There will be no binding deal at this year’s UN climate summit in Durban, South Africa, Europe’s Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said.

Speaking to journalists after attending a high-level climate change meeting in Brussels, Ms Hedegaard said: “The good news is that there is a general recognition of the necessity of a legally binding agreement.

“The bad news is no legally binding agreement deal will be done in Durban.”

The commissioner spoke following a two-day meeting of the so-called Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, a gathering of the world’s 17 largest economies aimed at advancing efforts to cut greenhouse emissions and increase the supply of clean energy.

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