The book Sustainable Futures: Replacing Growth Imperative and Hierarchies with
Sustainable Ways presents the results of a worldwide search for sustainable
cultures: past, present and future. Focus is on environmental sustainability
and human dignity of all.
The editors, Marko Ulvila and Jarna Pasanen, take an innovate look at the
dynamics of environmental problems from a cultural class perspective. They
define three cultural classes – over-consuming, sustainable and struggling –
and describe different future scenarios for each of them. For the over-
consuming class degrowth, intentional contraction of economy, is suggested.
Another main point by the authors is that hierarchic structures are a common
cause for environmental destruction and undermining of human dignity. They
call for maximum equality in all spheres of life, be it economy, gender
system, ethic relations, knowledge or relationship with other species.
The book stems from a research project that conducted dialogue workshops on
sustainable futures in South Asia, East Africa and Europe. The study was
commissioned and published by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
Sustainable Futures book also contains a selection of commentary from the
eleven international dialogue workshops, as well as summaries or excerpts from
articles commissioned by the project. Authors include Petra Bakewell-Stone,
Mamata Dash, Hilkka Pietilä, Vijay Pratap, Ritu Priya, Sebastian Rodrigues and
Olli Tammilehto.
Oras Tynkkynen, a green MP in Finland, comments the work in the preface: ”Many
of the proposals the authors come up with merit further debate and analysis.
While some of the suggestions may seem outlandish at first, measures of this
and perhaps even greater magnitude are required to meet our daunting
challenges.”
A free pdf copy of the book can be downloaded from
http://www.sustainablefutures.fi/.
The Ministry also sends free print copies
upon a request to keoinfo@formin.fi.
More information: http://www.sustainablefutures.fi/
jarna.pasanen@kaapeli.fi,
marko.ulvila@kaapeli.fi
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Critiques of Sham, Fraud
HERE IS A GOOD COLLECTION OF SCATHING CRITIQUES OF THE
SHAM, COOKED UP "COPENHAGEN AGREEMENT"
--- Soumya Dutta
------------------------------------------------------
With climate agreement, Obama guts progressive values
* Bill McKibben
18 Dec 2009 4:20 PM
The President of the United States did several things with his agreement today with China, India, Brazil and South Africa:
* He blew up the United Nations. The idea that theres a world community that means something has disappeared tonight. The clear point is, you poor nations can spout off all you want on questions like human rights or the role of women or fighting polio or handling refugees. But when you get too close to the center of things that count the fossil fuel thats at the center of our economy you can forget about it. Were not interested. Youre a bother, and when you sink beneath the waves, we dont want to hear much about it. The dearest hope of the American right for 50 years was essentially realized because in the end coal is at the center of Americas economy. We already did this with war and peace, and now weve done it with global warming. What exactly is the point of the U.N. now?
* He formed a league of super-polluters, and would-be super-polluters.
China, the U.S., and India dont want anyone controlling their use of
coal in any meaningful way. It is a coalition of foxes who will together govern the henhouse. It is no accident that the targets are weak to nonexistent. We dont want to get too far ahead of ourselves with targets, he said. Indeed. And now imagine what this agreement will look like with the next Republican president.
* He demonstrated the kind of firmness and resolve that Americans like to see. It will play well politically at home and that will be the worst part of the deal. Having spurned Europe and the poor countries of the world, he will reap domestic political benefit. George Bush couldnt have done thisthe reaction would have been too great. Obama has taken the mandate that progressives worked their hearts out to give him, and used it to gut the ideas that progressives have held most dear. The ice caps wont be the only things we lose with this deal.
******************************************
ALBA and G77 Denounce Copenhagen Sham
December 19, 2009
*
Obama, acting the way he did, definitely established that theres no
difference between him and the Bush tradition
(from Links International Journal of Socialist Revewal)
Speaking on behalf of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA), President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela took the floor at the plenary of the COP15 climate talks in Copenhagen to denounce the final deal that was soon to emerge and be imposed on the majority poor-country delegates, and which would fall far short of their demands.
Chavez accused US President Barack Obama of behaving like an emperor
who comes in during the middle of the night & and cooks up a document that we will not accept, we will never accept.
Chávez declared that all countries are equal. He would not accept that some countries had prepared a text for a climate deal and just slipped [it] under the door to be signed by the others. He accused them of a real lack of transparency.
We cant wait any longer, we are leaving & We are leaving, knowing that it wasnt possible getting a deal, he said.
Evo Morales, the president of Bolivia, also took the floor to express
annoyance at the way a climate deal was being thrashed out by a small
group of world leaders at the last minute. If there is no agreement at this level, why not tell the people?, he said at the plenary meeting. He called for further consultations with the people.
Who is responsible?, Morales asked. Concluding that the
responsibility lies on the capitalist system we have to change the
capitalist system.
****************************************
Sham deal
The so-called Copenhagen Accord was pushed by the US and Australia,
and sealed in meetings behind closed doors with the leaders of China,
India, Brazil and South Africa. It was announced by Obama late on the
evening of December 18, and presented as final even before the COP15 delegates had a chance to vote on it. It does not commit governments to interim 2020 carbon emissions-reduction targets, or to legally binding reductions and only expresses a general aim of limiting the global warming increase to 2 degrees Celsius well above the 1 degree C-1.5 degree C target most delegations were calling for.
Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, delegation head of the G77 group of
developing countries, rejected the accord and vowed to fight it. Obama, acting the way he did, definitely established that theres no difference between him and the Bush tradition, he told Time magazine.
******************************************
Nnimmo Bassey, prominent Nigerian environmentalist and chair of Friends of the Earth International, described Copenhagen as an abject failure.
Justice has not been done. By delaying action, rich countries have
condemned millions of the worlds poorest people to hunger, suffering
and loss of life as climate chang accelerates. The blame for this
disastrous outcome is squarely on the developed nations. We are
disgusted by the failure of rich countries to commit to the emissions
reductions they know are needed, especially the US, which is the worlds largest historical emitter of greenhouse gases.
In contrast African nations, China and others in the developing world deserve praise for their progressive positions and constructive
approach. Major developing countries cannot be blamed for the failure of rich industrialised countries.
Instead of committing to deep cuts in emissions and putting new, public money on the table to help solve the climate crisis, rich countries have bullied developing nations to accept far less. Those most responsible for putting the planet in this mess have not shown the guts required to fix it and have instead acted to protect short-term political interests.
The only real leadership at the conference has come from the hundreds of thousands of ordinary people whove come together to demand strong action to prevent climate catastrophe. Their voices are loud and growing and Friends of the Earth International will continue to be part of the fight for climate justice.
Greenpeace criticized the accord for not having targets for carbon cuts and no agreement on a legally binding treaty.
Oxfam International called the deal a triumph of spin over substance. It recognizes the need to keep warming below two degrees but does not commit to do so. It kicks back the decisions on emissions cuts and fudges the issue of climate cash.
The accord confirms the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol and the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Developed
countries commit collectively to providing US$30 billion in new,
additional funding for developing countries for the 2010-2012 period. It also says developed countries support a goal of mobilizing jointly 100 billion dollars a year by 2020 from a variety of sources.
------------------------------------------------------------
Erich Pica, president of the Friends of the Earth (USA), said:
The climate negotiations in Copenhagen have yielded a sham agreement
with no real requirements for any countries. This is not a strong deal or a just one it isnt even a real one. Its just repackaging old positions and pretending theyre new. The actions it suggests for the rich countries that caused the climate crisis are extraordinarily
inadequate. This is a disastrous outcome for people around the world who face increasingly dire impacts from a destabilizing climate.
With the future of all humans on this planet at stake, rich countries must muster far more political will than they exhibited here. If they do not, small island states will become submerged, people in vulnerable communities across the globe will be afflicted with hunger and disease, and wars over access to food and water will rage.
The devastation will extend to those of us who live in wealthy
countries. The failure to produce anything meaningful in Copenhagen must serve as a wake up call to all who care about the future. It is a call to action. Corporate polluters and other special interests have such overwhelming influence that rich country governments are willing to agree only to fig leaf solutions. This is unacceptable, and it must change.
Fortunately, while the cost of solving the climate crisis rises each
day we fail to act, the crisis remains one that can largely be averted.
It is up to the citizens of the world especially citizens of the
United States, which has so impeded progress to mobilise and ensure
that true solutions carry the day. I firmly believe that together, we
can still achieve a politics in which climate justice prevails.
*************************************
Press release - La Via Campesina
Traders failed in Copenhagen
The future lies in peoples hands
(Copenhagen, 19 December 2009) The Copenhagen climate talks ended up in failure. Governments of the world showed themselves incapable or unwilling to make the changes necessary to find a just solution to the climate chaos. The talks have been driven by self interest and trade solutions that have so far proven useless and even damaging.
------
Josie Riffaud, a leader of the farmers movement Via Campesina said: Money and market solutions will not resolve the current crisis. We need instead a radical change in the way we produce and we consume, and this is what was not discussed in Copenhagen. The governments of the industrialized and industrializing countries showed themselves to be unwilling to tackle the model of development which has created and economic and environmental disaster.
They were incapable to consider real solutions and to see that carbon
markets will not solve the climate crisis.
The drastic emissions cuts (included in a binding deal), reorientation of agro-export economies, agrarian reform and other measures which could really contribute to slowing the heating of the earth were not discussed or considered. Once again governments acting in individual self interest have failed to consider the real alternatives offered by International social movements, environmental groups, indigenous peoples and others in creating a more just and fair society.
Even though the Copenhagen deal doesnt mention agriculture explicitely, it seemed during the two weeks talk that the UNFCCC wanted to include soils in the carbon capture methods, and include agriculture in it's technology transfer opening up space for transnational companies to receive subsidies for introducing GMO seeds and industrial agricultural methods such as non-till agriculture. This is exactly the type of agricltural development that has led us to the current environmenent and social crisis in the countryside.
-------------------------------------
The real power in Copenhagen was expressed in the streets and in the halls of the Bella centre on the 16th of December, when activists, community groups, international and local social movements and NGOs from the North and south pushed to meet each other in a symbolic 3rd space outside the Bella center.
The vicious repression of the police, including the preemptive arrest of many of the spokespeople of the movement Climate Justice Action further showed the desperation of governments to prevent the voices of real solutions to be heard.
We cannot look to governments to provide a magical solution to the Climate Crisis. Under the guidance of transnational corporations, they only prepare a further round of capital speculation, this time using Carbon, the building blocks of life itself as their stocks and shares.
In front of the failure of the COP 15 international social movements are more ready than ever to tackle the problems of the world and will mobilise for the next climate conference in Mexico due at the end of 2010; their time has come and governments will have no choice but to listen.
********************************
Johann Hari
Columnist, London Independent
Posted: December 18, 2009 06:54 PM
So that's it. The world's worst polluters - the people who are
drastically altering the climate - gathered here in Copenhagen to
announce they were going to carry on cooking, in defiance of all the
scientific warnings. They didn't seal the deal; they sealed the coffin for the world's low-lying islands, its glaciers, its North Pole, and millions of lives.
Those of us who watched this conference with open eyes aren't suprised.
----------
Every day, practical, intelligent solutions that would cut our emissions of warming gases have been offered by scientists, developing countries, and protesters - and they have been systematically vetoed by the governments of North America and Europe.
It's worth recounting a few of the ideas that were summarily dismissed - because when the world resolves to find a real solution, we will have to revive them.
------------------------------------------------
Discarded Idea One: The International Environmental Court.
Any cuts proposed at Copenhagen were purely voluntary. If a government decides not to follow them, nothing will happen, except a mild blush, and disastrous warming. After all, Canada signed up to cut its emissions at Kyoto, and then increased them by 26 percent - and there were no consequences. Copenhagen could unleash a hundred Canadas.
The brave, articulate Bolivian delegation - who have seen their glaciers melt at a terrifying pace - objected. They said if countries are serious about reducing emissions, their cuts need to be policed by an International Environmental Court that has the power to punish people who endanger our shared stable climate. This is hardly impractical. When our leaders and their corporate lobbies really care about an issue - say, on trade - they pool their sovereignty this way in a second. The World Trade Organization fines and sanctions nations severely if (say) they don't follow strict copyright laws. Is a safe climate less important than a trade-mark?
------------------------------------------------
Discarded Idea Two: Leave the fossil fuels in the ground. At meetings
here, an extraordinary piece of hypocrisy has been pointed out by the
new international chair of Friends of the Earth, Nnimmo Bassey and the environmental writer George Monbiot. The governments of the world say they want to drastically cut their use of fossil fuels, yet at the same time they are enthusiastically digging up any fossil fuels they can find, and hunting for more. They are holding a fire extinguisher in one hand and a flame-thrower in the other.
Only one of these instincts can prevail. A study published earlier this year in the journal Nature showed that we can only use - at an absolute maximum - 60 percent of all the oil, coal and gas we have already discovered if we are going to stay the right side of catastrophic runaway warming. So the first step in any rational climate deal would be an immediate moratorium on searching for more fossil fuels, and fair plans for how to decide which of the existing stock we will leave unused. As Bassey put it: "Keep the coal in the hole. Keep the oil in the soil. Keep the tar sand in the land." This option wasn't even discussed by our leaders.
--------------------
Discarded Idea Three: Climate debt. The rich world has been responsible for 70 percent of the warming gases pumped into the atmosphere - yet 70 percent of the effects are being felt in the developing world. Holland can build vast dykes to prevent its land flooding; Bangladesh can only drown. There is a cruel inverse relationship between cause and effect: the polluter doesn't pay.
So we have racked up a climate debt. We broke it, they paid. At this
summit, for the first time, the poor countries rose in disgust. Their
chief negotiator pointed out that the compensation offered "won't even pay for the coffins." The cliche that environmentalism is a rich
person's ideology just gasped its final CO2-rich breath. As Naomi Klein put it: "At this summit, the pole of environmentalism has moved South."
When we are dividing up who has the right to emit the few remaining
warming gases that the atmosphere can absorb, we need to realize that we are badly overdrawn. We have used up our share of warming gases, and then some. Yet the US and EU have dismissed the idea of climate debt out of hand. How can we get a lasting deal that every country agrees to if we ignore this basic principle of justice? Why should the poorest restrain themselves when the rich refuse to?
