"U.N. Climate Talks Seek To Avert Damaging Failure"

"The world's governments struggled on Wednesday to break a deadlock between rich and poor nations on steps to fight global warming and avert a new, damaging setback after they failed to agree a U.N. treaty last year in Copenhagen.

Several ministers warned that failure at the talks in Cancun, Mexico, could undermine faith in the ability of the United Nations' 194 member states to tackle global problems in the 21st century as power shifts toward emerging nations led by China and India.

'I think that what is at stake here is also multilateralism,' said European Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard. 'It's absolutely crucial that this process, which is the only one we have ... can prove that it can deliver results.'

The talks in this Caribbean beach resort from November 29 to December 10, have more modest ambitions than at Copenhagen last year, but there are still yawning gaps over the future of the Kyoto Protocol for curbing greenhouse gas emissions by rich nations until 2012."

Robert Campbell, Alister Doyle,and Russell Blinch report for Reuters December 9, 2010.

SEE ALSO:

"At Climate Summitt, Real Action Is Behind the Scenes" (Washington Post)

"Climate Talks Hunt for Compromises" (AP)

"Cancun High-Level Talks Heat Up Over Climate Financing" (ENS)

"China on Climate Charm Offensive" (AFP)

Copenhagen Cables: "The US and China Joined Forces Against Europe" (Der Spiegel)

"Cancun Delegates Debate Climate Fund: Who Pays?" (AP)