The strident call from the Philippines to "preserve the Kyoto Protocol, the only legally binding, rules-based international climate change instrument with quantitative emissions reduction targets” was supported by more than 20 countries representing Africa, Asia and Latin America, including Algeria, Argentina, Malaysia, India and China during the global climate talk in Doha, Qatar.

These countries together represent a population of close to 3.5 billion.

Directed at developed countries, long criticized for timid climate change action, the statement was delivered in plenary by Philippine Climate Change Commissioner Naderev Saño.

Signatories to the Protocol are obligated to reduce emissions by an average of 5.2 percent below 1990 levels in a period from Jan. 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2012.

Greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 50 percent since 1992 when the climate change treaty was first agreed.

Saño said, "emission reduction targets of developed countries must be at least within the range of 40 to 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, while ensuring emissions reduction of at least 25 to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2017”.*