U.N. climate talks approve draft text, many disputes remain

Source: Reuters

Senior officials from almost 200 nations approved a draft text of a U.N. climate deal on Saturday after four years' work as the basis for ministers to try to resolve hundreds of points of disagreement next week.

"This text marks the will of all to reach an agreement. We are not at the end of the route. Major political issues are yet to be resolved," Laurence Tubiana, French climate envoy, told the meeting.

The senior government officials signed off on the draft text, running to 42 pages, minutes before a midday (1100 GMT) deadline after working through the night.

The idea is that the text lays out options, ranging from a long-term goal for slowing climate change to rising climate finance for developing nations, that can be resolved by ministers next week at talks lasting until Friday.


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