The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Indonesia

In the face of U.S. opposition, the U.N. chief said Wednesday guidelines on greenhouse gas emissions cuts favored by Europe and developing countries may be "too ambitious" to include in a final statement on climate change. Drafts of a final statement at a U.N. global warming conference this week have included a call for industrialized countries to consider cutting emissions blamed for rising temperature by between 25 percent and 40 percent by 2020. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, however, said such goals might have to wait for subsequent negotiations when asked about steadfast opposition by the United States, though at some point targets for emissions cuts would be necessary. "Realistically, it may be too ambitious" to set guidelines now, Ban told reporters, while urging Washington to be flexible.