World media reacts to climate deal

The climate deal has not been widely welcomed by the world's media

Media throughout the world have reacted to the deal negotiated at the UN climate conference in Copenhagen.

Britain's Guardian newspaper said the summit had failed to lay any foundations for a new carbon order.

"The progress on financial assistance over the fortnight is welcome, but with much of the money earmarked for climate adaptation, the global community is left resembling an alcoholic who has decided to save up for a liver transplant rather than give up drink," it said.

The Times said that despite delays, protests and chaos, the summit had taken some positive steps.

"Copenhagen has proved a milestone, with much success," its editorial said.

For the Los Angeles Times, President Barack Obama had put pragmatism ahead of theory to protect America's self-interest.

But others were less than supportive.

The New York Times said the accord did not meet even the modest expectations set by leaders.

"But it was an equivocal agreement that was, to many, a disappointing conclusion to a two-year process that had the goal of producing a comprehensive and enforceable action plan for addressing dangerous changes to the global climate.

"The messy compromise mirrored the chaotic nature of the conference, which virtually all participants said had been badly organized and run," the New York Times said.

In the Huffington Post, blogger Johann Hari said life-saving ideas suggested by poor countries had been discarded by rich ones.

"They didn't seal the deal; they sealed the coffin for the world's low-lying islands, its glaciers, its North Pole, and millions of lives," he wrote.

In France, Liberation newspaper lamented the speed and commitment to saving the planet compared with saving the global financial system.

"We must make the bitter observation: when it comes to rescuing the banking system, the dialogue has been far more effective and determined.

"It is clearly easier to save finance than it is to save the planet," the paper wrote.

Italy's La Stampa newspaper called it "a facade of an accord" an "entente signed at the last minute at the end of a frantic day and aimed at saving face."

In Denmark, where the UN summit was held over the past two weeks, the conference had shown China's emerging power.

The Politiken newspaper said: "The chaotic climax to the meeting has shown that Washington can no longer determine things and that there is no more global political consensus."