A deal based on these real ideas would actually cool the atmosphere. The alternatives championed at Copenhagen by the rich world - carbon
offsetting, carbon trading, carbon capture - won't. They are a global
placebo. The critics who say the real solutions are "unrealistic" don't seem to realize that their alternative is more implausible still: civilization continuing on a planet whose natural processes are rapidly breaking down.
Throughout the negotiations here, the world's low-lying island states
have clung to the real ideas as a life-raft, because they are the only way to save their countries from a swelling sea. It has been
extraordinary to watch their representatives - quiet, sombre people with sad eyes - as they were forced to plead for their own existence. They tried persuasion and hard science and lyrical hymns of love for their lands, and all were ignored.
Yet their discarded ideas - and dozens more like them - show once again that man-made global warming can be stopped. The intellectual blueprints exist just as surely as the technological blueprints. There would be sacrifices, yes - but they are considerably less than the sacrifices made by our grandparents in their greatest fight. We will have to pay higher taxes and fly less to make the leap to a renewably-powered world - but we will still be able to live an abundant life where we are warm and free and well-fed. The only real losers will be the fossil fuel corporations and the petro-dictatorships.
But our politicians have not chosen this sane path. No: they have chosen inertia and low taxes and oil money today over survival tomorrow. The true face of our current system - and of Copenhagen - can be seen in the life-saving ideas it has so casually tossed into the bin.
-------------------------------------------------
Copenhagen negotiators bicker and filibuster while the biosphere burns
George Monbiot
The Guardian (UK)
19 December 2009
First they put the planet in square brackets, now they have deleted it
from the text. At the end it was no longer about saving the biosphere: it was just a matter of saving face. As the talks melted down, everything that might have made a new treaty worthwhile was scratched out. Any deal would do, as long as the negotiators could pretend they have achieved something. A clearer and less destructive treaty than the text that emerged would be a sheaf of blank paper, which every negotiating party solemnly sits down to sign.
This was the chaotic, disastrous denouement of a chaotic and disastrous summit. The event has been attended by historic levels of incompetence.
Delegates arriving from the tropics spent 10 hours queueing in sub-zero temperatures without shelter, food or drink, let alone any explanation or announcement, before being turned away. Some people fainted from exposure; it's surprising that no one died. The process of negotiation was just as obtuse: there was no evidence here of the innovative methods of dispute resolution developed recently by mediators and coaches, just the same old pig-headed wrestling.
Watching this stupid summit via webcam (I wasn't allowed in either), it struck me that the treaty-making system has scarcely changed in 130 years. There's a wider range of faces, fewer handlebar moustaches, frock coats or pickelhaubes, but otherwise, when the world's governments try to decide how to carve up the atmosphere, they might have been attending the conference of Berlin in 1884. It's as if democratisation and the flowering of civil society, advocacy and self-determination had never happened. Governments, whether elected or not, without reference to their own citizens let alone those of other nations, assert their right to draw lines across the global commons and decide who gets what. This is a scramble for the atmosphere comparable in style and intent to the scramble for Africa.
At no point has the injustice at the heart of multilateralism been
addressed or even acknowledged: the interests of states and the interests of the world's people are not the same. Often they are diametrically opposed. In this case, most rich and rapidly developing states have sought through these talks to seize as great a chunk of the atmosphere for themselves as they can – to grab bigger rights to pollute than their competitors. The process couldn't have been better designed to produce the wrong results.
--------------------------------------
I spent most of my time at the Klimaforum, the alternative conference set up by just four paid staff, which 50,000 people attended without a hitch.
(I know which team I would put in charge of saving the planet.) There the barrister Polly Higgins laid out a different approach. Her declaration of planetary rights invests ecosystems with similar legal safeguards to those won by humans after the second world war. It changes the legal relationship between humans, the atmosphere and the biosphere from ownership to stewardship. It creates a global framework for negotiation which gives nation states less discretion to dispose of ecosystems and the people who depend on them.
Even before the farce in Copenhagen began it was looking like it might be too late to prevent two or more degrees of global warming. The nation states, pursuing their own interests, have each been passing the parcel of responsibility since they decided to take action in 1992.
We have now lost 17 precious years, possibly the only years in which climate breakdown could have been prevented. This has not happened by accident: it is the result of a systematic campaign of sabotage by certain states, driven and promoted by the energy industries. This idiocy has been aided and abetted by the nations characterised, until now, as the good guys: those that have made firm commitments, only to invalidate them with loopholes, false accounting and outsourcing. In all cases immediate self-interest has trumped the long-term welfare of humankind. Corporate profits and political expediency have proved more urgent considerations than either the natural world or human civilisation. Our political systems are incapable of discharging the main function of government: to protect us from each other.
Goodbye Africa, goodbye south Asia; goodbye glaciers and sea ice, coral reefs and rainforest. It was nice knowing you. Not that we really cared. The governments which moved so swiftly to save the banks have bickered and filibustered while the biosphere burns.
---------------------------------
New Copenhagen accord 'a sham'
YOLANDI GROENEWALD | COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - Dec 19 2009 09:46
The new Copenhagen accord, hammered out late on Friday night, is a sham -- leading climate change observers said. South Africa took centre stage in the accord as one of five countries to broker it, together with the US.
-------------------------------------------------
The European Union has also accepted the accord.
But the accord split nations in the last plenary, which was still going strong on Saturday morning. Many nations was hesitant to sign the deal, and there was a lot of bitterness from Venezuela, many African delegations and the small island states lead by the sad voice of Tuvula.
The accord was negotiated between South Africa, the USA, China, India, Brazil and the US in a day of high drama that saw the Obama illusion shatter into a million pieces.
The onus to get a legally binding agreement has now shifted to Mexico
City in a years time.
------------------------------------------
Scepticism in action
Charismatic Sudanese lead negotiator and chief negotiator for the G77 group Lumumba Di-Aping, called the deal a sell-out.
"This deal will definitely result in massive devastation in Africa and small island states," he said. "It has the lowest level of ambition you can imagine. It's nothing short of climate change Scepticism in action. It locks countries into a cycle of poverty for ever. Obama has eliminated any difference between him and Bush."
It is understood that some of the African delegates were unhappy that
South Africa was involved in the brokering of the accord, as it
presented a break from the unified African position.
The South African delegation was not available for comment. President
Jacob Zuma was reportedly involved in high-level talks with President
Barack Obama among others, in drafting parts of the Copenhagen accord.
---------------------------------------------------
Greenpeace was scathing about the turn of events.
'Not fair' -->
"Not fair, not ambitious and not legally binding," Greenpeace
International executive director, Kumi Naidoo, said of the accord.
"The job of world leaders is not done. The city of Copenhagen is a
climate crime scene tonight, with the guilty men and women fleeing to
the airport in shame," he said.
Naidoo said world leaders produced a poor deal full of loopholes big
enough to fly Air Force One through. "We have seen a year of crises, but today it is clear that the biggest one "facing humanity is a leadership crisis."
In the final document the accord shies away from committing nations to a 1.5C temperature rise, as argued for by small island states and
contained in earlier drafts. Instead the accord commits to 2C. The
earlier 2050 goal of reducing global CO2 emissions by 80% was also
omitted from the final draft.
About $30-billion in funding in 3 years for poor countries to adapt to climate change will start flowing next year, the accord promised and $100-billion a year after 2020.
------------------------------------
Full adoption ? --
It was unclear whether the 192 countries in the full, final plenary
session would adopt the accord.
Oxfam International said the so-called 'climate deal' "is a triumph of spin over substance". It said the deal provides no confidence that
catastrophic climate change will be averted or that poor countries will be given the money they need to adapt as temperatures rise.
"This agreement barely papers over the huge differences between
countries which have plagued these talks for two years," said Jeremy
Hobbs, executive director of Oxfam International.
Shorbanu Khatun, a climate migrant at the summit with Oxfam said: "I
came all the way from a displaced persons camp on the flooded coast of Bangladesh to see justice done for the 45 000 people made homeless by cyclone Aila. How do I tell them their misery has fallen on deaf ears?"
Other observer organisations such politicians was not trying to spin a nothing agreement into something that looked acceptable to the world and wrongly convinced them that progress had been made at Copenhagen.
------------------------------
Toothless --
Kate Horner of Friends of the Earth, who had earlier the week been
thrown out of the conference said the accord was a toothless declaration.
"This is the United Nations and the nations here are not united on this secret backroom declaration. The US has lied to the world when they called it a deal and they lied to over a hundred countries when they said would listen to their needs.
She said the accord being spun by the US as an historic success,
reflects contempt for the multilateral process and we expect more from our Nobel prize winning President."
Much had been expected of Obama to save the talks from its impasse, but apart from brokering what critics called a weak deal, Obama did not bring much to the table at Copenhagen that differed from the USs
previous position.
He also chose not to speak to the worlds press corps, but only briefed Whitehouse journalists on his way back to the US, late last night on Air Force One. He blamed the expected bad weather conditions in Washington as an excuse for leaving early.
-----------------------------------------------
China blamed --
It was reported that he told the US journalists that an unprecedented progress had bee made, but he also said "we have much further to go. Though he didnt say it outright, veiled remarks indicated that Obama blamed China for the weak outcome.
He said if delegates had waited to reach a full, binding agreement, "we wouldn't have made any progress."
There might be such frustration and cynicism that rather than taking
one step forward, we ended up taking two steps back," he told US reporters.
-------------------------------
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she begrudgingly accepted the
accord, calling it a first step. But the small island state of Tuvulu complained bitterly that his country's future was not for sale. President Hugo Chavez from Venezuela also led a trio of Latin American countries that included Cuba and Bolivia who complained that they were excluded from the process and that they believed president Lula da Silva from Brazil didnt represent their interests.
---------------------------------------------------------
The biggest challenge, turning the political will into a legally
(binding agreement has moved to Mexico, WWF said in a statement. After years of negotiations we now have a declaration of will which does not bind anyone and therefore fails to guarantee a safer future for next generations.
The organisation said what was good about Copenhagen was the level of
national pledges for climate action in most countries.
Politically, we live in a world that agrees to stay below the danger
zone of two degrees but practically what we have on the table adds up to 3C or more. It said a gap between the rhetoric and reality could cost millions of lives, hundreds of billions of dollars and a wealth of lost opportunities.
We are disappointed but remain hopeful. The civil society will continue watching every step of further negotiations. Getting a strong outcome of the follow-up process will take a lot of bridge-building between the rich and the poor countries. We expect that the Mexican hosts will be ideally placed to play that role.
*******************************************
... Rasmussen, as head of Venstre, the right wing party, and a coalition including the rabid anti-immigrant party in Denmark, had become the official host of the meeting. Until midway through the second week of the COP, that role had fallen on the more capable shoulders of Denmarks former environmental minister, Connie Hedegaard. With years of experience at the UN, and in the Kyoto process particularly, Hedegaard knew the players, the positions, and was respected as fair and impartial.
Rasmussen would, in contrast, become known for high-handed demands,
back-room wheeling and dealing, mass arrest and detention of protestors on suspicion of future traffic obstruction, demoting Hedegaard on the eve of the final high-level talks, and then abruptly bringing her back in to try to salvage a deal, barring the civil sector IGOs and NGOs from the meeting midway through the second week, after putting them through torturous and repeated dawn-till-dark outdoor linestandings in freezing cold and blowing snow, and then breaking with the EU and G-77 to back the USA's coalition of the willing approach.
Leaving the NGOs out in the cold literally meant that none of civil society's detailed ideas could rise to the surface when they were most needed to break out of government sector's impasse. Instead, the US came in and tried to bully China, and China, in a geopolitical-orbit-shifting rebuke, stood firm and did not blink. The US limped home with a spin-doctored document, while China was revealed as the emerging world power to be reckoned with. Some of that had to do with Chinas massive investments in Africa and the two-thirds world over the past decade, which had built it a large store of political capital. Unfortunately, it spent a big hunk of that when it sold out Africa to the 5-party outcome.
Naomi Klein said, Africa was sacrificed. The position of the G77
negotiating bloc, including African states, had been clear: a 2C
increase in average global temperatures translates into a 33.5C
increase in Africa. That means, according to the Pan African Climate
Justice Alliance, an additional 55 million people could be at risk from hunger, and water stress could affect between 350 and 600 million more people.
Rasmussen and the G8 powers led by the Obama delegation, made their case for colonialism. What was being colonized and divided between occupying powers was not the G77, but the sky. For a mere ten billion dollars per year, G8 shareholders were sold a carbon market worth $1.2 trillion per year. Matthew Stilwell of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable development said that rich countries were allowed to exchange beads and blankets for Manhattan, adding, [They]'ve carved up the last remaining unowned resource and allocated it to the wealthy.
With a $100 billion/year buy-out (first payment 2020, a US election
year) or one army-year in Kabul, shared out between 193 countries,
citizens from the Maldives will be offered hotel rooms in Houston the
way New Orleans hurricane refugees were.
Greenpeace Executive Director Kumi Naidoo said, In a cruel irony I have just learned that the three Greenpeace activists who, posing as world leaders, entered the Danish Palace for the State Dinner on Thursday night to unfurl a banner calling for a real climate deal are to spend the next three weeks in jail. They will be away from their families over Christmas and the New Year. The real leaders, who attempted to get real action are now in jail, while the alleged 'leaders' got clean away, and are fleeing the Copenhagen climate crime scene in private jets and 747s. ...
==================================================
SHAM, COOKED UP "COPENHAGEN AGREEMENT"
--- Soumya Dutta
------------------------------------------------------
With climate agreement, Obama guts progressive values
* Bill McKibben
18 Dec 2009 4:20 PM
The President of the United States did several things with his agreement today with China, India, Brazil and South Africa:
* He blew up the United Nations. The idea that theres a world community that means something has disappeared tonight. The clear point is, you poor nations can spout off all you want on questions like human rights or the role of women or fighting polio or handling refugees. But when you get too close to the center of things that count the fossil fuel thats at the center of our economy you can forget about it. Were not interested. Youre a bother, and when you sink beneath the waves, we dont want to hear much about it. The dearest hope of the American right for 50 years was essentially realized because in the end coal is at the center of Americas economy. We already did this with war and peace, and now weve done it with global warming. What exactly is the point of the U.N. now?
* He formed a league of super-polluters, and would-be super-polluters.
China, the U.S., and India dont want anyone controlling their use of
coal in any meaningful way. It is a coalition of foxes who will together govern the henhouse. It is no accident that the targets are weak to nonexistent. We dont want to get too far ahead of ourselves with targets, he said. Indeed. And now imagine what this agreement will look like with the next Republican president.
