German, Brazilian leaders call for new climate deal

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have called for participants at the Copenhagen summit to agree on "all significant elements" of a new climate deal.

They also proposed the creation of a timetable to make the agreement legally binding.

In Thursday's joint statement in Berlin, the two leaders said their common aim was a deal that would touch on all major aspects of climate change.

But Lula conceded that they do not expect the agreement to be perfect.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazilian President, said, "I am sure that we will not get the agreement of our dreams in Copenhagen. But I am also sure we will make an important step forward and then meet again in 2015. We will make some adjustments and define the responsibilities of each individual country."

Merkel says the hoped-for Copenhagen agreement should be turned into a binding text in the coming months.

She added contributions were needed from all countries, but should vary depending on their status.

Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, said, "I am also optimistic. I will do everything I can, so that Copenhagen will be a significant step forward, but it will not be ideal, we can foresee that already."

The Copenhagen conference originally was intended to produce a final treaty on climate change, but that now seems out of reach.

Most leaders now hope it can produce a framework agreement, leaving details to be concluded later.