EC President Barroso Warns Climate Talks ‘Close to Deadlock’

U.N. climate change talks are “dangerously close to deadlock,” European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso will warn Monday, kicking off a week that could prove critical for efforts to halt global warming.

The head of the European Union’s executive will challenge developing nations to commit to greenhouse gas emissions curbs to get financial support from industrial nations, according to excerpts of his remarks obtained by Reuters.

“Europe’s message to the developing world is that if you are serious about the challenge of cutting emissions, we will be there to help,” Barroso will say at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

“Our message to the developed world is that we need to make a credible financial commitment to the developing world,” he continues. “The equation is straightforward: no money, no deal. But no actions, no money!”

Talks to find a replacement to the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012, have stalled as nations spar over how to spread out emissions curbs and how much money rich countries should contribute to poorer ones who are dealing with climate change.

U.N. talks among 190 nations are scheduled to take place in Copenhagen in December to forge a deal. Barroso will urge nations to get serious this week about the talks.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon holds a one-day summit for world leaders at U.N. headquarters Tuesday to generate momentum for the process.

U.S. President Barack Obama, who has pledged to show leadership on the issue even as a climate bill he has championed struggles to gain traction in Congress, will address the meeting.

(Writing by Jeff Mason, editing by Anthony Boadle)