* He demonstrated the kind of firmness and resolve that Americans like to see. It will play well politically at home and that will be the worst part of the deal. Having spurned Europe and the poor countries of the world, he will reap domestic political benefit. George Bush couldnt have done thisthe reaction would have been too great. Obama has taken the mandate that progressives worked their hearts out to give him, and used it to gut the ideas that progressives have held most dear. The ice caps wont be the only things we lose with this deal.
******************************************
ALBA and G77 Denounce Copenhagen Sham
December 19, 2009
*
Obama, acting the way he did, definitely established that theres no
difference between him and the Bush tradition
(from Links International Journal of Socialist Revewal)
Speaking on behalf of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA), President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela took the floor at the plenary of the COP15 climate talks in Copenhagen to denounce the final deal that was soon to emerge and be imposed on the majority poor-country delegates, and which would fall far short of their demands.
Chavez accused US President Barack Obama of behaving like an emperor
who comes in during the middle of the night & and cooks up a document that we will not accept, we will never accept.
Chávez declared that all countries are equal. He would not accept that some countries had prepared a text for a climate deal and just slipped [it] under the door to be signed by the others. He accused them of a real lack of transparency.
We cant wait any longer, we are leaving & We are leaving, knowing that it wasnt possible getting a deal, he said.
Evo Morales, the president of Bolivia, also took the floor to express
annoyance at the way a climate deal was being thrashed out by a small
group of world leaders at the last minute. If there is no agreement at this level, why not tell the people?, he said at the plenary meeting. He called for further consultations with the people.
Who is responsible?, Morales asked. Concluding that the
responsibility lies on the capitalist system we have to change the
capitalist system.
****************************************
Sham deal
The so-called Copenhagen Accord was pushed by the US and Australia,
and sealed in meetings behind closed doors with the leaders of China,
India, Brazil and South Africa. It was announced by Obama late on the
evening of December 18, and presented as final even before the COP15 delegates had a chance to vote on it. It does not commit governments to interim 2020 carbon emissions-reduction targets, or to legally binding reductions and only expresses a general aim of limiting the global warming increase to 2 degrees Celsius well above the 1 degree C-1.5 degree C target most delegations were calling for.
Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, delegation head of the G77 group of
developing countries, rejected the accord and vowed to fight it. Obama, acting the way he did, definitely established that theres no difference between him and the Bush tradition, he told Time magazine.
******************************************
Nnimmo Bassey, prominent Nigerian environmentalist and chair of Friends of the Earth International, described Copenhagen as an abject failure.
Justice has not been done. By delaying action, rich countries have
condemned millions of the worlds poorest people to hunger, suffering
and loss of life as climate chang accelerates. The blame for this
disastrous outcome is squarely on the developed nations. We are
disgusted by the failure of rich countries to commit to the emissions
reductions they know are needed, especially the US, which is the worlds largest historical emitter of greenhouse gases.
In contrast African nations, China and others in the developing world deserve praise for their progressive positions and constructive
approach. Major developing countries cannot be blamed for the failure of rich industrialised countries.
Instead of committing to deep cuts in emissions and putting new, public money on the table to help solve the climate crisis, rich countries have bullied developing nations to accept far less. Those most responsible for putting the planet in this mess have not shown the guts required to fix it and have instead acted to protect short-term political interests.
The only real leadership at the conference has come from the hundreds of thousands of ordinary people whove come together to demand strong action to prevent climate catastrophe. Their voices are loud and growing and Friends of the Earth International will continue to be part of the fight for climate justice.
Greenpeace criticized the accord for not having targets for carbon cuts and no agreement on a legally binding treaty.
Oxfam International called the deal a triumph of spin over substance. It recognizes the need to keep warming below two degrees but does not commit to do so. It kicks back the decisions on emissions cuts and fudges the issue of climate cash.
The accord confirms the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol and the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Developed
countries commit collectively to providing US$30 billion in new,
additional funding for developing countries for the 2010-2012 period. It also says developed countries support a goal of mobilizing jointly 100 billion dollars a year by 2020 from a variety of sources.
------------------------------------------------------------
Erich Pica, president of the Friends of the Earth (USA), said:
The climate negotiations in Copenhagen have yielded a sham agreement
with no real requirements for any countries. This is not a strong deal or a just one it isnt even a real one. Its just repackaging old positions and pretending theyre new. The actions it suggests for the rich countries that caused the climate crisis are extraordinarily
inadequate. This is a disastrous outcome for people around the world who face increasingly dire impacts from a destabilizing climate.
With the future of all humans on this planet at stake, rich countries must muster far more political will than they exhibited here. If they do not, small island states will become submerged, people in vulnerable communities across the globe will be afflicted with hunger and disease, and wars over access to food and water will rage.
The devastation will extend to those of us who live in wealthy
countries. The failure to produce anything meaningful in Copenhagen must serve as a wake up call to all who care about the future. It is a call to action. Corporate polluters and other special interests have such overwhelming influence that rich country governments are willing to agree only to fig leaf solutions. This is unacceptable, and it must change.
Fortunately, while the cost of solving the climate crisis rises each
day we fail to act, the crisis remains one that can largely be averted.
It is up to the citizens of the world especially citizens of the
United States, which has so impeded progress to mobilise and ensure
that true solutions carry the day. I firmly believe that together, we
can still achieve a politics in which climate justice prevails.
*************************************
Press release - La Via Campesina
Traders failed in Copenhagen
The future lies in peoples hands
(Copenhagen, 19 December 2009) The Copenhagen climate talks ended up in failure. Governments of the world showed themselves incapable or unwilling to make the changes necessary to find a just solution to the climate chaos. The talks have been driven by self interest and trade solutions that have so far proven useless and even damaging.
------
Josie Riffaud, a leader of the farmers movement Via Campesina said: Money and market solutions will not resolve the current crisis. We need instead a radical change in the way we produce and we consume, and this is what was not discussed in Copenhagen. The governments of the industrialized and industrializing countries showed themselves to be unwilling to tackle the model of development which has created and economic and environmental disaster.
They were incapable to consider real solutions and to see that carbon
markets will not solve the climate crisis.
The drastic emissions cuts (included in a binding deal), reorientation of agro-export economies, agrarian reform and other measures which could really contribute to slowing the heating of the earth were not discussed or considered. Once again governments acting in individual self interest have failed to consider the real alternatives offered by International social movements, environmental groups, indigenous peoples and others in creating a more just and fair society.
Even though the Copenhagen deal doesnt mention agriculture explicitely, it seemed during the two weeks talk that the UNFCCC wanted to include soils in the carbon capture methods, and include agriculture in it's technology transfer opening up space for transnational companies to receive subsidies for introducing GMO seeds and industrial agricultural methods such as non-till agriculture. This is exactly the type of agricltural development that has led us to the current environmenent and social crisis in the countryside.
-------------------------------------
The real power in Copenhagen was expressed in the streets and in the halls of the Bella centre on the 16th of December, when activists, community groups, international and local social movements and NGOs from the North and south pushed to meet each other in a symbolic 3rd space outside the Bella center.
The vicious repression of the police, including the preemptive arrest of many of the spokespeople of the movement Climate Justice Action further showed the desperation of governments to prevent the voices of real solutions to be heard.
We cannot look to governments to provide a magical solution to the Climate Crisis. Under the guidance of transnational corporations, they only prepare a further round of capital speculation, this time using Carbon, the building blocks of life itself as their stocks and shares.
In front of the failure of the COP 15 international social movements are more ready than ever to tackle the problems of the world and will mobilise for the next climate conference in Mexico due at the end of 2010; their time has come and governments will have no choice but to listen.
********************************
Johann Hari
Columnist, London Independent
Posted: December 18, 2009 06:54 PM
So that's it. The world's worst polluters - the people who are
drastically altering the climate - gathered here in Copenhagen to
announce they were going to carry on cooking, in defiance of all the
scientific warnings. They didn't seal the deal; they sealed the coffin for the world's low-lying islands, its glaciers, its North Pole, and millions of lives.
Those of us who watched this conference with open eyes aren't suprised.
----------
Every day, practical, intelligent solutions that would cut our emissions of warming gases have been offered by scientists, developing countries, and protesters - and they have been systematically vetoed by the governments of North America and Europe.
It's worth recounting a few of the ideas that were summarily dismissed - because when the world resolves to find a real solution, we will have to revive them.
------------------------------------------------
Discarded Idea One: The International Environmental Court.
Any cuts proposed at Copenhagen were purely voluntary. If a government decides not to follow them, nothing will happen, except a mild blush, and disastrous warming. After all, Canada signed up to cut its emissions at Kyoto, and then increased them by 26 percent - and there were no consequences. Copenhagen could unleash a hundred Canadas.
The brave, articulate Bolivian delegation - who have seen their glaciers melt at a terrifying pace - objected. They said if countries are serious about reducing emissions, their cuts need to be policed by an International Environmental Court that has the power to punish people who endanger our shared stable climate. This is hardly impractical. When our leaders and their corporate lobbies really care about an issue - say, on trade - they pool their sovereignty this way in a second. The World Trade Organization fines and sanctions nations severely if (say) they don't follow strict copyright laws. Is a safe climate less important than a trade-mark?
------------------------------------------------
Discarded Idea Two: Leave the fossil fuels in the ground. At meetings
here, an extraordinary piece of hypocrisy has been pointed out by the
new international chair of Friends of the Earth, Nnimmo Bassey and the environmental writer George Monbiot. The governments of the world say they want to drastically cut their use of fossil fuels, yet at the same time they are enthusiastically digging up any fossil fuels they can find, and hunting for more. They are holding a fire extinguisher in one hand and a flame-thrower in the other.
Only one of these instincts can prevail. A study published earlier this year in the journal Nature showed that we can only use - at an absolute maximum - 60 percent of all the oil, coal and gas we have already discovered if we are going to stay the right side of catastrophic runaway warming. So the first step in any rational climate deal would be an immediate moratorium on searching for more fossil fuels, and fair plans for how to decide which of the existing stock we will leave unused. As Bassey put it: "Keep the coal in the hole. Keep the oil in the soil. Keep the tar sand in the land." This option wasn't even discussed by our leaders.
--------------------
Discarded Idea Three: Climate debt. The rich world has been responsible for 70 percent of the warming gases pumped into the atmosphere - yet 70 percent of the effects are being felt in the developing world. Holland can build vast dykes to prevent its land flooding; Bangladesh can only drown. There is a cruel inverse relationship between cause and effect: the polluter doesn't pay.
So we have racked up a climate debt. We broke it, they paid. At this
summit, for the first time, the poor countries rose in disgust. Their
chief negotiator pointed out that the compensation offered "won't even pay for the coffins." The cliche that environmentalism is a rich
person's ideology just gasped its final CO2-rich breath. As Naomi Klein put it: "At this summit, the pole of environmentalism has moved South."
When we are dividing up who has the right to emit the few remaining
warming gases that the atmosphere can absorb, we need to realize that we are badly overdrawn. We have used up our share of warming gases, and then some. Yet the US and EU have dismissed the idea of climate debt out of hand. How can we get a lasting deal that every country agrees to if we ignore this basic principle of justice? Why should the poorest restrain themselves when the rich refuse to?
A deal based on these real ideas would actually cool the atmosphere. The alternatives championed at Copenhagen by the rich world - carbon
offsetting, carbon trading, carbon capture - won't. They are a global
placebo. The critics who say the real solutions are "unrealistic" don't seem to realize that their alternative is more implausible still: civilization continuing on a planet whose natural processes are rapidly breaking down.
Throughout the negotiations here, the world's low-lying island states
have clung to the real ideas as a life-raft, because they are the only way to save their countries from a swelling sea. It has been
extraordinary to watch their representatives - quiet, sombre people with sad eyes - as they were forced to plead for their own existence. They tried persuasion and hard science and lyrical hymns of love for their lands, and all were ignored.
Yet their discarded ideas - and dozens more like them - show once again that man-made global warming can be stopped. The intellectual blueprints exist just as surely as the technological blueprints. There would be sacrifices, yes - but they are considerably less than the sacrifices made by our grandparents in their greatest fight. We will have to pay higher taxes and fly less to make the leap to a renewably-powered world - but we will still be able to live an abundant life where we are warm and free and well-fed. The only real losers will be the fossil fuel corporations and the petro-dictatorships.
But our politicians have not chosen this sane path. No: they have chosen inertia and low taxes and oil money today over survival tomorrow. The true face of our current system - and of Copenhagen - can be seen in the life-saving ideas it has so casually tossed into the bin.
-------------------------------------------------
Copenhagen negotiators bicker and filibuster while the biosphere burns
George Monbiot
The Guardian (UK)
19 December 2009
First they put the planet in square brackets, now they have deleted it
from the text. At the end it was no longer about saving the biosphere: it was just a matter of saving face. As the talks melted down, everything that might have made a new treaty worthwhile was scratched out. Any deal would do, as long as the negotiators could pretend they have achieved something. A clearer and less destructive treaty than the text that emerged would be a sheaf of blank paper, which every negotiating party solemnly sits down to sign.
This was the chaotic, disastrous denouement of a chaotic and disastrous summit. The event has been attended by historic levels of incompetence.
Delegates arriving from the tropics spent 10 hours queueing in sub-zero temperatures without shelter, food or drink, let alone any explanation or announcement, before being turned away. Some people fainted from exposure; it's surprising that no one died. The process of negotiation was just as obtuse: there was no evidence here of the innovative methods of dispute resolution developed recently by mediators and coaches, just the same old pig-headed wrestling.
Watching this stupid summit via webcam (I wasn't allowed in either), it struck me that the treaty-making system has scarcely changed in 130 years. There's a wider range of faces, fewer handlebar moustaches, frock coats or pickelhaubes, but otherwise, when the world's governments try to decide how to carve up the atmosphere, they might have been attending the conference of Berlin in 1884. It's as if democratisation and the flowering of civil society, advocacy and self-determination had never happened. Governments, whether elected or not, without reference to their own citizens let alone those of other nations, assert their right to draw lines across the global commons and decide who gets what. This is a scramble for the atmosphere comparable in style and intent to the scramble for Africa.
