The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has warned that a lack of political will could divert the world from achieving a climate deal in Copenhagen, with WWF Global Climate Initiative leader Kim Carstensen saying that Copenhagen should not become another Doha, for which negotiations have continued for nearly eight years.

"Kite flying in the media and diplomatic manoeuvres behind the scenes are a reflection of the industrialised countries trying to lower expectations as they continue to dodge the hard decisions on slashing their emissions and funding the transition to a low-carbon economy," she stated.

Carstensen added that while the world was looking for leadership, leaders were instead starting to hand out their excuses in advance.

The WWF was aware of another proposed plan on climate, which excluded a binding legal agreement in Copenhagen.

However, the fund believed that a legally binding deal was the only format that would give the world a chance to avoid increasing predictions of climate catastrophe.

"Africa needs a legally binding agreement and so does the world economy. The US Senate must not be allowed to hold the world to ransom and other parties cannot justify their lack of ambition by reference to US intransigence," WWF Climate Change programme manager Richard Worthington said.

He asserted that parties seeking to kill the Kyoto Protocol would be responsible for the death of far more than just a legally binding system, as it was necessary to keep global warming as far as possible below two degrees in order to deal with poverty in Africa.

"It is clearer than ever that the economy and industry must be directed by political process and leadership if we want a viable ecosystem for our children. Developing country leaders, including President Jacob Zuma, should respond to this latest defeatism by committing to go to Copenhagen and calling on all heads of state to do likewise," he added.

Carstensen emphasised that it would not help leaders to avoid making difficult decisions now, as these decisions would only get harder in the future.

"Many countries in the developing world have already acted and are signaling that they can move further, but they also need the legal certainty and confidence that industrialised countries will meet their commitments," she commented.

Substantial sectors of business and labour were also getting involved, calling for certainty in terms of a legally binding global agreement. "Investors and markets need confidence in order to really kick start the low-carbon economy," said Carstensen.

She highlighted that all aspects required for a deal in Copenhagen, except for political will, was in place.

The WWF was calling for the retention of the Kyoto protocol for industrialised countries together with a new protocol in Copenhagen that would be legally binding for all major emitters.

The deal should include, among others, ambitious emission reduction targets from industrialised countries, recognition and support for developing country actions, commitment to scaled up climate finance especially for adaptation, and a new institutional and governance arrangement under the guidance of the United Nations, it stated.