Bali is a score draw not a victory - Huhne

3.09.27pm GMT Sat 15th Dec 2007

Commenting on the outcome of the Bali talks today, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary Chris Huhne MP said:

"Bali is a score draw not a victory. The agreement fails to set a clear target for cuts in emissions either globally or in the developed world, but the European Union lives to fight another day when the lame-duck US President Bush will be even weaker. A new president will be elected in just 10 months and 20 days.

"There is still real hope of achieving an historic breakthrough as a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol, but the European Union will have to keep the pressure up. President Bush looks increasingly isolated even in the United States, where Republican senators and presidential candidates have been calling for action.

"Some aspects of Bali represent real progress, notably the stress on the need to stop tropical deforestation which now accounts for 18 per cent of global emissions."