Danish PM says climate worsening, calls for CO2 targets

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Thursday countries must agree on carbon cut targets at the U.N. climate conference in December in Copenhagen. "Recent observations confirm that the worst-case scenario is being realized," Rasmussen told scientists at the Congress on Climate Change in Copenhagen. "The longer we wait the worse it gets."

Scientists at the congress have presented data over the past three days showing that average temperatures and sea levels were rising faster than previously expected.

"Some people and countries question if it is realistic to agree to a global deal in nine months," Rasmussen said. "I say we must. Waiting a year or two will only make the decisions even tougher."

Rasmussen called for an agreement to halve global emissions by 2050 compared to 1990 levels.

"We need a binding commitment from the industrialized world to cut emissions substantially by 2020 and by more than 80 percent by 2050," he said. "Developing countries should reduce emissions by 15 to 30 percent by 2030 and thereafter we need to see a real reduction."

Rasmussen praised the Obama Administration for wanting to cut U.S. emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020 but said that even if rich countries cut their emissions to zero the 50 percent target would not be reached by 2050 without a contribution from the developing world.

"We must provide funds to developing countries to help them transform to low carbon economies. Forests and better land use must be part of the package," he said.

Rasmussen said reaching such a deal would require intense negotiations throughout the year involving the highest level of governments.

"To put pressure on negotiators, I encourage leaders to come to Copenhagen in December to close the deal," Rasmussen said.

He also told scientists who want a significantly more ambitious global carbon cut target of 80 percent by 2050 to not move the goal posts.