Christian Aid urges Brown to influence Bush on climate change

Christian Aid has called on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to rescue the Bali climate talks before it is too late, by making a personal appeal to US President Geoge Bush.

With only hours left to agree on an effective 'roadmap' for tackling the world's climate emergency, Christian Aid has written to Gordon Brown asking him to immediately telephone George Bush and use Britain's influence with the President.

The Bali talks, which are already in overtime, are deadlocked because the US has refuesed to accept the inclusion of numerical targets for cutting rich countries' greenhouse gas emissions in the final agreement.

The letter to the Prime Minister, from Christian Aid director Daleep Mukarji, states: "Without targets, a Bali roadmap will have no clear destination. In the face of the greatest threat to human development and security, the countries of the world will be left to negotiate without focus.

"Christian Aid has witnessed the impact that climate change is already having on poor people but we have been heartened this week by the willingness of developing nations to play a full part in Bali. Now we need your help.

"The UK has more influence with the US than perhaps anu other country and is an acknowledged world leader on climate change. Please would you call George Bush now and use your powers of reason and persuasion. Ask him not to block the launch of negotiations in Bali. Ask him not to obstruct the inclusion of the range of targets for 2020."