At no point has the injustice at the heart of multilateralism been
addressed or even acknowledged: the interests of states and the interests of the world's people are not the same. Often they are diametrically opposed. In this case, most rich and rapidly developing states have sought through these talks to seize as great a chunk of the atmosphere for themselves as they can – to grab bigger rights to pollute than their competitors. The process couldn't have been better designed to produce the wrong results.
--------------------------------------
I spent most of my time at the Klimaforum, the alternative conference set up by just four paid staff, which 50,000 people attended without a hitch.
(I know which team I would put in charge of saving the planet.) There the barrister Polly Higgins laid out a different approach. Her declaration of planetary rights invests ecosystems with similar legal safeguards to those won by humans after the second world war. It changes the legal relationship between humans, the atmosphere and the biosphere from ownership to stewardship. It creates a global framework for negotiation which gives nation states less discretion to dispose of ecosystems and the people who depend on them.
Even before the farce in Copenhagen began it was looking like it might be too late to prevent two or more degrees of global warming. The nation states, pursuing their own interests, have each been passing the parcel of responsibility since they decided to take action in 1992.
We have now lost 17 precious years, possibly the only years in which climate breakdown could have been prevented. This has not happened by accident: it is the result of a systematic campaign of sabotage by certain states, driven and promoted by the energy industries. This idiocy has been aided and abetted by the nations characterised, until now, as the good guys: those that have made firm commitments, only to invalidate them with loopholes, false accounting and outsourcing. In all cases immediate self-interest has trumped the long-term welfare of humankind. Corporate profits and political expediency have proved more urgent considerations than either the natural world or human civilisation. Our political systems are incapable of discharging the main function of government: to protect us from each other.
Goodbye Africa, goodbye south Asia; goodbye glaciers and sea ice, coral reefs and rainforest. It was nice knowing you. Not that we really cared. The governments which moved so swiftly to save the banks have bickered and filibustered while the biosphere burns.
---------------------------------
New Copenhagen accord 'a sham'
YOLANDI GROENEWALD | COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - Dec 19 2009 09:46
The new Copenhagen accord, hammered out late on Friday night, is a sham -- leading climate change observers said. South Africa took centre stage in the accord as one of five countries to broker it, together with the US.
-------------------------------------------------
The European Union has also accepted the accord.
But the accord split nations in the last plenary, which was still going strong on Saturday morning. Many nations was hesitant to sign the deal, and there was a lot of bitterness from Venezuela, many African delegations and the small island states lead by the sad voice of Tuvula.
The accord was negotiated between South Africa, the USA, China, India, Brazil and the US in a day of high drama that saw the Obama illusion shatter into a million pieces.
The onus to get a legally binding agreement has now shifted to Mexico
City in a years time.
------------------------------------------
Scepticism in action
Charismatic Sudanese lead negotiator and chief negotiator for the G77 group Lumumba Di-Aping, called the deal a sell-out.
"This deal will definitely result in massive devastation in Africa and small island states," he said. "It has the lowest level of ambition you can imagine. It's nothing short of climate change Scepticism in action. It locks countries into a cycle of poverty for ever. Obama has eliminated any difference between him and Bush."
It is understood that some of the African delegates were unhappy that
South Africa was involved in the brokering of the accord, as it
presented a break from the unified African position.
The South African delegation was not available for comment. President
Jacob Zuma was reportedly involved in high-level talks with President
Barack Obama among others, in drafting parts of the Copenhagen accord.
---------------------------------------------------
Greenpeace was scathing about the turn of events.
'Not fair' -->
"Not fair, not ambitious and not legally binding," Greenpeace
International executive director, Kumi Naidoo, said of the accord.
"The job of world leaders is not done. The city of Copenhagen is a
climate crime scene tonight, with the guilty men and women fleeing to
the airport in shame," he said.
Naidoo said world leaders produced a poor deal full of loopholes big
enough to fly Air Force One through. "We have seen a year of crises, but today it is clear that the biggest one "facing humanity is a leadership crisis."
In the final document the accord shies away from committing nations to a 1.5C temperature rise, as argued for by small island states and
contained in earlier drafts. Instead the accord commits to 2C. The
earlier 2050 goal of reducing global CO2 emissions by 80% was also
omitted from the final draft.
About $30-billion in funding in 3 years for poor countries to adapt to climate change will start flowing next year, the accord promised and $100-billion a year after 2020.
------------------------------------
Full adoption ? --
It was unclear whether the 192 countries in the full, final plenary
session would adopt the accord.
Oxfam International said the so-called 'climate deal' "is a triumph of spin over substance". It said the deal provides no confidence that
catastrophic climate change will be averted or that poor countries will be given the money they need to adapt as temperatures rise.
"This agreement barely papers over the huge differences between
countries which have plagued these talks for two years," said Jeremy
Hobbs, executive director of Oxfam International.
Shorbanu Khatun, a climate migrant at the summit with Oxfam said: "I
came all the way from a displaced persons camp on the flooded coast of Bangladesh to see justice done for the 45 000 people made homeless by cyclone Aila. How do I tell them their misery has fallen on deaf ears?"
Other observer organisations such politicians was not trying to spin a nothing agreement into something that looked acceptable to the world and wrongly convinced them that progress had been made at Copenhagen.
------------------------------
Toothless --
Kate Horner of Friends of the Earth, who had earlier the week been
thrown out of the conference said the accord was a toothless declaration.
"This is the United Nations and the nations here are not united on this secret backroom declaration. The US has lied to the world when they called it a deal and they lied to over a hundred countries when they said would listen to their needs.
She said the accord being spun by the US as an historic success,
reflects contempt for the multilateral process and we expect more from our Nobel prize winning President."
Much had been expected of Obama to save the talks from its impasse, but apart from brokering what critics called a weak deal, Obama did not bring much to the table at Copenhagen that differed from the USs
previous position.
He also chose not to speak to the worlds press corps, but only briefed Whitehouse journalists on his way back to the US, late last night on Air Force One. He blamed the expected bad weather conditions in Washington as an excuse for leaving early.
-----------------------------------------------
China blamed --
It was reported that he told the US journalists that an unprecedented progress had bee made, but he also said "we have much further to go. Though he didnt say it outright, veiled remarks indicated that Obama blamed China for the weak outcome.
He said if delegates had waited to reach a full, binding agreement, "we wouldn't have made any progress."
There might be such frustration and cynicism that rather than taking
one step forward, we ended up taking two steps back," he told US reporters.
-------------------------------
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she begrudgingly accepted the
accord, calling it a first step. But the small island state of Tuvulu complained bitterly that his country's future was not for sale. President Hugo Chavez from Venezuela also led a trio of Latin American countries that included Cuba and Bolivia who complained that they were excluded from the process and that they believed president Lula da Silva from Brazil didnt represent their interests.
---------------------------------------------------------
The biggest challenge, turning the political will into a legally
(binding agreement has moved to Mexico, WWF said in a statement. After years of negotiations we now have a declaration of will which does not bind anyone and therefore fails to guarantee a safer future for next generations.
The organisation said what was good about Copenhagen was the level of
national pledges for climate action in most countries.
Politically, we live in a world that agrees to stay below the danger
zone of two degrees but practically what we have on the table adds up to 3C or more. It said a gap between the rhetoric and reality could cost millions of lives, hundreds of billions of dollars and a wealth of lost opportunities.
We are disappointed but remain hopeful. The civil society will continue watching every step of further negotiations. Getting a strong outcome of the follow-up process will take a lot of bridge-building between the rich and the poor countries. We expect that the Mexican hosts will be ideally placed to play that role.
*******************************************
... Rasmussen, as head of Venstre, the right wing party, and a coalition including the rabid anti-immigrant party in Denmark, had become the official host of the meeting. Until midway through the second week of the COP, that role had fallen on the more capable shoulders of Denmarks former environmental minister, Connie Hedegaard. With years of experience at the UN, and in the Kyoto process particularly, Hedegaard knew the players, the positions, and was respected as fair and impartial.
Rasmussen would, in contrast, become known for high-handed demands,
back-room wheeling and dealing, mass arrest and detention of protestors on suspicion of future traffic obstruction, demoting Hedegaard on the eve of the final high-level talks, and then abruptly bringing her back in to try to salvage a deal, barring the civil sector IGOs and NGOs from the meeting midway through the second week, after putting them through torturous and repeated dawn-till-dark outdoor linestandings in freezing cold and blowing snow, and then breaking with the EU and G-77 to back the USA's coalition of the willing approach.
Leaving the NGOs out in the cold literally meant that none of civil society's detailed ideas could rise to the surface when they were most needed to break out of government sector's impasse. Instead, the US came in and tried to bully China, and China, in a geopolitical-orbit-shifting rebuke, stood firm and did not blink. The US limped home with a spin-doctored document, while China was revealed as the emerging world power to be reckoned with. Some of that had to do with Chinas massive investments in Africa and the two-thirds world over the past decade, which had built it a large store of political capital. Unfortunately, it spent a big hunk of that when it sold out Africa to the 5-party outcome.
Naomi Klein said, Africa was sacrificed. The position of the G77
negotiating bloc, including African states, had been clear: a 2C
increase in average global temperatures translates into a 33.5C
increase in Africa. That means, according to the Pan African Climate
Justice Alliance, an additional 55 million people could be at risk from hunger, and water stress could affect between 350 and 600 million more people.
Rasmussen and the G8 powers led by the Obama delegation, made their case for colonialism. What was being colonized and divided between occupying powers was not the G77, but the sky. For a mere ten billion dollars per year, G8 shareholders were sold a carbon market worth $1.2 trillion per year. Matthew Stilwell of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable development said that rich countries were allowed to exchange beads and blankets for Manhattan, adding, [They]'ve carved up the last remaining unowned resource and allocated it to the wealthy.
With a $100 billion/year buy-out (first payment 2020, a US election
year) or one army-year in Kabul, shared out between 193 countries,
citizens from the Maldives will be offered hotel rooms in Houston the
way New Orleans hurricane refugees were.
Greenpeace Executive Director Kumi Naidoo said, In a cruel irony I have just learned that the three Greenpeace activists who, posing as world leaders, entered the Danish Palace for the State Dinner on Thursday night to unfurl a banner calling for a real climate deal are to spend the next three weeks in jail. They will be away from their families over Christmas and the New Year. The real leaders, who attempted to get real action are now in jail, while the alleged 'leaders' got clean away, and are fleeing the Copenhagen climate crime scene in private jets and 747s. ...
==================================================
"Copenhagen Agreement"
Of course the forcibly driven so-called "copenhagen Agreement" has lots of smaller & poorer countries opposing it, though the US, UN Secretariat and the four 'BASIC' countries (Brasil, South Africa, India, China) - along with rich nations pushed it thru --
though poorer Latin American countries say -->
it is a coup de-tat against the authority of the United Nations,
African countries are calling it -->
a suicide pact for African & small island states
-- Soumya Dutta
----------------------------------------- ------------------------
Here is some reporting --
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed a US-backed climate deal in Copenhagen as an "essential beginning".
He was speaking after delegates passed a motion recognizing the agreement, which the US reached with key nations including China and Brazil.
But Mr Ban said the agreement must be made legally binding next year.
Earlier, the meeting failed to secure unanimous support, amid opposition from some developing nations.
US-LED COPENHAGEN DEAL --
No reference to legally binding agreement
Recognises the need to limit global temperatures rising no more than 2C above pre-industrial levels
Developed countries to "set a goal of mobilising jointly $100bn a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries"
On transparency: Emerging nations monitor own efforts and report to UN every two years. Some international checks
No detailed framework on carbon markets - "various approaches" will be pursued
Updated: 06:40 GMT, 19 December
Climate deal: Key issues
Several South American countries, such as Nicaragua and Venezuela, were among a group saying the agreement had not been reached through proper process.
"The conference decides to take note of the Copenhagen Accord of December 18, 2009," the chairman of the plenary session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) declared on Saturday morning, swiftly banging down his gavel.
Mr Ban told journalists: "Finally, we sealed the deal."
"It may not be everything we hoped for, but this decision of the Conference of Parties is an essential beginning."
AT THE SCENE
Richard Black,
BBC News environment correspondent
When President Obama left Copenhagen last night, he appeared to think he carried a nice, neat deal in his back pocket.
Perhaps he didn't realise that having it formally adopted in the closing plenary session here would mean getting it past a hall full of smart diplomats and lawyers from countries that hate the contents of the deal and the way it was done.
Objections from several countries mean it has not been formally adopted. Delegations are now trying to introduce language making some bits legally binding.
A global deal? That's looking less and less likely& whether it matters, whether the Chinese and US architects care, is another matter.
Richard Black's Earth Watch blog
But the UN Secretary General also said: "We must transform this into a legally binding treaty next year.
"The importance will only be recognised when it's codified into international law."
'Suicide pact'
Delegates at the climate summit had been battling through the night to prevent the talks ending without reaching a final deal.
The Copenhagen Accord is based on a proposal tabled on Friday by a US-led group of five nations - including China, India, Brazil and South Africa - that President Barack Obama called a "meaningful agreement".
The accord includes a recognition to limit temperature rises to less than 2C (3.6F) and promises to deliver $30bn (£18.5bn) of aid for developing nations over the next three years.
It outlines a goal of providing $100bn a year by 2020 to help poor countries cope with the impacts of climate change.
THE COPENHAGEN ACCORD
Documents in full [163 KB]
Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may
The agreement also includes a method for verifying industrialised nations' reduction of emissions. The US had insisted that China dropped its resistance to this measure.
Earlier, the proposal had been rejected by a few developing nations which felt that it failed to deliver the actions needed to halt dangerous climate change.
The main opposition to the five-nation accord had come from the ALBA bloc of Latin American countries to which Nicaragua and Venezuela belong, along with Cuba, Ecuador and Bolivia.
Venezuelan delegate Claudia Salerno Caldera said before the motion was passed: "Mr President, I ask whether - under the eye of the UN secretary general - you are going to endorse this coup d'etat against the authority of the United Nations."
Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, the Sudanese negotiator, had said the draft text asked "Africa to sign a suicide pact".
During the two-week gathering, small island nations and vulnerable coastal countries had been calling for a binding agreement that would limit emissions to a level that would prevent temperatures rising more than 1.5C (2.7F) above pre-industrial levels.
-----------------------------------------
though poorer Latin American countries say -->
it is a coup de-tat against the authority of the United Nations,
African countries are calling it -->
a suicide pact for African & small island states
-- Soumya Dutta
----------------------------------------- ------------------------
Here is some reporting --
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed a US-backed climate deal in Copenhagen as an "essential beginning".
