In overtime, United Nations climate talks remain deadlocked

Lima, Dec 14: Crucial UN climate talks, already into extra time, on Sunday remained deadlocked as the developing countries rejected the compromise outline after the US and China clashed over the draft text of the envisioned global climate deal.

Peruvian Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar Vidal, who is presiding over the talks, is currently meeting with the negotiators separately to discuss in detail their "red lines" and points of possible compromise on the draft text.

The negotiators from more than 190 countries, who have been in the Peruvian capital for about two weeks, have so far failed to reach a consensus on the formula of sharing the burden for cutting emissions, and who should pay.

Earlier, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar delivered India's statement, saying a "balanced approach" in the draft text was required to make sure polluting countries pay and not the poorest countries.

He said that what the like-minded developing countries, least developed countries and the Africa group are saying "must be appreciated" because they are all "speaking their heart". Javadekar said India supports the genuine concerns of these groups.

US warned that the failure in arriving at an agreement may doom

The country will cooperate with the COP presidency in order to sort out any issues "in a balanced manner", he added. India stuck to the consistent position that all the elements of adaptation, mitigation, finance, technology, and capacity building should be included in the intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs).

Meanwhile, the US warned that the failure in arriving at an agreement may doom the envisioned global pact to be signed in Paris next year.

Todd Stern, US' Special Envoy on Climate Change said, "All we have achieved so far will be at risk, and all that we hope to achieve will be at risk as well... The text is not good but we are running out of time." Failing to produce the decision before us will be seen as a serious breakdown, which could put the Paris agreement and the entire UN process at risk, Stern said.

PTI