EU-US climate standoff in Bali easing

Nusa Dua: Europe toned down a clash with the United States over 2020 climate goals on the final day of UN talks in Bali on Friday, raising hopes of a deal to start negotiations on a new global warming treaty.

German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said, "I think that the situation is good, the climate in the climate conference is good, that we will have success in the end."

Speaking about Europe's past insistence that Bali should set tough 2020 guidelines for greenhouse gas cuts, despite opposition from Washington on setting goals, he said, "All parties are willing to be flexible, to search for a compromise."

The talks on the Indonesian resort island, which began on December 3, are aimed at reaching agreement to launch two years of negotiations to work out a new international climate treaty to succeed the UN's Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012.