He was speaking after delegates passed a motion recognizing the agreement, which the US reached with key nations including China and Brazil.
But Mr Ban said the agreement must be made legally binding next year.
Earlier, the meeting failed to secure unanimous support, amid opposition from some developing nations.
US-LED COPENHAGEN DEAL --
No reference to legally binding agreement
Recognises the need to limit global temperatures rising no more than 2C above pre-industrial levels
Developed countries to "set a goal of mobilising jointly $100bn a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries"
On transparency: Emerging nations monitor own efforts and report to UN every two years. Some international checks
No detailed framework on carbon markets - "various approaches" will be pursued
Updated: 06:40 GMT, 19 December
Climate deal: Key issues
Several South American countries, such as Nicaragua and Venezuela, were among a group saying the agreement had not been reached through proper process.
"The conference decides to take note of the Copenhagen Accord of December 18, 2009," the chairman of the plenary session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) declared on Saturday morning, swiftly banging down his gavel.
Mr Ban told journalists: "Finally, we sealed the deal."
"It may not be everything we hoped for, but this decision of the Conference of Parties is an essential beginning."
AT THE SCENE
Richard Black,
BBC News environment correspondent
When President Obama left Copenhagen last night, he appeared to think he carried a nice, neat deal in his back pocket.
Perhaps he didn't realise that having it formally adopted in the closing plenary session here would mean getting it past a hall full of smart diplomats and lawyers from countries that hate the contents of the deal and the way it was done.
Objections from several countries mean it has not been formally adopted. Delegations are now trying to introduce language making some bits legally binding.
A global deal? That's looking less and less likely& whether it matters, whether the Chinese and US architects care, is another matter.
Richard Black's Earth Watch blog
But the UN Secretary General also said: "We must transform this into a legally binding treaty next year.
"The importance will only be recognised when it's codified into international law."
'Suicide pact'
Delegates at the climate summit had been battling through the night to prevent the talks ending without reaching a final deal.
The Copenhagen Accord is based on a proposal tabled on Friday by a US-led group of five nations - including China, India, Brazil and South Africa - that President Barack Obama called a "meaningful agreement".
The accord includes a recognition to limit temperature rises to less than 2C (3.6F) and promises to deliver $30bn (£18.5bn) of aid for developing nations over the next three years.
It outlines a goal of providing $100bn a year by 2020 to help poor countries cope with the impacts of climate change.
THE COPENHAGEN ACCORD
Documents in full [163 KB]
Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may
The agreement also includes a method for verifying industrialised nations' reduction of emissions. The US had insisted that China dropped its resistance to this measure.
Earlier, the proposal had been rejected by a few developing nations which felt that it failed to deliver the actions needed to halt dangerous climate change.
The main opposition to the five-nation accord had come from the ALBA bloc of Latin American countries to which Nicaragua and Venezuela belong, along with Cuba, Ecuador and Bolivia.
Venezuelan delegate Claudia Salerno Caldera said before the motion was passed: "Mr President, I ask whether - under the eye of the UN secretary general - you are going to endorse this coup d'etat against the authority of the United Nations."
Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, the Sudanese negotiator, had said the draft text asked "Africa to sign a suicide pact".
During the two-week gathering, small island nations and vulnerable coastal countries had been calling for a binding agreement that would limit emissions to a level that would prevent temperatures rising more than 1.5C (2.7F) above pre-industrial levels.
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The Huge Contrast
SEE THE HUGE CONTRAST & THE 'POLITICAL WILL' OF OBAMA ET AL, of doing 'something together to tackle the climate crisis'.
-- Soumya
-------------------------------- ---------------------------
US SENATE APPROVES $636 BILLION I ALL THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
MILITARY SPENDING BILL I TOGETHER COMES UP WITH A PALTRY
I $10 BILLION PER YEAR FOR ALL
The U.S. Senate approved a I DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FOR THE
$636 billion military spending I CLIMATE CRISIS RESPONSE !!!
bill on Saturday that funds the I
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and I The developed countries will be
also includes money to extend I providing $30 billion in 3 years
jobless aid and Medicare payment I starting 2010, till the KP
1st commitment period in 2012
rates for two months. I
--------------------------------- I ------------------------------
By a vote of 88-10, the Senate approved the bill and sent it to President Barack Obama to sign into law. The House of Representatives passed the bill on Wednesday.
But the expenditure approved for ongoing wars probably will not be enough to cover Obama's plans to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
---------------------------------
-- Soumya
-------------------------------- ---------------------------
US SENATE APPROVES $636 BILLION I ALL THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
MILITARY SPENDING BILL I TOGETHER COMES UP WITH A PALTRY
I $10 BILLION PER YEAR FOR ALL
The U.S. Senate approved a I DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FOR THE
$636 billion military spending I CLIMATE CRISIS RESPONSE !!!
bill on Saturday that funds the I
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and I The developed countries will be
also includes money to extend I providing $30 billion in 3 years
jobless aid and Medicare payment I starting 2010, till the KP
1st commitment period in 2012
rates for two months. I
--------------------------------- I ------------------------------
By a vote of 88-10, the Senate approved the bill and sent it to President Barack Obama to sign into law. The House of Representatives passed the bill on Wednesday.
But the expenditure approved for ongoing wars probably will not be enough to cover Obama's plans to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
---------------------------------
Saturday, December 19, 2009
... says Govt serious on expansion plans proposed by MPT
HERALD REPORTER
Herald, December 19 2009 Panaji
PANJIM, DEC 18
Clearly indicating that the Government has taken seriously the expansion plans proposed by the MPT, the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said the issue has been taken up with the Central government authorities.
Responding to concerns raised by Mormugao MLA Milind Naik (BJP) about the MPT’s plans to expand port activities and existing problem of coal dust pollution caused due to loading and unloading at two terminals of the port, Kamat said, “they have taken the issue seriously.”
Referring to points raised by Naik, the chief minister said he is personally monitoring the problem and his government will soon come out with comprehensive solution.
The Union Minister for Shipping G K Vasan as well as new Union Secretary for Shipping Mohandas has been briefed about the problem. Also, Union Minister for Environment Jairam Ramesh during
his visit to Goa , a few months back , had been informed about what’s happening, Kamat said.
Herald, December 19 2009 Panaji
Barge Tax Amendment Bill passed
HERALD REPORTER
Herald, December 19 2009 Panaji
PANJIM, DEC 18
The Goa Legislative Assembly today passed the Goa Barge Tax Amendment Bill, 2009.
The Bill seeks to amend the schedule in the said Act so as to further revise the rates of the barge tax as the last revision of rates was affected five years ago.
This, the Bill says, will earn additional revenue to the government which will help to meet the growing expenditure on maintenance of Inland waterways of Goa and also develop infrastructural facilities in the port.
The department was collecting total revenue of about Rs 5.36 crores approximately per annum by way of barge tax.
With this revision of the tax, government will get additional revenue of Rs 75 lakhs approximately per annum.
The said tax would be collected by utilizing the existing manpower of the department.
Herald, December 19 2009 Panaji
Private member’s resolution on mining defeated
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, DEC 18
A private member’s resolution moved by Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza that the mining across the State other than special roads constructed for the purpose may be regulated taking into consideration various parameters through the regulatory authorities to be formed under the Chairmanship of a retired Justice of High Court, was defeated by 14-23 votes even as the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said efforts are on to sort out transportation issues in the mining belt.
Relying to a private members resolution by Mapusa MLA , Kamat said that the government is seized of the traffic problems faced by the mining dominated villages.
“If mining has to sustain we have to resolve the traffic problem in the State,” he said.
He said the government has planned bypasses in the major areas so that people are not affected by the mining traffic.
“According to the new mining policy, which will be in place by January, the mining companies will have to contribute for the construction of bypasses,” he said. “We have decided to take up in phases,” Kamat stated.
Further, he said, the government has also approached the National Institute of Traffic and will soon sign a memorandum of understanding.
“The NIT is coming with two plans and through which we will try to have regulatory mechanism,” Kamat said adding “we will also ask them (NIT) to take the concerned MLAs into confidence.”
Minister for Transport said, “Mining is on in big way in Palyem, Bicholim, Sattari, Sanvordem, Sanguem, Quepem and other areas and the people are troubled by the moving traffic.”
He said it was not possible to stop the mining traffic as the government earns a lot of cess through mining.
“This year we have collected around 25 cr from mining cess and hence cannot stop the traffic and we have to look into other ways of constructing bypasses,” Dhavlikar stated.
“We need to have a regulatory committee headed by the chief minister with other members of the assembly being the members on the committee,” he said.
As the opposition rejected the government’s plea for withdrawal of the resolution and asked for division, the resolution was put to vote. Fourteen MLAs voted in favour of the resolution while 23 votes against.
Herald, December 19, 2009 Panaji
PANJIM, DEC 18
A private member’s resolution moved by Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza that the mining across the State other than special roads constructed for the purpose may be regulated taking into consideration various parameters through the regulatory authorities to be formed under the Chairmanship of a retired Justice of High Court, was defeated by 14-23 votes even as the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said efforts are on to sort out transportation issues in the mining belt.
Relying to a private members resolution by Mapusa MLA , Kamat said that the government is seized of the traffic problems faced by the mining dominated villages.
“If mining has to sustain we have to resolve the traffic problem in the State,” he said.
He said the government has planned bypasses in the major areas so that people are not affected by the mining traffic.
“According to the new mining policy, which will be in place by January, the mining companies will have to contribute for the construction of bypasses,” he said. “We have decided to take up in phases,” Kamat stated.
Further, he said, the government has also approached the National Institute of Traffic and will soon sign a memorandum of understanding.
“The NIT is coming with two plans and through which we will try to have regulatory mechanism,” Kamat said adding “we will also ask them (NIT) to take the concerned MLAs into confidence.”
Minister for Transport said, “Mining is on in big way in Palyem, Bicholim, Sattari, Sanvordem, Sanguem, Quepem and other areas and the people are troubled by the moving traffic.”
He said it was not possible to stop the mining traffic as the government earns a lot of cess through mining.
“This year we have collected around 25 cr from mining cess and hence cannot stop the traffic and we have to look into other ways of constructing bypasses,” Dhavlikar stated.
“We need to have a regulatory committee headed by the chief minister with other members of the assembly being the members on the committee,” he said.
As the opposition rejected the government’s plea for withdrawal of the resolution and asked for division, the resolution was put to vote. Fourteen MLAs voted in favour of the resolution while 23 votes against.
Herald, December 19, 2009 Panaji
What the Heads of States said on COP15?
By Soumya Dutta
Copenhagen Update -- 19th Dec. Green Features
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COP15 day 9 roundup
The UN climate conference in Copenhagen entered its decisive phase on Tuesday, as heads of state and government began to arrive for the final three days of negotiations. The leaders will be facing a defining moment in history, said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Michael von Bülow
15/12/2009 23:25
UN conference gearing up for make-or-break finale
World leaders face a defining moment in history, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said as the Copenhagen conference formally entered its high-level stage Tuesday.
South Korea to bridge rich and poor nations
As the first emerging economy to take on absolute reduction commitments, South Korea hopes to play a key role in Copenhagen.
China: Poor countries are first in line for funding
So far the majority of internationally funded projects under the Kyoto Protocol have been in China. But other countries need the funds more urgently according to Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei.
Merkel concerned over Copenhagen pace
German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced concern Tuesday about the pace of climate negotiations in Copenhagen and said she is "somewhat nervous" about prospects of success.
Forest negotiations are making headway
There is mounting agreement on rewarding tropical countries which slow deforestation under a new deal. This is the first issue where significant progress has been made in Copenhagen.
Further commitments needed to break negotiation deadlock
A blueprint, released Tuesday in Copenhagen, outlines three options for long-term climate aid from developed to developing countries.
Japan to unveil 10 billion dollars in climate aid
A pledge of funds from rich countries will be a key ingredient for any climate change deal in Copenhagen. Japan is ready to make an offer.
Australian PM warns of failure
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Monday urged world leaders to be more flexible as a consensus looks difficult to achieve.
Schwarzenegger says states key to climate fight
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says countries cannot solve the problem of climate change without the help of states, cities, regions, activists, scientists and universities.
Developing world threatens battle on drafts
African countries, Brazil, China, South Africa and India say they have produced a default proposal to be used only if rich countries try to shortcut UN-led negotiations in Copenhagen.
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HEADLINE --- EU challenges US and China
The European Union makes clear it is ready to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2020 compared to 1990 levels - if the US and China "do their part".
Morten Andersen
18/12/2009 17:50
The European Union will raise its emission reduction target from the 20 percent previously announced by 2020 to 30 percent "in a global ambitious agreement".
This was announced by Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister of Sweden that holds the rotating EU presidency, as he addressed the plennary of the UN conference in Copenhagen on Friday afternoon.
"We use the conditional 30 percent reduction as a lever to bring others with us to raised ambitions. We will keep that pressure!" Fredrik Reinfeldt said.
More specifically he challenged the United States and China:
"Together you are responsible for half of the global greenhouse gas emissions. You have different responsibilities and capabilities. From the United States we expect, as from developed countries, a legally binding economy-wide commitment to reduce emissions. From China we expect binding actions. Your ability to reduce emissions will be absolutely critical. It is promising that you have come forward with your contributions in an international context. However, the world needs more and we are confident that you have the ability to deliver more."
The present ambitions of the US and China will not be enough to keep global warming below two degrees Celsius, Fredrik Reinfeldt made clear:
"Therefore I turn to you, as a friend and a committed partner, and I say: United States and China: unleash your full potential and thereby the world's efforts - make it possible for the world to stay below two degrees!"
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HEADLINE ---- Bolivia: Change the capitalist system
President of Bolivia Evo Morales: If there is no agreement at this level, why not tell the people?
Rie Jerichow
18/12/2009 15:00
Evo Morales, the President of Bolivia, took the floor to express annoyance at the way a climate deal is being thrashed out by a small group of world leaders at the last minute.
"If there is no agreement at this level, why not tell it to the people?" he said from the podium at the plenary meeting in Copenhagen.
"The time has come for everyone. We can't spend days and days here. We have other important issues to deal with," he said, calling for further consultations with the people.
"Who is responsible?" he asked. And concluded "The responsibility lies on the capitalist system - we have to change the capitalist system."
