EU says Lima outcome keeps climate talks on track

The European Union (EU) said Monday the outcome of the United Nations climate conference in Lima was a step forward on the road to a global climate deal in Paris next year.

The Lima conference agreed on two deliverables: the Lima Call for Climate Action and the draft elements text for the 2015 agreement.

"The EU came to Lima to lay the ground for negotiations in Paris. Now, we are on the way to Paris. And although the EU wanted a more ambitious outcome from Lima, we believe that we are on track to agree a global deal in Paris next year," Xinhua quoted Miguel Arias Canete, EU commissioner for climate action and energy, as saying in a statement.

The Lima Call requires all countries to describe their proposed emissions reduction target in a clear, transparent and understandable way in the coming months, therefore, "enables us quantify the proposed contributions".

Canete said the EU has taken a constructive approach throughout the last two weeks and has shown itself willing to build bridges and compromise where possible.

"The EU particularly builds on its own experience of overcoming differences and finding common ground. Our ambitious 2030 climate and energy package is proof of this," he added.

Next milestone will be the inter-sessional United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Geneva from Feb 8-13, 2015 and the June UNFCCC meeting in Bonn.

"The EU looks forward to continuing the discussions with all its partners in the coming months," the statement added.