International climate talks open in Germany

Representatives from 35 countries are meeting in Germany to discuss how to overcome disputes over reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The informal two-day gathering in Berlin starting today is designed to lay the groundwork for an international climate conference in Durban, South Africa, in November.

German Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen said the meeting’s purpose is defining “a demanding but also realistic framework for the world climate conference in Durban”.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday the conference in South Africa must become a success leading to “more efforts, targeted measures and binding agreements” as the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. The 1997 treaty bound nearly 40 countries to specific emission reductions targets.