African countries have won more time to hammer out an agreement on rich country emissions reductions at climate talks in Barcelona today (3 November).

Delegates from all Kyoto Protocol member countries agreed to dedicate 6 of the 10 remaining negotiating sessions to    discussions on mid term emissions reductions. The decision received widespread support from other developing countries who stressed the importance of delivering real progress.

The move follows calls by the Africa Group for a suspension of all further negotiations on the Kyoto Protocol - except for discussions on rich country emissions reduction targets - until substantial progress is made on this critical issue.

Poor country proposals for mid term emissions reductions by rich countries - a 40 per cent cut in emissions on 1990 levels by 2020 by the world's most prosperous and most polluting countries - have been on the table since March.

Antonio Hill, Senior Climate Advisor for Oxfam International said:

"African countries have shown they are not going to sit back and accept a bad deal in Copenhagen . They have won extra time that is needed to hammer out an agreement on rich country emissions reductions. Rich nations must now put it to good use. With just weeks left until a global climate deal is agreed there is no more time to waste.

Rich countries may face hard political realities in reaching a deal but the reality is a climate catastrophe   - particularly for the poorest and vulnerable people - if they fail to act now."