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HEADLINE ----- Brazil ready to provide funding
As the first developing country, Brazil offers to contribute to the finance mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol if an agreement is reached in Copenhagen Friday, says President Lula.
- Morten Andersen
18/12/2009 14:05
In what he admitted might come as a surprise to his own countrymen, Brazilian President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva (photo above) opened a door for his country to contribute economically to climate change measures in other, more needing countries.
"I have not said this at home, and not even to my team here in Copenhagen, but if it is necessary for Brazil to tap money to other countries, we will be willing to participate in the (UN) finance mechanisms IF we reach a global agreement here in Copenhagen today," Lula said as he addressed the plenary of the UN conference shortly after noon Friday local time.
Also on the subject of funding, the President said he understood demands Thursday by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for transparency on the part of developing countries:
"Those countries that provide funds have the right to demand transparency."
Still, Lula underlined that the monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of emerging economy emissions" should respect the sovereignty of each country" and that action on climate change should not hamper economic growth in the developing world:
"For a lot of people in Brazil, in Africa, in India, China and other developing countries three meals a day is still something of the future."
President Lula also said that he did not favor agreeing on a statement "only to be able to say we agreed on something." Instead "we should together, rich and poor countries, establish a common ground for an agreement, so we can leave Copenhagen proud."
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HEADLINE ---- COP15 prepares for overtime
The climate negotiations could go on into the weekend.
--Rie Jerichow
18/12/2009 15:15
With no impending agreement in sight, negotiators need extra time. According to Reuters, the UN has asked world leaders to plan to stay overnight.
"The secretary-general of the UN has asked people not to leave tonight," European Union Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas told Reuters.
He said he was confident that leaders would eventually reach a deal.
"I cannot imagine 120 leaders going back to their countries with empty hands. Everyone expressed commitment to fight climate change. OK, do it," he said.
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HEADLINE ----- New draft for Copenhagen deal
In a newly written draft named the Copenhagen accord a 2010-deadline for reaching a legally binding climate treaty has been dropped, Reuters reported Friday afternoon.
- Marianne Bom
18/12/2009 17:45
A new draft for a global climate deal in Copenhagen has leaked to the press. The draft has been named the Copenhagen Accord, Reuters reports.
Earlier it was reported by the media, that the heads of state and government could not agree on what to call the text negotiated.
In the new draft a reference to an end-2010 deadline for reaching a legally binding treaty was removed, compared to a previous draft, Reuters reports.
The draft did still include a limit of a maximum two degree Celsius global average temperature rise.
According to Danish media, a probable scenario at the end of Friday afternoon is that the world leaders continue negotiations until the early evening.
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HEADLINE ------ Chávez felt excluded
Venezuelas President Hugo Chávez criticized the UN climate conference for a real lack of transparency, speaking on behalf of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas.
-- Marianne Bom
18/12/2009 15:20
President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela took the floor at the plenary, Friday afternoon, and accused US President Barack Obama of behaving like an emperor who comes in during the middle of the night & and cooks up a document that we will not accept, we will never accept.
Chávez underlined that all countries are equal. He stressed that he would not accept that some countries prepared a text for a climate deal and just slipped [it] under the door to be signed by the others. He said he had heard of the existence of such a text, but we dont know the paper and then continued by accusing the conference of a real lack of transparency.
Hugo Chávez suggested he would leave the UN climate conference in protest of the way it developed.
We cant wait any longer, we are leaving & We are leaving, knowing that it wasnt possible getting a deal, he said.
The Venezuelan President spoke on behalf of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas, an alliance of among others Ecuador, Cuba, Nicaragua and Bolivia.
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HEADLINE ---- Obama: I came here to act
"Our ability to take collective action is in doubt," US President Barack Obama warned the plenary at COP15.
- Rie Jerichow
18/12/2009 14:25
As the fifth speaker, President Barack Obama took the floor in the plenary. He stressed that he did not come to talk, but to act.
Being the world largest economy and second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, America has a responsibility, he said, and added that America would continue to move toward a green economy "but we will be stronger if we act together," he said.
He told the heads of state and governments that it is imperative with a "mechanism to review whether we are keeping our commitments, and to exchange this information in a transparent manner." Without such accountability, any agreement would be "empty words on a page".
"Mitigation. Transparency. And financing. It is a clear formula - one that embraces the principle of common but differentiated responses and respective capabilities. And it adds up to a significant accord one that takes us further than we have ever gone before as an international community", Obama said in his address.
Finally he urged world leaders to "choose action over inaction; the future over the past - with courage and faith, let us meet our responsibility to our people and to the future of our planet".
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HEADLINE --- South Korea: Copenhagen marks a new beginning
President Lee Myung-bak introduces a new institute to assist governments worldwide in formulating national action plans for clean energy.
- Morten Andersen
18/12/2009 16:30
South Korea will attract the best minds from all around the world to work at a new Global Green Growth Institute. The institute's prime task will be to assist governments in drawing up national plans for green growth.
We only have a few hours left till the Copenhagen conference closes. However, this is not an end but rather a new beginning. We have not reached agreement on all issues, but this should not be an excuse for no action. There is no alternative to our planet, this is all we have, President Lee Myung-bak said as he adressed the conference's plenary Friday afternoon.
The president expressed his hope that the idea of green growth will be a beacon for other nations and make a dramatic change to their paths of economic development.
South Korea recently announced that it will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by four percent by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. This makes the country the first emerging economy to take on an absolute reduction commitment and not only a relative commitment compared to a business-as-usual scenario.
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HEADLINE ---- Decision delayed on carbon capture
As some countries have reservations on carbon capture and storage (CCS) the emerging technology is not likely to be added to the UN-backed carbon reducing mechanisms here in Copenhagen.
- Morten Andersen (article corrected)
Capturing carbon dioxide at coal-fired power plants in order to store in it the ground is not likely to become a measure supported by the UN-backed Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) this year. A committee under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has discussed the issue, but delayed any decisions for summits to come, according to Bloomberg.
A draft text by the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice recognizes that carbon dioxide capture and storage in geological formations has been proposed by some Parties for inclusion under the CDM, but also recognizes that other Parties have registered concern regarding the implications of this possible inclusion.
Some countries advocate of the emerging technology. However, other countries have concerns over the long-term liability for the storage site, including liability for any seepage, the draft text displays.
The draft text specifies that the Subsidiary Body will continue to work on the issue in order to produce a more detailed suggestion for summits to come.
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HEADLINE --- Wish you were here / Absent Leaders
As the world's leaders flock to Copenhagen only a minority of countries are not represented at heads of state and government level. Reuters has the list of countries that did not send their leaders.
- Morten Andersen
18/12/2009 12:50
A record number of 119 leaders from countries estimated to represent 89 percent of the world's economic output are gathered for the UN conference on climate change. Still, a number of heads of state didn't come. Reuters has compiled a list.
One group of countries on the list are oil producing. These include Angola, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE (United Arab Emirates).
Another group consists of island states: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Cape Verde, Cuba, Fiji, Jamaica, Solomon Islands and Tonga. However, most of these nations are represented in Copenhagen by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
Ten Latin American countries are not represented by their leaders: Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.
Finally, for various reasons, the heads of state from Italy, Switzerland and Ukraine were not able to come Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi because he is recovering from injuries after an attack a couple of days ago.
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HEADLINE --- Climate talks deadlocked as clashes erupt outside
Danish police fired pepper spray outside the UN climate conference on Wednesday, as disputes inside left major issues unresolved just two days before world leaders hope to sign a historic agreement to fight global warming.
- AP 16/12/2009 13:45
Hundreds of protesters were trying to disrupt the 193-nation conference, the latest action in days of demonstrations to demand "climate justice" firm action to combat global warming. Police said 230 protesters were detained.
Inside the cavernous Bella Center convention hall, negotiators dealing with core issues debated until just before dawn without setting new goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions or for financing poorer countries' efforts to cope with coming climate change, key elements of any deal.
"I regret to report we have been unable to reach agreement," John Ashe of Antigua, chairman of one negotiating group, reported to the full 193-nation conference later Wednesday morning.
In those overnight talks, the American delegation apparently objected to a proposed text it felt might bind the United States prematurely to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, before the US Congress acts on the required legislation. US envoys insisted, for example, on replacing the word "shall" with the conditional "should."
Hundreds of protesters marched on the suburban Bella Center, where lines of Danish riot police waited in protective cordons. Some demonstrators said they wanted to take over the global conference and turn it into a "people's assembly," and as they approached police lines they were hit with pepper spray.
After nine days of largely unproductive talks, the lower-level delegates were wrapping up the first phase of the two-week conference and handing off the disputes to environment ministers in a critical second phase.
The lack of progress disheartened many, including small island states threatened by the rising seas of global warming.
"We are extremely disappointed," Ian Fry of the tiny Pacific nation of Tuvalu declared on the conference floor. "I have the feeling of dread we are on the Titanic and sinking fast. It's time to launch the lifeboats."
Others were far from abandoning ship. "Obviously there are things we are concerned about, but that is what we have to discuss," Sergio Barbosa Serra, Brazil's climate ambassador, told The Associated Press. "I would like to think we can get a deal, a good and fair deal."
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HEADLINE --- COP15 among the largest summits ever
The 119 heads of state and government participating at the climate summit in Copenhagen represent countries that account for 89 percent of the world's GDP.
- Rie Jerichow (article updated)
16/12/2009 11:30
119 heads of state and government including nine vice presidents will participate at the climate summit in Copenhagen, according to the Danish Ministry of State.
This will rank the summit among the world's largest ever and the largest outside of New York, and obviously the largest ever in Denmark.
As the Copenhagen conference formally entered its high-level stage Tuesday, COP15 President Connie Hedegaard defined their responsibility in her opening address:
We cant do anything without you, the parties. YOU must compromise, YOU must commit. YOU must deliver NOW. Not only because of the climate. There is even more at stake. This is also about the worlds confidence in their global leaders will and ability to cope with the challenges of our time.
The 119 heads of state and government represent countries that account for 89 percent of the world's GDP, 82 percent of the world's population and 86 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Included in the 119 countries are the 20 largest economies and the top 15 greenhouse gas emitters in the world.
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HEADLINE -- Merkel concerned over Copenhagen pace
German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced concern Tuesday about the pace of climate negotiations in Copenhagen and said she is "somewhat nervous" about prospects of success.
AP/ Michael von Bülow
15/12/2009 17:25
The crucial conference in the Danish capital, which is due to end Friday, has been marked by deep divisions between rich and poor nations. It is supposed to deliver a deal to curb emissions of the gases that cause global warming.
"These kinds of big conferences with many, many interests frequently get stuck, but it's Tuesday already and we want to be done on Friday," Merkel said after meeting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
All involved should make a "constructive contribution so that Copenhagen can be a success," Merkel said. However, she added: "I don't want to hide the fact I am somewhat nervous as to whether we will manage all that."
Yudhoyono said climate talks in Bali two years ago had shown that deadlocks can be broken. "We just need good will and openness on the part of all involved," he said.
The hoped-for deal in Copenhagen is supposed to pave the way for a final treaty to be negotiated over the next six to 12 months.
"We need international monitoring of the results of Copenhagen ... otherwise every country can promise something (and) that's not enough," Merkel said.
"We need an international mechanism that monitors things" under the auspices of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, she added.
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HEADLINE --- We're more ambitious than Kyoto: EU
Betwa Sharma in Rediffmail
The European Union has categorically stated that it prefers a single agreement that 'goes beyond Kyoto', following protest by environment ministers of BASIC countries and Africa that negotiations on the Kyoto Protocol were being ignored.
"We prefer a single agreement," Stavros Dimas, European commissioner for environment, told journalists in Copenhagen on Tuesday.
"We really support the architecture of Kyoto. . .we want to use all the good things of it but it's not enough. We're more ambitious than Kyoto," he said.
The overall climate negotiations are moving under two tracks -- the first track is LCA under Bali Action Plan that requires parties to produce a legally binding treaty before the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012.
The second track is the extension of the Kyoto Protocol into the second commitment period from 2013 to 2018 where developed countries listed under Annex B will have to take binding cuts.
The United States, however, is not a party to the Protocol.
The BASIC countries (Brazil [ Images ], South Africa [ Images ], India [ Images ] and China) and Africa want the developed countries to make mitigation pledges under the second commitment period from 2013-2018 but the European Union, Australia [ Images ], Japan [ Images ], Alliance of Small Island States want a document broader than the existing Protocol that puts obligations on United States and emerging economies.
On Monday, all consultations were suspended as the BASIC countries ministers went and asked the President of COP 15, Connie Hedegaard, for assurance that urgent attention would be given to the Kyoto Protocol and especially the clear targets for the second commitment period.
Referring to the suspicions that EU is trying to move away from Kyoto Protocol to get out of their commitments, the Swedish environment minister Andreas Carlgren said, "We are not at any level trying to elude the level of our binding commitments. Its not that we're try to weaken the binding of our targets".
"Rather, on the contrary, we want legally-binding economy wide targets that should cover all developed countries and we also need commitments to actions from the emerging economies," he added.
The EU also noted that it had always been a strong supporter of Kyoto having set up emissions trading system and invested in Clean Development Mechanism with 80 per cent of the of 23 billion Euros in CDM projects coming from the bloc.
Pointing out that the US and China were the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases, the EU called on the two countries to raise their 'ambition levels' adding that the US should accept legally binding targets and China should commit to action.
Calling for 'symmetry', Dimas underlined that it did not make any sense for the existence of two treaties, which could create ratification problems.
"All this would come in the simplest way in a single agreement. It will be consistent, avoid duplication, avoid institutional differences and a lot of other advantages," he said.
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Copenhagen Update -- 19th Dec. Green Features
---------------------------------------------------
COP15 day 9 roundup
The UN climate conference in Copenhagen entered its decisive phase on Tuesday, as heads of state and government began to arrive for the final three days of negotiations. The leaders will be facing a defining moment in history, said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Michael von Bülow
15/12/2009 23:25
UN conference gearing up for make-or-break finale
World leaders face a defining moment in history, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said as the Copenhagen conference formally entered its high-level stage Tuesday.
South Korea to bridge rich and poor nations
As the first emerging economy to take on absolute reduction commitments, South Korea hopes to play a key role in Copenhagen.
