Climate Talks: 'Lukewarm' Agreement Reached, South Africa Attacked Australia For Reducing Commitment

Climate change negotiators representing 195 countries have reached an agreement to some provisions on the climate pact to fight global warming.

Representatives from various governments in climate talks held in Warsaw, Poland have arrived at a consensus to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that would blur the lines between rich and poor countries.

The Warsaw climate change negotiators were aiming to create a new deal in Paris to be finalized in 2015. This deal will seek to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protol, an agreement targeting developed nations to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The Warsaw climate talks were scheduled to last for only two weeks but an extra day was consumed to accommodate a plenary meeting to approve a modified text. Climate change negotiators had agreed to reduce coal, oil and gas emissions by first quarter of 2015.

The new agreement means an end to a deadlock between the poor and rich countries by commiting to limit emissions. Under the Kyoto Protocol, it was only the developed countries that were required to reduce emissions.

During the climate change negotiations, emerging economies like India and China are against making commitments that would not take into account the country's history of greenhouse gas emissions. India and China cited the developed nations' long history of greenhouse gas emissions. They have asserted that only the richest nations should carry a large burden of targets.

South Africa Attacks Australia's Non-commitment To Climate Change Talks

South African environment minister has joined the others in criticizing Australia for hampering the recently concluded United Nations climate talks in Warsaw.

Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said South Africa was "deeply concerned" with Australia and Japan's decision to reduce their commitments in the fight against climate change.

Australia's reputation as a valuable force in developing an international climate policy has been trashed largely due to its poor ranking in the recent climate change performance index and its inability to send a representative for the United Nations' climate change talks in Poland.

According to reports, Australia is being viewed as an "anti-climate" country that is intentionally against any consensus in climate change talks based on domestic policies. It relies on exports and coal for power. It also opposes the statements of a climate finance position paper prepared by climate science experts from the U.S., New Zealand, Canada and Japan.

The decision of Prime Minister Abbott not to send a minister or representative to Warsaw has frustrated climate change negotiators all over the world. EU is reportedly angry at Australia's coalition government for repealing the carbon tax.