They say a proposal by Saudi Arabia which would have delayed the system of policing targets has been removed.
Sources say that, with the exception of Washington, a consensus appears to
be emerging for holding negotiations over the next couple of years on
commitments after Kyoto's current pledging period runs out in 2012.
Scientists say that this "son of Kyoto" must deliver large cuts in carbon emissions, otherwise the Earth may suffer catastrophic damage to its climate system.
Such reductions, though, will only be possible if they embrace the world's
biggest polluters, the United States, which walked away from Kyoto in 2001,
and China, which as a developing country is currently exempt from making targeted emissions reductions, as well as India, another fast-growing, hugely populous country.
The proposal floated by Canada, the host country, is for two years of
negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the main result of the famous 1992 Rio Summit.
Details about the scope and goal of these proposed talks are being
deliberately left vague to avoid a diplomatic row.
US isolated
The United States has found itself isolated after its stalwart ally, Australia, backed the Canadian idea.
"The reality is that we can only make meaningful global greenhouse gas
reductions if effective action is taken by all the major emitting countries,"
Australian Environment Minister Ian Campbell said.
The United States bluntly rejected the idea. "It is our belief that progress cannot be made through these formalised discussions," said Paula Dobriansky, US under secretary for democracy and global affairs.
"We believe that the best approach and the best way forward is one that takes into account diversified approaches and differing opinions. One size does
not fit all."
Chronically dependent on oil, the United States said it would not ratify Kyoto because of the cost to its economy.
Reducing the pollution carries a price because it requires tougher fuel efficiency and a switch to alternative energies and clean technology, which
have a hard time establishing themselves in a market dominated by oil, gas, coal and nuclear energy.
Developing countries, gathered in a 132-nation group, said responsibility
for fixing global warming lay primarily with the rich countries that had caused
it by their reckless burning of fossil fuels in the last century.
"Our emissions of CO2 are but three percent of the world's total, while we
have 17 percent of the global population," said Indian Environment Minister Thiru Raja.
Saudi Oil Minister Ali Ibrahim al-Naimi was even more emphatic.
"Any attempt to include developing countries in future [emissions cuts]
commitments is unacceptable," he said, adding that rich countries should honour
their pledges to help poor countries, including oil-exporting nations whose
revenues will be hit by the switch to alternative energies.