Copenhagen 'between breakdown and progress'
Updated on 18 December 2009
World leaders are embroiled in "chaotic" negotiations at the climate change summit in Copenhagen, with little hope that a legally binding treaty will be agreed.
A draft document drawn up overnight was rejected as the talks failed to overcome the deadlock between wealthy and developing nations over deeper cuts in carbon emissions and who should bear the cost.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Chinese resistance to monitoring of emissions was a sticking point after discussions about a wide range of issues including carbon cuts and international scrutiny of actions.
Barack Obama flew in to Denmark for the final day of discussions and he is due to meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the talks.
Reporting for from Copenhagen, Jon Snow said: "We're poised - literally, I think - between breakdown and serious progress."
He told Channel 4 News Barack Obama's speech to the summit contained "incredibly strong language aimed at the Chinese" and their resistance to external monitoring of their efforts to cut carbon emissions.
Brazil's President Lula and French President Sarkozy had been inspired by talks overnight at the summit. M Sarkozy said: "The discussions lasted all night without interruption. The good news is, they're continuing; the bed news is, they haven't reached a conclusion."
And Jon Snow concluded: "It's all to play for - I suppose we'll know the result by Channel 4 News at seven."
The 193 countries involved in negotiations have already agreed the financing and enmissions targets arrangements but the rejected draft document called for $100bn (£62bn) a year by 2020 to help poor nations cope with climate change and sought to limit warming to two degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrial levels.
