U.N. forests deal stalls as climate talks remain deadlocked

(CNN) -- As talks at the United Nations climate summit enter their final hours, hopes of progress on key issues including the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) program appear to be fading.

Despite an upbeat prognosis from the executive director of the U.N. Environment Program Achim Steiner, agreement on the finer detail of the proposals -- namely rules concerning safeguards, finance and the program's scope -- have thus far proved much more elusive.

He says REDD+ has been the one area where the "greatest consensus" has been achieved.

"What we are seeing is that a number of safeguards are being built into the draft agreement, not only in the transparency of the funds being used, but also with social and environmental safeguards," Steiner told CNN.

But a number of countries don't share Steiner's enthusiasm for the draft text.

(CNN) -- As talks at the United Nations climate summit enter their final hours, hopes of progress on key issues including the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) program appear to be fading.

Despite an upbeat prognosis from the executive director of the U.N. Environment Program Achim Steiner, agreement on the finer detail of the proposals -- namely rules concerning safeguards, finance and the program's scope -- have thus far proved much more elusive.

He says REDD+ has been the one area where the "greatest consensus" has been achieved.

"What we are seeing is that a number of safeguards are being built into the draft agreement, not only in the transparency of the funds being used, but also with social and environmental safeguards," Steiner told CNN.

But a number of countries don't share Steiner's enthusiasm for the draft text.