U.N. climate deal said "daunting" as Bonn talks end

U.N. climate deal said "daunting" as Bonn talks end

"It could well be said that we have been beating around the bush," said India's Chandrashekhar Dasgupta. He said there was a "deafening silence" from almost all rich nations on ways to make new cuts in their greenhouse gas emissions.

"The pace was slow and difficult," said Harald Dovland, a Norwegian official chairing a group looking at future cuts by the 37 rich nations who have agreed to cut emissions by 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-12 under the Protocol.

NEW SPIRIT

He said a "new spirit" of cooperation was needed.

Many countries are looking to the U.S. presidential election for impetus. President George W. Bush rejected Kyoto, calling it too costly, but both Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain have promised to do more to cap emissions.

De Boer said there were no signs that rich nations were getting alarmed by the possible costs.