The formal opening of the annual climate change gathering is marked by political ministers taking over command from their top negotiators. They will then hand over the discussions to the 113 heads of state and government who are expected to conclude the talks with a political agreement, setting the stage for a new emissions-reduction treaty to 2020.
The Danish host of the 193-nation conference was forced to defend herself against sharp criticism Monday that the informal consultations she set up over the weekend to discuss the most contentious issues with some countries was in fact hijacking the talks and steering an expected agreement in the favour of the rich countries. Developing countries outnumber their rich-world cousins at this conference and often use the threat of a walkout to voice their concerns.
Their chief concerns here are securing hundreds of billions of dollars to help them adapt to the droughts, floods and other ravages of a hotter planet. They also want countries that signed the Kyoto deal in 1997 to take on additional pledges to cut their emissions after 2012.
Further, Hedegaard, the president of this conference and the former Danish environment minister said "We cannot dictate anything that the parties do not want ... That is why we have had to use the time needed for everybody to feel comfortable with this."
Even with a successful outcome here, there are no assurances that it won't result in – as one journalist described it here – "a Kyoto-style failure" where some countries live up to their commitments and others, like Canada did after signing Kyoto, continue growing their economy and emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
The big difference this time, Hedegaard said, is that the Copenhagen pact will be a truly global treaty, including the United States and China, who are responsible for 40 per cent of the world's emissions, as well as major emerging economies like India, Brazil and South Africa.
The Danish host of the 193-nation conference was forced to defend herself against sharp criticism Monday that the informal consultations she set up over the weekend to discuss the most contentious issues with some countries was in fact hijacking the talks and steering an expected agreement in the favour of the rich countries. Developing countries outnumber their rich-world cousins at this conference and often use the threat of a walkout to voice their concerns.
Their chief concerns here are securing hundreds of billions of dollars to help them adapt to the droughts, floods and other ravages of a hotter planet. They also want countries that signed the Kyoto deal in 1997 to take on additional pledges to cut their emissions after 2012.
Further, Hedegaard, the president of this conference and the former Danish environment minister said "We cannot dictate anything that the parties do not want ... That is why we have had to use the time needed for everybody to feel comfortable with this."
Even with a successful outcome here, there are no assurances that it won't result in – as one journalist described it here – "a Kyoto-style failure" where some countries live up to their commitments and others, like Canada did after signing Kyoto, continue growing their economy and emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
The big difference this time, Hedegaard said, is that the Copenhagen pact will be a truly global treaty, including the United States and China, who are responsible for 40 per cent of the world's emissions, as well as major emerging economies like India, Brazil and South Africa.
Read more on : http://www.thestar.com/news/sciencetech/environment/copenhagensummit/article/738895--climate-talks-try-to-avoid-kyoto-style-failure?bn=1
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