Prime Minister Gordon Brown delivers an impassioned plea this morning (Thursday 17 December) to fellow world leaders to 'make the desirable possible' by overcoming their differences to strike a deal on climate change.

The Prime Minister spoke at the opening session of today's plenary talks, alongside other world leaders, and called on delegates to make a final push.

'The task of politics is to overcome obstacles even when people say they cannot be surmounted. The task of statesmanship is to make the desirable possible, and make ideals real even when critics tell you they are unachievable dreams.'

He reminded delegates that disasters such as hurricanes, droughts, typhoons and floods that were once seen as created by the 'invisible hand of God' were now clearly shown to be 'acts of man'.

'Informed by science, moved by conscience, inspired by common purpose we, the leaders of this world, must say: we will not condemn millions to injustice without remedy, to sorrow without hope, to despair without end,' he said.

The Prime Minister arrived in Copenhagen on Tuesday evening, and has been engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with leaders, in a bid to break the deadlock of negotiations. A particularly anticipated bilateral is that with Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, with whom he meets Thursday morning.

Earlier, the Prime Minister used a series of broadcast interviews to warn delegates and outside observers that negotiators faced an 'uphill struggle' to strike a deal but that it would be possible if countries were able to overcome their differences. He told GMTV's breakfast news programme yesterday (16 December) that it was an 'uphill struggle' with a 'huge amount to do'. He added: 'It's very heavy weather because there are so many countries involved [and] they've got their own interests.'

'I think I can play a part in bringing people together and I think there is a will to get an agreement because people will see that if we don't get an agreement … then we'll have these huge problems of droughts and floods and extreme temperatures hitting us every year.'

Related links

PM looks at task ahead

Gordon Brown on Climate Change, GMTV