China: Poor countries are first in line for funding
So far the majority of internationally funded projects under the Kyoto Protocol have been in China. But other countries need the funds more urgently according to Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei.
Merkel concerned over Copenhagen pace
German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced concern Tuesday about the pace of climate negotiations in Copenhagen and said she is "somewhat nervous" about prospects of success.
Forest negotiations are making headway
There is mounting agreement on rewarding tropical countries which slow deforestation under a new deal. This is the first issue where significant progress has been made in Copenhagen.
Further commitments needed to break negotiation deadlock
A blueprint, released Tuesday in Copenhagen, outlines three options for long-term climate aid from developed to developing countries.
Japan to unveil 10 billion dollars in climate aid
A pledge of funds from rich countries will be a key ingredient for any climate change deal in Copenhagen. Japan is ready to make an offer.
Australian PM warns of failure
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Monday urged world leaders to be more flexible as a consensus looks difficult to achieve.
Schwarzenegger says states key to climate fight
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says countries cannot solve the problem of climate change without the help of states, cities, regions, activists, scientists and universities.
Developing world threatens battle on drafts
African countries, Brazil, China, South Africa and India say they have produced a default proposal to be used only if rich countries try to shortcut UN-led negotiations in Copenhagen.
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HEADLINE --- EU challenges US and China
The European Union makes clear it is ready to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2020 compared to 1990 levels - if the US and China "do their part".
Morten Andersen
18/12/2009 17:50
The European Union will raise its emission reduction target from the 20 percent previously announced by 2020 to 30 percent "in a global ambitious agreement".
This was announced by Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister of Sweden that holds the rotating EU presidency, as he addressed the plennary of the UN conference in Copenhagen on Friday afternoon.
"We use the conditional 30 percent reduction as a lever to bring others with us to raised ambitions. We will keep that pressure!" Fredrik Reinfeldt said.
More specifically he challenged the United States and China:
"Together you are responsible for half of the global greenhouse gas emissions. You have different responsibilities and capabilities. From the United States we expect, as from developed countries, a legally binding economy-wide commitment to reduce emissions. From China we expect binding actions. Your ability to reduce emissions will be absolutely critical. It is promising that you have come forward with your contributions in an international context. However, the world needs more and we are confident that you have the ability to deliver more."
The present ambitions of the US and China will not be enough to keep global warming below two degrees Celsius, Fredrik Reinfeldt made clear:
"Therefore I turn to you, as a friend and a committed partner, and I say: United States and China: unleash your full potential and thereby the world's efforts - make it possible for the world to stay below two degrees!"
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HEADLINE ---- Bolivia: Change the capitalist system
President of Bolivia Evo Morales: If there is no agreement at this level, why not tell the people?
Rie Jerichow
18/12/2009 15:00
Evo Morales, the President of Bolivia, took the floor to express annoyance at the way a climate deal is being thrashed out by a small group of world leaders at the last minute.
"If there is no agreement at this level, why not tell it to the people?" he said from the podium at the plenary meeting in Copenhagen.
"The time has come for everyone. We can't spend days and days here. We have other important issues to deal with," he said, calling for further consultations with the people.
"Who is responsible?" he asked. And concluded "The responsibility lies on the capitalist system - we have to change the capitalist system."
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HEADLINE ----- Brazil ready to provide funding
As the first developing country, Brazil offers to contribute to the finance mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol if an agreement is reached in Copenhagen Friday, says President Lula.
- Morten Andersen
18/12/2009 14:05
In what he admitted might come as a surprise to his own countrymen, Brazilian President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva (photo above) opened a door for his country to contribute economically to climate change measures in other, more needing countries.
"I have not said this at home, and not even to my team here in Copenhagen, but if it is necessary for Brazil to tap money to other countries, we will be willing to participate in the (UN) finance mechanisms IF we reach a global agreement here in Copenhagen today," Lula said as he addressed the plenary of the UN conference shortly after noon Friday local time.
Also on the subject of funding, the President said he understood demands Thursday by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for transparency on the part of developing countries:
"Those countries that provide funds have the right to demand transparency."
Still, Lula underlined that the monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of emerging economy emissions" should respect the sovereignty of each country" and that action on climate change should not hamper economic growth in the developing world:
"For a lot of people in Brazil, in Africa, in India, China and other developing countries three meals a day is still something of the future."
President Lula also said that he did not favor agreeing on a statement "only to be able to say we agreed on something." Instead "we should together, rich and poor countries, establish a common ground for an agreement, so we can leave Copenhagen proud."
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HEADLINE ---- COP15 prepares for overtime
The climate negotiations could go on into the weekend.
--Rie Jerichow
18/12/2009 15:15
With no impending agreement in sight, negotiators need extra time. According to Reuters, the UN has asked world leaders to plan to stay overnight.
"The secretary-general of the UN has asked people not to leave tonight," European Union Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas told Reuters.
He said he was confident that leaders would eventually reach a deal.
"I cannot imagine 120 leaders going back to their countries with empty hands. Everyone expressed commitment to fight climate change. OK, do it," he said.
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HEADLINE ----- New draft for Copenhagen deal
In a newly written draft named the Copenhagen accord a 2010-deadline for reaching a legally binding climate treaty has been dropped, Reuters reported Friday afternoon.
- Marianne Bom
18/12/2009 17:45
A new draft for a global climate deal in Copenhagen has leaked to the press. The draft has been named the Copenhagen Accord, Reuters reports.
Earlier it was reported by the media, that the heads of state and government could not agree on what to call the text negotiated.
In the new draft a reference to an end-2010 deadline for reaching a legally binding treaty was removed, compared to a previous draft, Reuters reports.
The draft did still include a limit of a maximum two degree Celsius global average temperature rise.
According to Danish media, a probable scenario at the end of Friday afternoon is that the world leaders continue negotiations until the early evening.
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HEADLINE ------ Chávez felt excluded
Venezuelas President Hugo Chávez criticized the UN climate conference for a real lack of transparency, speaking on behalf of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas.
-- Marianne Bom
18/12/2009 15:20
President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela took the floor at the plenary, Friday afternoon, and accused US President Barack Obama of behaving like an emperor who comes in during the middle of the night & and cooks up a document that we will not accept, we will never accept.
Chávez underlined that all countries are equal. He stressed that he would not accept that some countries prepared a text for a climate deal and just slipped [it] under the door to be signed by the others. He said he had heard of the existence of such a text, but we dont know the paper and then continued by accusing the conference of a real lack of transparency.
Hugo Chávez suggested he would leave the UN climate conference in protest of the way it developed.
We cant wait any longer, we are leaving & We are leaving, knowing that it wasnt possible getting a deal, he said.
The Venezuelan President spoke on behalf of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas, an alliance of among others Ecuador, Cuba, Nicaragua and Bolivia.
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HEADLINE ---- Obama: I came here to act
"Our ability to take collective action is in doubt," US President Barack Obama warned the plenary at COP15.
- Rie Jerichow
18/12/2009 14:25
As the fifth speaker, President Barack Obama took the floor in the plenary. He stressed that he did not come to talk, but to act.
Being the world largest economy and second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, America has a responsibility, he said, and added that America would continue to move toward a green economy "but we will be stronger if we act together," he said.
He told the heads of state and governments that it is imperative with a "mechanism to review whether we are keeping our commitments, and to exchange this information in a transparent manner." Without such accountability, any agreement would be "empty words on a page".
"Mitigation. Transparency. And financing. It is a clear formula - one that embraces the principle of common but differentiated responses and respective capabilities. And it adds up to a significant accord one that takes us further than we have ever gone before as an international community", Obama said in his address.
Finally he urged world leaders to "choose action over inaction; the future over the past - with courage and faith, let us meet our responsibility to our people and to the future of our planet".
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HEADLINE --- South Korea: Copenhagen marks a new beginning
President Lee Myung-bak introduces a new institute to assist governments worldwide in formulating national action plans for clean energy.
- Morten Andersen
18/12/2009 16:30
South Korea will attract the best minds from all around the world to work at a new Global Green Growth Institute. The institute's prime task will be to assist governments in drawing up national plans for green growth.
We only have a few hours left till the Copenhagen conference closes. However, this is not an end but rather a new beginning. We have not reached agreement on all issues, but this should not be an excuse for no action. There is no alternative to our planet, this is all we have, President Lee Myung-bak said as he adressed the conference's plenary Friday afternoon.
The president expressed his hope that the idea of green growth will be a beacon for other nations and make a dramatic change to their paths of economic development.
South Korea recently announced that it will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by four percent by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. This makes the country the first emerging economy to take on an absolute reduction commitment and not only a relative commitment compared to a business-as-usual scenario.
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HEADLINE ---- Decision delayed on carbon capture
As some countries have reservations on carbon capture and storage (CCS) the emerging technology is not likely to be added to the UN-backed carbon reducing mechanisms here in Copenhagen.
- Morten Andersen (article corrected)
Capturing carbon dioxide at coal-fired power plants in order to store in it the ground is not likely to become a measure supported by the UN-backed Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) this year. A committee under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has discussed the issue, but delayed any decisions for summits to come, according to Bloomberg.
A draft text by the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice recognizes that carbon dioxide capture and storage in geological formations has been proposed by some Parties for inclusion under the CDM, but also recognizes that other Parties have registered concern regarding the implications of this possible inclusion.
Some countries advocate of the emerging technology. However, other countries have concerns over the long-term liability for the storage site, including liability for any seepage, the draft text displays.
The draft text specifies that the Subsidiary Body will continue to work on the issue in order to produce a more detailed suggestion for summits to come.
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HEADLINE --- Wish you were here / Absent Leaders
As the world's leaders flock to Copenhagen only a minority of countries are not represented at heads of state and government level. Reuters has the list of countries that did not send their leaders.
- Morten Andersen
18/12/2009 12:50
A record number of 119 leaders from countries estimated to represent 89 percent of the world's economic output are gathered for the UN conference on climate change. Still, a number of heads of state didn't come. Reuters has compiled a list.
One group of countries on the list are oil producing. These include Angola, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE (United Arab Emirates).
Another group consists of island states: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Cape Verde, Cuba, Fiji, Jamaica, Solomon Islands and Tonga. However, most of these nations are represented in Copenhagen by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
Ten Latin American countries are not represented by their leaders: Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.
Finally, for various reasons, the heads of state from Italy, Switzerland and Ukraine were not able to come Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi because he is recovering from injuries after an attack a couple of days ago.
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HEADLINE --- Climate talks deadlocked as clashes erupt outside
Danish police fired pepper spray outside the UN climate conference on Wednesday, as disputes inside left major issues unresolved just two days before world leaders hope to sign a historic agreement to fight global warming.
- AP 16/12/2009 13:45
Hundreds of protesters were trying to disrupt the 193-nation conference, the latest action in days of demonstrations to demand "climate justice" firm action to combat global warming. Police said 230 protesters were detained.
Inside the cavernous Bella Center convention hall, negotiators dealing with core issues debated until just before dawn without setting new goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions or for financing poorer countries' efforts to cope with coming climate change, key elements of any deal.
"I regret to report we have been unable to reach agreement," John Ashe of Antigua, chairman of one negotiating group, reported to the full 193-nation conference later Wednesday morning.
In those overnight talks, the American delegation apparently objected to a proposed text it felt might bind the United States prematurely to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, before the US Congress acts on the required legislation. US envoys insisted, for example, on replacing the word "shall" with the conditional "should."
Hundreds of protesters marched on the suburban Bella Center, where lines of Danish riot police waited in protective cordons. Some demonstrators said they wanted to take over the global conference and turn it into a "people's assembly," and as they approached police lines they were hit with pepper spray.
After nine days of largely unproductive talks, the lower-level delegates were wrapping up the first phase of the two-week conference and handing off the disputes to environment ministers in a critical second phase.
The lack of progress disheartened many, including small island states threatened by the rising seas of global warming.
"We are extremely disappointed," Ian Fry of the tiny Pacific nation of Tuvalu declared on the conference floor. "I have the feeling of dread we are on the Titanic and sinking fast. It's time to launch the lifeboats."
Others were far from abandoning ship. "Obviously there are things we are concerned about, but that is what we have to discuss," Sergio Barbosa Serra, Brazil's climate ambassador, told The Associated Press. "I would like to think we can get a deal, a good and fair deal."
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HEADLINE --- COP15 among the largest summits ever
The 119 heads of state and government participating at the climate summit in Copenhagen represent countries that account for 89 percent of the world's GDP.
- Rie Jerichow (article updated)
16/12/2009 11:30
119 heads of state and government including nine vice presidents will participate at the climate summit in Copenhagen, according to the Danish Ministry of State.
This will rank the summit among the world's largest ever and the largest outside of New York, and obviously the largest ever in Denmark.
As the Copenhagen conference formally entered its high-level stage Tuesday, COP15 President Connie Hedegaard defined their responsibility in her opening address:
We cant do anything without you, the parties. YOU must compromise, YOU must commit. YOU must deliver NOW. Not only because of the climate. There is even more at stake. This is also about the worlds confidence in their global leaders will and ability to cope with the challenges of our time.
The 119 heads of state and government represent countries that account for 89 percent of the world's GDP, 82 percent of the world's population and 86 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Included in the 119 countries are the 20 largest economies and the top 15 greenhouse gas emitters in the world.
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HEADLINE -- Merkel concerned over Copenhagen pace
German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced concern Tuesday about the pace of climate negotiations in Copenhagen and said she is "somewhat nervous" about prospects of success.
AP/ Michael von Bülow
15/12/2009 17:25
The crucial conference in the Danish capital, which is due to end Friday, has been marked by deep divisions between rich and poor nations. It is supposed to deliver a deal to curb emissions of the gases that cause global warming.
"These kinds of big conferences with many, many interests frequently get stuck, but it's Tuesday already and we want to be done on Friday," Merkel said after meeting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
All involved should make a "constructive contribution so that Copenhagen can be a success," Merkel said. However, she added: "I don't want to hide the fact I am somewhat nervous as to whether we will manage all that."
Yudhoyono said climate talks in Bali two years ago had shown that deadlocks can be broken. "We just need good will and openness on the part of all involved," he said.
The hoped-for deal in Copenhagen is supposed to pave the way for a final treaty to be negotiated over the next six to 12 months.
"We need international monitoring of the results of Copenhagen ... otherwise every country can promise something (and) that's not enough," Merkel said.
"We need an international mechanism that monitors things" under the auspices of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, she added.
