(Adds quotes, details of Russian proposals) By Gerard Wynn and Alister Doyle NAIROBI, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Rich and poor nations wrangled on Thursday about how to widen a fight against global warming beyond 2012 to salvage U.N. talks on combating what many delegates call one of the biggest threats to life on the planet. About 70 environment ministers at the Nov. 6-17 meeting have agreed steps to help Africa and other poor nations cope with feared impacts such as drought and floods. But they are deeply divided on how to extend the Kyoto Protocol for curbing warming. "Sometimes it's not easy to solve problems among the three parties in government (in Germany)," German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said. "Here you have 189 (nations) and it's difficult to find solutions." At the talks, many rich nations are pushing for a detailed review of the Kyoto Protocol, which sets caps on emissions of greenhouse gases by 35 industrial nations, before taking on tougher targets beyond 2012, when current targets expire. "It's not realistic to finalise such a comprehensive review here in Nairobi. We must agree here in Nairobi about how to fix a time line," said Finnish Environment Minister Jan-Erik Enestam, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency. Some poorer nations fear that any deep review will be a way to lure them into making expensive commitments themselves. A statement by African states said as far as they were concerned the review of Kyoto, set for the Nairobi talks under the text of the deal agreed in 1997, had "taken place". Poorer states say rich nations should concentrate on setting new, tougher targets for themselves beyond 2012 to cut emissions of heat-trapping gases, mainly from burning fossil fuels in power plants, factories and cars. DEADLOCK In a related dilemma, delegates are also locked in deliberation on a "Russian proposal" -- to allow developing countries to take on voluntary targets. Delegates said the issue might be among the top sticking points on Friday. "In its present form it requires amendment of the Protocol which raise difficulties," Stavros Dimas, EU Environment Commissioner, told reporters. "Here in Nairobi there is not enough time...we could put it on the agenda for...May." The European Union, which accounts for 14 percent of world carbon dioxide emissions, wants poor countries to start braking their own emissions but Finland's Enestam said the EU was not seeking Kyoto-style caps for developing nations. One senior diplomat said developing nations might agree to a fuller review of Kyoto in 2008 if rich states agreed to set new goals for themselves by the end of 2009. The talks have so far shied away from setting any deadlines. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan called for more courage in acting on Wednesday, saying climate change was one of the biggest threats to the planet and that there was a "frightening lack of leadership" on the issue. The United States, the world's biggest source of emissions, is not taking part in the talks about Kyoto. President George W. Bush pulled out in 2001, arguing that it wrongly excluded poor nations and would cost U.S. jobs. Environmentalists handed Canada a "fossil of the day" award on Thursday, alleging that Environment Minister Rona Ambrose was "misleading" the world and failing to live up to Canada's Kyoto commitment to cut emissions of greenhouse gases. (With extra reporting by Daniel Wallis)
