There is growing optimism that a deal can be reached at the Copenhagen climate change summit but activists fear it may not prevent a devastating 3C global temperature rise.
As the talks entered their final day a confidential UN document emerged suggesting that current pledges on cutting emissions are almost certainly not enough to avoid a rise of 3C. Leaders have repeatedly said that they are aiming to limit emissions to a level ensuring no more than a 2C
A rise of 3C would leave 170 million more people suffering severe coastal floods and 550 million more at risk of hunger, according to the Stern economic review of climate change for the UK government.
A UK government spokesman said last night: "The UK government continues to work towards a 2 degree deal at Copenhagen and current ambitions set us on track to meet that target. We know however that more needs to be done before the talks conclude and that's why the Prime Minister, the Climate Change Secretary and British negotiators will be working over these crucial next hours to secure a deal that delivers."
Last night hopes of a deal rose after the US government announcement that it would back proposals for a $100bn-a-year global climate fund from 2020 to aid developing countries in the fight against global warming. There is hope that Barack Obama will announce an increase in the level of emissions cuts the US could make by 2020, when he joins world leaders in the Danish capital today.
