The UN climate negotiations in Paris descended into recriminations on Thursday as China and two groups of developing countries accused the US and others of undermining trust and trying to evade responsibility for cutting emissions.



With only one full day of negotiations left before a final text is due to be released by the French presidency for politicians to work on next week, the gaps between rich and poor countries remain wide. But diplomats have been quick to say that all sides can be expected to compromise significantly by the end of next week, and it is not unusual for countries to be so far apart at this stage of the talks.

Su Wei, China’s head of delegation, argued that rich countries like the US, Britain and Germany should not be allowed to evade responsibility for their historical emissions. “The basic facts do not change. The problem has been caused by developed countries. They need to take their historical responsibility into account and take the lead in reducing greenhouse gases”, he said.

In a separate meeting, Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko, South Africa’s ambassador to the UN and chair of the G77 and China bloc of developing nations, said that “a small group” of rich countries that she would not name was trying to avoid negotiating a key financial deal.

“Finance must be negotiated. A specific group is not negotiating and is trying to change the terms of reference. Finance will make or break [the talks]. It is critical,” she said.

Developing countries say the principle of rich states taking the lead, which has been the cornerstone of the UN climate convention, is being eroded as the US and others press hard for all countries to act voluntarily according to their ability and without legal liability.



“There are attempts being made to redraft the convention. It is important we do not change the principles,” said Mxakato-Diseko.



“New language is emerging that has nothing to do with the convention. It puts us in a precarious position. We do not understand what this language is and where it is coming from. It creates conditions which do not enhance trust,” she said.

“This group of countries feels free to waste time … with no sense of responsibility. The world should ask them what their responsibility is. They are ballooning the text yet we are being cast as the villains,” she said.

But Mxakato-Diseko added: “We are mindful that at the end of the day we are going to have to meet our partners half way. It will be a process of give and take,” she said

The world’s 47 least developed countries (LDCs) said separately that there could be no final agreement in Paris if rich countries did not also accept responsibility for causing irreversible “loss and damage” to the environment. The US and Europe have so far refused to accept any liability, fearing that they would be left open to financial reparations.

But Pa Ousman Jarju, the Gambian minister of the environment, speaking on behalf of the LDC group, said: “If loss and damage is not reflected adequately, there will be no agreement. It is a red line.

“We were very encouraged by the world leaders when they came at the start of the meeting. We thought what they said would filter into the negotiations. We have not seen that yet. We have seen a lot of disagreement.”

He accused rich countries of over-inflating the amount of money they have mobilised by classing money borrowed by poor countries to adapt to climate change as “climate finance” from rich countries.

“Finance is the bedrock of this agreement. It is through finance that the trust needed to reach agreement will be strengthened,” he said.

“It will be difficult to come to an agreement but not impossible,” said Giza Gaspar Martins, chair of the LDC group. “Painful choices need to be made at the political level”.

The country that looks most likely to put a serious block on an agreement is India. With its massive population and stated commitment to use coal to raise its people from poverty, the country looms as the most difficult single challenge to those aiming to balance justice with a safe climate.

The Greenpeace executive director, Kumi Naidoo, interceded on Thursday evening in an open letter to the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. The floods currently drowning the city of Chennai, he said, were exacerbated by global warming.

“Climate change was not made in India, but the price is being paid in India. Could the grounds for a solution now be laid by India? Could you, the political leader of nearly one-fifth of humanity, make history by securing a deal for the world?” asked Naidoo.

The move comes against the backdrop of an Indian government crackdown on Greenpeace’s national branch, described as one of the biggest crises the global organisation has faced.

But Naidoo was effusive with hope for Modi’s nationalist government to play a “heroic” role at the talks. He noted India’s leading role in the creation of the 120 country Solar Alliance, announced on Monday.

“We stand with you in your demand for a deal that serves the interests of India and the wider world – and also for the people of Chennai. And we hope you will stand with the most vulnerable and help deliver success here in Paris by supporting 100% renewables for all by 2050,” said Naidoo.