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Submitted by unname1 on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 20:59
Prospects for a limited deal at the latest climate talks appeared to brighten with the U.S. and China narrowing differences on a key element - how to monitor greenhouse gas emissions.

But other issues that go to the heart of a new global warming treaty - long-term commitments for cutting emissions - proved stubbornly unmoving, and out of reach for any resolution during the annual two-week conference.

Nonetheless, analysts said an understanding on measuring emissions would be an important step that could help break the long-standing deadlock on reducing pollutants that scientists say have caused global temperatures to steadily rise over recent decades.

The World Meteorological Organization is due to present data Thursday on worldwide temperatures this year, and scientists say they expect 2010 to turn out to match the hottest years on record.

The Cancun meeting is the first since the Copenhagen summit last December, which defied early hopes for a broad treaty prescribing emissions reductions and instead ended with a brief statement of principles that fell short of the unanimous approval required.

The ultimate objective of the talks is a treaty to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which required 37 countries and the European Union to cut emissions by 5 percent by 2012. The US rejected the accord, partly because it made no demands on rapidly developing countries like China and India.

AP

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