Copenhagen, Dec.17 (ANI): A new hope has emerged with French President Nicolas Sarkozy backing calls given by developing nations to keep the Kyoto Protocol, which only requires rich nations to cut emissions.

Speaking in Copenhagen, he broke away from the EU position of favouring a new deal that saw all nations commit to measures to curb climate change.

Elsewhere, the US and China are at loggerheads over binding targets.

With one day remaining, observers say the climate summit is unlikely to deliver a meaningful deal.

The Danish presidency of the climate summit in Copenhagen has sought to play down expectations of a comprehensive deal emerging from the meeting.

In his address to delegates, Sarkozy called on nations to “stop posturing”.

“A failure in Copenhagen would a catastrophe for each and everyone of us,” Sarkozy said and added: “If we keep on heading where we’re going we are heading for failure.”

“So people want to keep Kyoto, Ok let’s keep Kyoto. But let us agree on an overall political umbrella,” Sarkozy stated.

The French president urged ministers and leaders to adopt a full climate treaty in June 2010 when he said: “Let’s give ourselves six months after the Copenhagen conference to transform political commitments into a legal text.”

French President Zarkozy’s speech has been welcomed by developing nations. (ANI)