Thread: Copenhagen climate summit negotiations 'suspended

Page last updated at 14:32 GMT, Monday, 14 December 2009

Copenhagen climate summit negotiations 'suspended'

By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website, Copenhagen

The African delegation is unhappy over moves by the Danish government
Negotiations at the UN climate summit have been suspended after developing countries withdrew their co-operation.

Delegations were angry at what they saw as moves by the Danish host government to sideline talks on more emission cuts under the Kyoto Protocol.

As news spread around the conference centre, activists chanted "We stand with Africa - Kyoto targets now".

But talks between the parties were expected to resume in the afternoon and informal discussions continue.

The countries that have suspended co-operation are those which make up the G77-China bloc of 130 nations. These range from wealthy countries such as South Korea, to some of the poorest states in the world.

The G77-China bloc speaks for developing countries in the climate change negotiation process.

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Glossary in full Blocs representing poor countries vulnerable to climate change have been adamant that rich nations must commit to emission cuts beyond 2012 under the Kyoto Protocol.

But the EU and the developed world in general has promoted the idea of an entirely new agreement, replacing the protocol.

Developing countries fear they would lose many of the gains they made when the Kyoto agreement was signed in 1997.

They point out that the Kyoto Protocol is the only international legally binding instrument that has curbed carbon emissions, and also that it contains functioning mechanisms for bringing development benefits to poor countries such as money for investment in clean energy projects.

Previously during this meeting - formally called the Conference of the Parties (COP) 15 - developing countries have accused the Danish chairs of ignoring their concerns.

G77-China chief negotiator Lumumba Di-Aping explained why the bloc had taken the decision to withdraw its co-operation.

"It has become clear that the Danish presidency - in the most undemocratic fashion - is advancing the interests of the developed countries at the expense of the balance of obligations between developed and developing countries," he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One programme.

"The mistake they are doing now has reached levels that cannot be acceptable from a president who is supposed to be acting and shepherding the process on behalf of all parties."

Last week, the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu forced a suspension after insisting that proposals to amend the UN climate convention and Kyoto Protocol be debated in full.

'Losing time'

At a news conference earlier in the day, UK Climate Secretary Ed Miliband said that for the developed world to commit to further cuts under the Kyoto Protocol would be "irresponsible for the climate".

Some developing nations are wary of the way negotiations are progressing

Developing countries split on CO2
He said it would leave some of the world's biggest emitters without targets for cutting emissions.

Many developing countries have been arguing for a "twin track" approach, whereby countries with existing targets under the Kyoto Protocol (all developed nations except the US) stay under that umbrella, with the US and major developing economies making their carbon pledges under a new protocol.

Kim Carstensen, director of the global climate initiative with environment group WWF, said that much more movement was needed on the Kyoto Protocol negotiations here.

"The point is being made very loudly that African countries and the wider G77 bloc will not accept non-action on the Kyoto Protocol, and they're really afraid that a deal has been stitched up behind their backs," he told BBC News.

While understanding the G77 position, he said the suspension could affect progress towards a deal.

"We're losing time, and that's a serious matter; because for every minute we lose on one issue, the chances of getting to the bottom of the next issue diminish."

The Danish government has yet to make any formal response; but Australian Climate Minister Penny Wong described the suspension as "regrettable".

Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN climate change convention, predicted that the negotiations would get back on track in the early afternoon.

"The vast majority of countries here want to see the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol," he said.

"I'm not aware that any countries are trying to block anything."

An African bloc walkout during prepatory talks in Barcelona in November proved unpopular with other developing countries, in particular some small island nations.

Richard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8411898.stm

Walkout triggers Copenhagen breakdown

December 15, 2009 - 12:09AM
Cop 15 in Copenhagen
AAP

The Copenhagen climate summit is in chaos after poor countries walked out en masse on Monday morning.

The poor countries left negotiations because they are concerned that the Kyoto protocol, which aims to tackle climate change, will be abandoned. Some rich countries want a brand new climate treaty out of the Copenhagen summit to replace Kyoto.

But poor countries want to make sure the Kyoto protocol, which forces rich countries to limit their greenhouse has emissions, has a future.

Monday's walkout has left the summit in limbo as ministers, including Australia's Climate Change Minister Penny Wong, frantically try to fix the problem.

"It is regrettable that we appear to have reached a gridlock on process," Senator Wong told reporters from the conference centre, adding the situation was "most unfortunate".

"(This) is not a time to play procedural games."

She did not support the developing countries' focus on the need to commit now to a future for the Kyoto protocol.

"An extension only of the Kyoto Protocol is not going to achieve the environmental outcome the world needs," Senator Wong said.

Australia does not want the Kyoto Protocol to be the only vehicle to tackle climate change because it does not include the US, nor major developing countries like China and India.

Senator Wong said that without countries like China and India on board, global efforts to tackle climate change would not work.

She said the situation at the summit was "absolutely" salvageable.

"We can resolve these issues if nations have the political will."

Senator Wong is playing a high-profile role at the UN summit, which has entered its second week and is due to finish on Friday.

Together with her Indian counterpart, she was supposed to be leading special talks to try to resolve issues around the greenhouse targets of developing countries, and around international verification of countries' emissions.

Those talks are on hold now.

There have also been complaints from some developing nations of bullying on the part of Australia, including personal calls from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Ian Fry, the chief climate change negotiator for the tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, said Mr Rudd had told him his position was unhelpful in securing an agreement at Copenhagen.

"Yes, we've had approaches from the prime minister of Australia to ask us to, well, to say our approach is unproductive," he told ABC television on Monday.

"Of course, we don't agree with that."

Earlier in the day, Mr Fry made an emotional plea calling for a legally binding agreement to cut carbon emissions.

"I woke up this morning crying, and that's not easy for a grown man to admit," he said. "The fate of my country rests in your hands."

Australian scientist and environmental activist Tim Flannery said part of the reason for the walkout was because of a push by Canada for commitments established under the Kyoto Protocol to be disregarded.

Because of breaches of its emissions target under the Kyoto Protocol, Canada owes about $1 billion, and will owe $1.3 billion if commitments under Kyoto continue.

"Canada and some other developed countries of course would like the Kyoto commitments to cease and then move on with a fresh slate," Prof Flannery said.

But he believes a global agreement to cut emissions can still be reached.

"To be honest, I think that the key elements are now there," he told ABC television on Monday night.

"We've seen commitment by developed countries to an accumulative 18 per cent reduction in emissions."

Prof Flannery, who is also chairman of the Copenhagen Climate Council, a collaboration between business and science, says progress has been made towards reaching an agreement.

"It's far from perfect yet but I think we're beginning to see the elements fall into place for what I'd call a good agreement."

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news ... -kses.html

Wern't the emerging countries getting enough of our money?

It's all a gigantic scam anyway, a thousand times bigger than what Bernie Madoff pulled, they should all just go home.