The top climate change official at the UN has urged the European Union to quickly develop strategies to assist developing nations in combating global warming, in order to prevent a potential deadlock that could hinder global action. Yvo de Boer emphasized the importance of industrialized countries prioritizing this issue and providing additional resources to help poorer nations reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In Bali, 190 nations agreed to establish a global plan to address climate change by the end of 2009, building upon the Kyoto Protocol which currently binds 37 industrialized nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions until 2012. This would then motivate developing countries to shift their economies from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources. The commitment of developing nations, particularly China and India, is crucial for many developed countries, including the United States, to reduce emissions. The United States is the only wealthy nation not part of the Kyoto agreement. The lack of resources to engage developing countries is creating a dilemma for the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, and possibly the EU in moving forward with emission reductions, according to de Boer, head of the U.N. The Climate Secretariat in Bonn is discussing the EU's role in combatting climate change, as predicted by the U.N. Climate Panel to result in more heatwaves, floods, droughts, and rising seas. One proposed idea for new funding includes auctioning carbon dioxide emission rights in the EU and using the proceeds to assist developing nations. Another option is to raise a levy on a Kyoto project that enables wealthy nations to invest in reducing greenhouse gases in developing countries. De Boer emphasized that EU budgets allocated for research and development could play a significant role in mitigating climate change. He stressed the importance of generating resources for developing countries in order to encourage their participation in climate change efforts. De Boer urged French President Nicolas Sarkozy to finalize an EU package of climate measures during the French EU presidency in the latter half of 2008. The EU Commission had proposed measures in January, including 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 implementing 10 percent of biofuels in transport by 2020. De Boer emphasized the need for the package to be completed 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 the importance of the European Union following through on its commitments and sharing the burden of achieving the target. It is crucial for the EU's credibility on the international stage to provide clear signals on how the target will be met. To read more environment blogs from Reuters, click on the link provided.