The success of reaching a deal at the global climate change talks in Durban now depended on a “few countries” coming on board to commit to a climate change road map, EU climate change commissioner Connie Hedegaard said on Friday.

The responsibility rested “heavily on the shoulders” of those, including the US, India and China, who “needed to give in”, she said at a media briefing.

Hedegaard said the EU road map was at the “core” of negotiations, and that the 27-nation bloc remained proud that this road map was delivering progress.

The EU has garnered support from the least-developed countries and the Alliance of Small Island States groups, with all three groups releasing a joint statement calling for a need for more action from the world, and indicating their commitment to an “ambitious outcome” in Durban.

If poor countries were making commitments, then it was hoped that all countries could come on board to make such commitments, Hedegaard said.

She referred to the Basic (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) group of countries in which South Africa and Brazil were indicating that it would be prepared to commit to a legally binding agreement by 2020, unlike their Chinese and Indian partners.

She said that constructive talks have taken place with China, but the question was still whether it would lead to an outcome that was needed.

While talks progressed constructively into the early hours of Friday morning, Hedegaard said “things were urgent with timelines increasingly critical” to the core of the climate talks.

The EU has remained firm on its position that a climate deal must be reached by 2015 and no later to ensure the world achieved keeping the temperature rise to within the 2 ˚C over the pre-industrial average.

“But, should no further movement be made on Friday, then there could possibly be no deal in Durban. But, this is not the first time that there has been no deal at a COP on the last day of negotiations.

“It remains challenging. All parties can see where a possible deal can be in Durban, it is more a question of whether everyone is ready to come on board,” she said.