Climate talks make headway on targets beyond 2000

Developed countries are beginning to take up starting positions for commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after 2000 under the UN Convention on Climate Change. The EC is continuing to forge the way by fleshing out details of a protocol put forward last year, while the USA and Canada appear at last to have accepted the need for further targets and timetables. But oil-producing states are stepping up activities to weaken the Convention.