Climate Change Conference in Bali Goes Into Overtime

Negotiators are feeling the heat in Bali as talks go into the night and at least one more day. Hopes are that a deal may be announced on Saturday that will pave the way for formal negotiations to begin next year toward a final agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol that expires in 2012 – and that the United States will be on board.

The word I was getting out of Bali on Thursday was mostly accusations of the United States as being “obstructionist” to any real progress. Today there appears to be some hope of common ground between the European Union and the United States.

At issue is, as expected, the crux of it: The EU proposes up to 40% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions over 1990 levels by 2020 (many scientists advise an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050). The United States (and Canada) resists any mandatory caps on emissions.

Apparently there is enough hope to keep people talking past their scheduled flights home, so I await with anticipation what comes out of Bali in the next hours and days.