Talks aimed at reaching a new UN climate treaty have ended with no concrete results.

Over the past 12 days 180 countries have been meeting in the German city of Bonn to agree a treaty to replace the existing Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. The South African delegate, who spoke of a "useful discussion", said the main challenge was to convert a variety of options into specific agreements. India voiced disappointment over the lack of progress. Together with China, India called for rich industrialised countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent.

The European Union said it is prepared to curb them by 20 or 30 percent, but Japan is not willing to cut them by more than eight percent. The US also opposes very strict targets. More meetings will be held in the coming months ahead of the main UN climate conference due to be held in Copenhagen in December.