The top climate change official of the United Nations urged the European Union to quickly come up with strategies to assist developing countries in combating global warming. He warned that a delay could result in a deadlock that hinders progress worldwide. Yvo de Boer emphasized the urgency for all industrialized nations to take action promptly. He also highlighted the need for increased financial support from wealthy countries to help poorer nations reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, as agreed upon in Bali in December. This would, in turn, motivate developing countries to shift their focus from fossil fuels to cleaner energies in order to diversify their economies. The commitment of developing nations, particularly China and India, is a prerequisite for many wealthy nations, led by the United States, who are concerned about job loss, to reduce emissions. The United States is the only wealthy nation not part of the Kyoto Protocol. This situation has created a dilemma where it is challenging for countries like the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, and possibly the EU to make progress if they cannot secure the resources to engage with developing countries. This, according to de Boer, the head of the U.N., makes things complicated. The Climate Secretariat in Bonn is addressing the issue of climate change, with the EU claiming to be a leader in combating it. The U.N. Climate Panel warns of more extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods, droughts, and rising sea levels in the coming century. One proposed solution is to auction off carbon dioxide emission rights in the EU and use the proceeds to support developing countries. Another option is to increase the levy on a Kyoto project that enables wealthy nations to invest in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries. De Boer mentioned that EU budgets for research and development could play a vital role in combatting climate change. He emphasized the need for generating resources for developing countries in order to encourage their participation in climate efforts. De Boer also called on French President Nicolas Sarkozy to finalize an EU package of climate measures during the French EU presidency in the latter part of 2008. The EU Commission proposed reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, increasing the use of renewable energy in power production to 20 percent, and incorporating 10 percent of biofuels in transport by 2020. De Boer stressed the importance of completing the package under the French presidency so that it could be presented to the European parliament. France and Germany expressed concerns last week that the plan could put European jobs at risk. De Boer emphasized that the European Union must now follow through on sharing the burden of the plan. He also stressed that clear signals on how the target will be reached are crucial for the EU's credibility on the international stage. To read more of Reuters' latest environment blogs, click on the link provided.