China accuses US of backtracking

IN a showdown between the world’s two largest polluters, China accused the United States and other rich nations yesterday of backsliding on commitments to fight global warming and the top American envoy declared the US would not change its offer on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Trying to ease the tension, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said rich and poor countries must “stop pointing fingers” and should increase their pledges to cut emissions to salvage the faltering talks on a climate pact. The European Union also urged both the US and China to increase their commitments on emissions targets.

New negotiating drafts circulating yesterday showed key issues, including emissions targets for industrial countries and climate financing for developing countries, remained unresolved.