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Germany Urges Countries Not To Reduce Climate Deal Efforts



BERLIN -(Dow Jones)- The German government is disappointed about the climate change commitment of Pacific Rim leaders and called on countries not to loosen efforts to reach a deal, German government spokesman Christoph Steegmans said Monday.

Chancellor Angela Merkel will use her influence to help turn the climate summit in Copenhagen into a milestone in the fight to reduce greenhouse gas emission and she currently intends to attend the summit on Dec. 17-18, Steegmans told reporters.

The comments come after heads of government from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum Sunday abandoned specific goals on battling climate change and accepted the U.N. talks won't agree on binding targets for cutting greenhouse gases.

"It's no secret that the results that have been made public yesterday haven't triggered any euphoria. This is one of the reasons why the chancellor wants to contribute, preventing that the bar will be raised too low, that the maximum will be reached and nobody can shirk responsibility," Steegmans said. "The German government wants that Copenhagen will be an important step forward toward a binding accord within the framework of the U.N."

-By Andrea Thomas, Dow Jones Newswires; +49 30 288 8410; andrea.thomas@ dowjones.com


  (END) Dow Jones Newswires
  11-16-090713ET
  Copyright (c) 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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