World

Climate delegates agree on draft deal text

December 5, 2015 5:00 pm

Delegates at a UN climate conference in Paris have approved a draft text they hope will form the basis of an agreement to curb global carbon emissions.

The 48-page document will be discussed by ministers on Monday (local time).

They will try to arrive at a comprehensive settlement by the end of next week.

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The French climate ambassador warned that major political differences still needed to be resolved.

Delegates from 195 countries worked through the night (Friday overnight local time) at a conference centre in Le Bourget, conscious of a midday Saturday deadline imposed by the French presidency of this meeting.

The weighty document will now go forward to ministers who will have to take the many political decisions still required, if the text is to be turned into a long-term agreement.

“Nothing has been decided and nothing will be left behind,” said French climate ambassador Laurence Tubiana.

“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,” she warned.