The three nations' insistence since the talks started on Monday that the developed world recognise its dominant role in climate change has stolen precious time meant for debate on how best to tackle global warming, they said.

"Progress is slow," said one delegate from a European nation who asked not to be identified.

"Brazil, India and China are trying to put on the shoulders of industrialised nations the historic responsibility for greenhouse-gas emissions, in order to clear their own emissions [of blame] and to protect themselves in any discussion."

China has also insisted specific figures, which lay the blame for global warming on rich nations, be inserted into the conclusions.

Developed countries should formally recognise they were responsible for 95 per cent of greenhouse-gas emissions from the pre-industrial era to 1950 and for 77 per cent from 1950 to 2000, said China's submission to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

At least 400 scientists and experts from 120 countries are attending the weeklong third session of the IPCC.

Their report, expected to be released tomorrow, will lay out ways to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and prevent a climate catastrophe without seriously hurting the global economy.

Agence France-Presse

 The Nation