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HEADLINE --- We're more ambitious than Kyoto: EU
Betwa Sharma in Rediffmail
The European Union has categorically stated that it prefers a single agreement that 'goes beyond Kyoto', following protest by environment ministers of BASIC countries and Africa that negotiations on the Kyoto Protocol were being ignored.
"We prefer a single agreement," Stavros Dimas, European commissioner for environment, told journalists in Copenhagen on Tuesday.
"We really support the architecture of Kyoto. . .we want to use all the good things of it but it's not enough. We're more ambitious than Kyoto," he said.
The overall climate negotiations are moving under two tracks -- the first track is LCA under Bali Action Plan that requires parties to produce a legally binding treaty before the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012.
The second track is the extension of the Kyoto Protocol into the second commitment period from 2013 to 2018 where developed countries listed under Annex B will have to take binding cuts.
The United States, however, is not a party to the Protocol.
The BASIC countries (Brazil [ Images ], South Africa [ Images ], India [ Images ] and China) and Africa want the developed countries to make mitigation pledges under the second commitment period from 2013-2018 but the European Union, Australia [ Images ], Japan [ Images ], Alliance of Small Island States want a document broader than the existing Protocol that puts obligations on United States and emerging economies.
On Monday, all consultations were suspended as the BASIC countries ministers went and asked the President of COP 15, Connie Hedegaard, for assurance that urgent attention would be given to the Kyoto Protocol and especially the clear targets for the second commitment period.
Referring to the suspicions that EU is trying to move away from Kyoto Protocol to get out of their commitments, the Swedish environment minister Andreas Carlgren said, "We are not at any level trying to elude the level of our binding commitments. Its not that we're try to weaken the binding of our targets".
"Rather, on the contrary, we want legally-binding economy wide targets that should cover all developed countries and we also need commitments to actions from the emerging economies," he added.
The EU also noted that it had always been a strong supporter of Kyoto having set up emissions trading system and invested in Clean Development Mechanism with 80 per cent of the of 23 billion Euros in CDM projects coming from the bloc.
Pointing out that the US and China were the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases, the EU called on the two countries to raise their 'ambition levels' adding that the US should accept legally binding targets and China should commit to action.
Calling for 'symmetry', Dimas underlined that it did not make any sense for the existence of two treaties, which could create ratification problems.
"All this would come in the simplest way in a single agreement. It will be consistent, avoid duplication, avoid institutional differences and a lot of other advantages," he said.
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Friday, December 18, 2009
Hidden Tricks behind Hillary Clinton's $100 Billion
Copenhagen Update -- Dec.18. -- Soumya Dutta
(analysis provided by Tim Jones of Climate-Justice-Now)
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Facts behind the climate finance figures
18 December 2009
The issue of climate finance is a Copenhagen deal breaker for developing countries, and much has been made by Gordon Brown and yesterday, Hillary Clinton, on the need for climate finance. Both have put forward figures to help developing countries cope with the impact of climate change. But the World Development Movements analysis shows that the facts behind the figures add insult to injury' for developing countries. Of the $100 billion 'announced' yesterday by Hillary Clinton, half or more would be financed by carbon trading and developing countries.
Tim Jones, climate policy expert at the World Development Movement said:
The small print behind the head line grabbing figures adds insult to injury for developing countries. Money that is being announced here is diverted from existing aid budgets; given as loans not aid; and is being financed through a flaw ridden offset scheme. What we need to see is developed countries admitting their historic responsibility for the problem that has brought us all here and offer compensation to developing countries, not bribery, bullying and belligerence.
The World Development Movements analysis reveals that:
Short term finance (2010-2012)
The EU and US are calling for $10 billion a year from 2010 to 2012. Over 100 developing countries and the World Development movement are calling for $400 billion. Of the $10 billion:
- All of it comes from pre-existing aid commitments, so is not new money, just diverting finance from other aid areas
- $2.5 billion has already been given by developed countries
- So far 50 per cent is loans which will just increase unjust debts, rather than grants
- So far 55 per cent is being spent through the World Bank, compared to just 1 per cent through the United Nations
The UK has pledged $800 million a year to the $10 billion total:
- All of this comes from pre-existing aid commitments, so is not new money, just diverting finance from other aid areas
- $430 million, over half, was first pledged by Gordon Brown in 2007, and has already been given to the World Bank
- So far 75 per cent is loans which will just increase unjust debts, rather than grants
- So far 80 per cent is being spent through the World Bank, compared to nothing through the United Nations
Medium/long term finance (by 2020)
The EU and US have now both said the costs of tackling climate change in developing countries[1] will be $100 billion by 2020. This is not the same as saying rich countries will pay $100 billion by 2020.
How the EU and US expects the $100 billion in costs to be paid:
- $22-$50 billion from public expenditure by governments from both rich countries and poor countries. The only countries not expected to contribute are the Least Developed Countries.
- An unspecified but large amount from carbon offsetting. Even if offsetting did help tackle climate change in developing countries, this is counted towards meeting rich country emission reductions obligations, so cannot count towards meeting their financial obligations as well.
- The remaining costs, potentially a large amount, will not get any international financial support. Poor countries damaged by climate change caused by rich countries are expected to bear the costs themselves.
Of course, the true costs of climate change in developing countries by 2020 will be much higher. Over 100 developing countries say the costs are already $400 billion a year. Using data from the UN and IPCC, World Development Movement estimated in November 2009 that the costs of climate change in developing countries will soon by over $400 billion a year.
Whilst the EU and US have not been specific enough to give an accurate figure, based on the above they are offering that rich countries collectively meet a maximum of 10 per cent of the costs of climate change in developing countries.
[1] Both mitigation and adaptation.
(analysis provided by Tim Jones of Climate-Justice-Now)
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Facts behind the climate finance figures
18 December 2009
The issue of climate finance is a Copenhagen deal breaker for developing countries, and much has been made by Gordon Brown and yesterday, Hillary Clinton, on the need for climate finance. Both have put forward figures to help developing countries cope with the impact of climate change. But the World Development Movements analysis shows that the facts behind the figures add insult to injury' for developing countries. Of the $100 billion 'announced' yesterday by Hillary Clinton, half or more would be financed by carbon trading and developing countries.
Tim Jones, climate policy expert at the World Development Movement said:
The small print behind the head line grabbing figures adds insult to injury for developing countries. Money that is being announced here is diverted from existing aid budgets; given as loans not aid; and is being financed through a flaw ridden offset scheme. What we need to see is developed countries admitting their historic responsibility for the problem that has brought us all here and offer compensation to developing countries, not bribery, bullying and belligerence.
The World Development Movements analysis reveals that:
Short term finance (2010-2012)
The EU and US are calling for $10 billion a year from 2010 to 2012. Over 100 developing countries and the World Development movement are calling for $400 billion. Of the $10 billion:
- All of it comes from pre-existing aid commitments, so is not new money, just diverting finance from other aid areas
- $2.5 billion has already been given by developed countries
- So far 50 per cent is loans which will just increase unjust debts, rather than grants
- So far 55 per cent is being spent through the World Bank, compared to just 1 per cent through the United Nations
The UK has pledged $800 million a year to the $10 billion total:
- All of this comes from pre-existing aid commitments, so is not new money, just diverting finance from other aid areas
- $430 million, over half, was first pledged by Gordon Brown in 2007, and has already been given to the World Bank
- So far 75 per cent is loans which will just increase unjust debts, rather than grants
- So far 80 per cent is being spent through the World Bank, compared to nothing through the United Nations
Medium/long term finance (by 2020)
The EU and US have now both said the costs of tackling climate change in developing countries[1] will be $100 billion by 2020. This is not the same as saying rich countries will pay $100 billion by 2020.
How the EU and US expects the $100 billion in costs to be paid:
- $22-$50 billion from public expenditure by governments from both rich countries and poor countries. The only countries not expected to contribute are the Least Developed Countries.
- An unspecified but large amount from carbon offsetting. Even if offsetting did help tackle climate change in developing countries, this is counted towards meeting rich country emission reductions obligations, so cannot count towards meeting their financial obligations as well.
- The remaining costs, potentially a large amount, will not get any international financial support. Poor countries damaged by climate change caused by rich countries are expected to bear the costs themselves.
Of course, the true costs of climate change in developing countries by 2020 will be much higher. Over 100 developing countries say the costs are already $400 billion a year. Using data from the UN and IPCC, World Development Movement estimated in November 2009 that the costs of climate change in developing countries will soon by over $400 billion a year.
Whilst the EU and US have not been specific enough to give an accurate figure, based on the above they are offering that rich countries collectively meet a maximum of 10 per cent of the costs of climate change in developing countries.
[1] Both mitigation and adaptation.
Copenhagen Update -- Dec.18
A very brief update on what is going on inside by Soumya Dutta
US president Barak Obama's speech just finished -- real bad. Brazilian president Lula was better - his speech included a criticism of IMF and World Bank and their negative roles in climate issues.
This morning has been chaotic with almost that was scheduled not happening as per time.
A multi-lateral meeting Barak Obama had with the following country's heads of States, has just ended:
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown
French President Nicolas Sarkozy
Danish Prime Minister Lars L. Rasmussen
German Chancellor Angela Merkel
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
Bangladesh Prime Minister Fakruddin Ahmed
Brazilian President Luiz Lula da Silva
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
South African President Jacob Zuma
Mexican President Felipe Calderon
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe
A speech from Obama went without any substance in it, and press conferences from the EU, the US, China and Bolivia were all scheduled for around now (Bolivia at 2pm) but these as well be delayed.
There is a sense prevailing here that there will be an announcement and things wrapped up quickly, and all work on the texts and working groups seem to have stopped as of this morning, with the focus shifting to cobbling together some final political statement only -- without any substantial agreement -- so that Obama has something to say and show to the world and his country people.
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EXCLUSIVE:
Leaked Internal UNFCCC Document:
Global Temperatures Will Rise by More than Two Degrees Celsius
A leaked internal document from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change states that current targets on emissions reductions from countries around the world will cause global temperatures to rise above two degrees Celsius. According to the UNFCCC document, current emissions reduction targets could lead to a three degree Celsius rise -- French journalist Jade Lindgaard.
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Voices from Small Island States: Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, a Tuvaluan Delegate and a Youth Activist from the Solomon Islands
in a collective voice says -- For us, this is more than just another meeting, said President Nasheed. This is a matter of life and death. Eighty percent of the Maldives lies three feet or less above sea level. The predicted rise in sea level caused by global warming could wipe our countries off the map. The islands of Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands face a similar crisis.
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US secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, on 17th Dec - dangled the uncertain carrot of 'up to $100 billion' in aid by the year 2020 to 'developing countries' - subject to the condition that major developing countries agree to 'transparency' related MRV proposals of the developed countries, while the highest polluters are not coming up with the proposals of emission reductions required by science.
This is a A Naked Form of Blackmail , says journalist Naomi Klein on Secretary of State Clintons Proposal to Set Up $100 Billion Climate Aid Fund for Developing Countries
Secretary Clinton said the 'US would consider contributing' to an international $100 billion annual climate aid fund for poorer nations beginning in 2020 if the Copenhagen talks resulted in a comprehensive deal. It is unclear how much money the US would give to the fund. Aid groups say the $100 billion would be insufficient.
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Bolivian President Evo Morales: Shameful for West to Spend Trillions on War and Only $10 Billion for Climate Change --
Bolivian President Evo Morales in a press conference in Copenhagen, said, The budget of the United States is $687 billion for defense. And for climate change, to save life, to save humanity, they only put up $10 billion. This is shameful.
US president Barak Obama's speech just finished -- real bad. Brazilian president Lula was better - his speech included a criticism of IMF and World Bank and their negative roles in climate issues.
This morning has been chaotic with almost that was scheduled not happening as per time.
A multi-lateral meeting Barak Obama had with the following country's heads of States, has just ended:
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown
French President Nicolas Sarkozy
Danish Prime Minister Lars L. Rasmussen
German Chancellor Angela Merkel
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
Bangladesh Prime Minister Fakruddin Ahmed
Brazilian President Luiz Lula da Silva
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
South African President Jacob Zuma
Mexican President Felipe Calderon
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe
A speech from Obama went without any substance in it, and press conferences from the EU, the US, China and Bolivia were all scheduled for around now (Bolivia at 2pm) but these as well be delayed.
There is a sense prevailing here that there will be an announcement and things wrapped up quickly, and all work on the texts and working groups seem to have stopped as of this morning, with the focus shifting to cobbling together some final political statement only -- without any substantial agreement -- so that Obama has something to say and show to the world and his country people.
=================================
EXCLUSIVE:
Leaked Internal UNFCCC Document:
Global Temperatures Will Rise by More than Two Degrees Celsius
A leaked internal document from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change states that current targets on emissions reductions from countries around the world will cause global temperatures to rise above two degrees Celsius. According to the UNFCCC document, current emissions reduction targets could lead to a three degree Celsius rise -- French journalist Jade Lindgaard.
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Voices from Small Island States: Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, a Tuvaluan Delegate and a Youth Activist from the Solomon Islands
in a collective voice says -- For us, this is more than just another meeting, said President Nasheed. This is a matter of life and death. Eighty percent of the Maldives lies three feet or less above sea level. The predicted rise in sea level caused by global warming could wipe our countries off the map. The islands of Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands face a similar crisis.
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US secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, on 17th Dec - dangled the uncertain carrot of 'up to $100 billion' in aid by the year 2020 to 'developing countries' - subject to the condition that major developing countries agree to 'transparency' related MRV proposals of the developed countries, while the highest polluters are not coming up with the proposals of emission reductions required by science.
This is a A Naked Form of Blackmail , says journalist Naomi Klein on Secretary of State Clintons Proposal to Set Up $100 Billion Climate Aid Fund for Developing Countries
Secretary Clinton said the 'US would consider contributing' to an international $100 billion annual climate aid fund for poorer nations beginning in 2020 if the Copenhagen talks resulted in a comprehensive deal. It is unclear how much money the US would give to the fund. Aid groups say the $100 billion would be insufficient.
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Bolivian President Evo Morales: Shameful for West to Spend Trillions on War and Only $10 Billion for Climate Change --
Bolivian President Evo Morales in a press conference in Copenhagen, said, The budget of the United States is $687 billion for defense. And for climate change, to save life, to save humanity, they only put up $10 billion. This is shameful.
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