by the middle of this century.

The meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders, ministers and CEOs in Singapore is the last major gathering of global decision-makers before a United Nations climate summit next month in Copenhagen, Denmark, meant to ramp up efforts to fight climate change.

But hopes have been dashed that the Copenhagen meeting will yield a legally binding framework for a new deal.

Arguments over targets have been a key stumbling block in UN negotiations and at other forums, such as the G8.

While the APEC talks are not part of the troubled UN climate negotiations, any future emissions goals the 21 members adopt is crucial because the group is responsible for about 60 percent of the world's greenhouse gas pollution.

The initial draft leader's statement said "global emissions will need to ... be reduced to 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050."

The latest draft says: "We believe that global emissions will need to peak over the next few years, and be substantially reduced by 2050, recognizing that the time frame for peaking will be longer in developing economies."





 

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