"At Climate Talks, Back-Room Deals Begin In Earnest"

"Back-room negotiations began in earnest Monday on a deal to rescue the only treaty governing greenhouse gas reductions and to launch talks on a broader agreement to include the world's largest polluters: China and other emerging economies, the United States and Europe."



"Key players laid out their opening positions in public at U.N. climate talks in South Africa, and were beginning a round of private meetings to probe each other's meanings and intentions — which remained murky.

South African authorities said they were deporting three activists from the Greenpeace environmental group after they were arrested trying to drape a protest banner from the rooftop of a beachfront hotel. The activists from Germany, Denmark and Australia pleaded guilty to trespassing in a court hearing, the Home Affairs Department said."

Arthur Max reports for the Associated Press December 5, 2011.

SEE ALSO:

"U.S. Sees Little New in China Greenhouse Gas Cut Pledge" (Reuters)

"U.N. Climate Chief Sees Air Clearing On Cut Pledges" (Reuters)

"A User"s Guide To The Climate Change Talks" (NPR)

"India Emerges as Chief Opponent of a New Global-Warming Treaty" (Independent)

"China Pushes for Post 2020 Legally-Binding Climate Deal" (AFP)

"Canada, U.S. Skeptical of Chinese Offer" (Montreal Gazette)

"Durban on Track To Be a Bonfire of Piety" (Australian [Murdoch-owned])

"Durban: Deadlock Over Kyoto at Climate Summit" (IBN/CNN)

Source: AP, 12/06/2011