EU says ‘decisive progress’ needed at climate talks in Bangkok

EU calls for urgency at climate talks in Bangkok

STOCKHOLM — The European Union is urging wealthy and developing countries to bring more “urgency and ambition” to climate talks in Thailand next week.

The Bangkok meeting starting Monday is the penultimate negotiating session before a pivotal U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen in December.

The 27-nation EU says “decisive progress” must be made if a global climate pact is to be reached in Copenhagen.

A joint statement Friday by the European Commission and the current EU presidency, Sweden, said progress at previous talks has been too slow.

The EU has pledged to cut emissions by 20 percent from 1990 levels by 2020, and has said it would cut up to 30 percent if other rich countries follow suit.