Environmentalists on Monday scalded the European Union for failing to spearhead discussions at the UN climate conference seeking new measures to reduce rising global temperatures.
They said the bloc was not firm on talks to draw a timeframe for negotiating a fresh agreement to cut down greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming when the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.
Global conservation group WWF challenged the EU to use its "self-proclaimed" leadership role in other spheres to lead the way on finding ways to replace Kyoto that calls for the reduction of emissions to 1990-level by mid-century.
"We remind the EU of its self-proclaimed leadership, which it is not living up to, unfortunately," said Stephan Singer, WWF's policy officer for Europe.
"What we have seen so far unfortunately is a very lukewarm and hesitant EU," he told reporters on the sidelines of the 12th UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
"The EU unfortunately has given up its self-proclaimed leadership on many of the issues," he added in comments echoed by other environmentalists.
"The EU's murky position is causing confusion and mistrust," said Steve Sawyer of Greenpeace International.
"They need to clear the waters and set a high level of ambition for the Nairobi negotiations," he said. "Anything less brings their claimed leadership into question."
Last week, the bloc, which accounts for 14 percent of world emissions, warned any further rise in the earth's surface temperature will have "dangerous and large-scale" impacts and urged nations to get serious about global warming.
Scientists say global temperatures have increased by 0.7 degrees Celsius since 1900 and urgent measures need to be taken to halt further rise and mitigate the attendant effects on climate.
Sawyer said a new pact had to be agreed by 2008 to avoid gaps in measures after the expiration of Kyoto and that the EU appeared to be taking a hypocritical stance by urging action but not leading the discussion.
"The EU is failing to talk about an adequate timeline necessary to ensure continuation of the Kyoto protocol here in Nairobi although they are publicly committed to urgent action on climate change," he said.
"A new agreement must be reached by 2008 to ensure the international process continues without interruption," Sawyer said.
"Europe needs to make clear that it wants a negotiating mandate to be launched in 2007, with a new agreement ready by 2008. Only then will there be enough time to allow for entry into force well before 2012," Sawyer said.
But the bloc's delegation at the talks acknowledged the need for a new post-Kyoto framework, but insisted that the content of the agreement was more important that the time limit.
"We are very much in favour of a position as soon as possible if not sooner," said Lars Muller an EU delegate. "The key point is not the time but the content of the discussions."