Monday, December 14, 2009

Countries Are Walking Out On Copenhagen And We Should Too

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

The poor countries left negotiations because they are concerned that the Kyoto protocol, which aims to tackle climate change, will be abandoned. Some rich countries want a brand new climate treaty out of the Copenhagen summit to replace Kyoto.
But poor countries want to make sure the Kyoto protocol, which forces rich countries to limit their greenhouse has emissions, has a future.
Today's walkout has left the summit in limbo as ministers, including Australia's Climate Change Minister Penny Wong, frantically try to fix the problem.
"It is regrettable that we appear to have reached a gridlock on process," Senator Wong told reporters from the conference centre, adding the situation was "most unfortunate".
"(This) is not a time to play procedural games."
She did not support the developing countries' focus on the need to commit now to a future for the Kyoto protocol.
"An extension only of the Kyoto Protocol is not going to achieve the environmental outcome the world needs," Senator Wong said.
Australia does not want the Kyoto Protocol to be the only vehicle to tackle climate change because it does not include the US, nor major developing countries like China and India.
Senator Wong said that without countries like China and India on board, global efforts to tackle climate change would not work.
She said the situation at the summit was "absolutely" salvageable.
"We can resolve these issues if nations have the political will."
Senator Wong is playing a high-profile role at the UN summit, which has entered its second week and is due to finish on Friday.
Together with her Indian counterpart, she was supposed to be leading special talks to try to resolve issues around the greenhouse targets of developing countries, and around international verification of countries' emissions.
Those talks are on hold now.
There have also been complaints from some developing nations of bullying on the part of Australia, including personal calls from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Ian Fry, the chief climate change negotiator for the tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, said Mr Rudd had told him his position was unhelpful in securing an agreement at Copenhagen.
"Yes, we've had approaches from the prime minister of Australia to ask us to, well, to say our approach is unproductive," he told ABC television on Monday.
"Of course, we don't agree with that."
Earlier in the day, Mr Fry made an emotional plea calling for a legally binding agreement to cut carbon emissions.
"I woke up this morning crying, and that's not easy for a grown man to admit," he said. "The fate of my country rests in your hands."
Australian scientist and environmental activist Tim Flannery said part of the reason for the walkout was because of a push by Canada for commitments established under the Kyoto Protocol to be disregarded.
Because of breaches of its emissions target under the Kyoto Protocol, Canada owes about $1 billion, and will owe $1.3 billion if commitments under Kyoto continue.
"Canada and some other developed countries of course would like the Kyoto commitments to cease and then move on with a fresh slate," Prof Flannery said.
But he believes a global agreement to cut emissions can still be reached.
"To be honest, I think that the key elements are now there," he told ABC television on Monday night.
"We've seen commitment by developed countries to an accumulative 18 per cent reduction in emissions."
Prof Flannery, who is also chairman of the Copenhagen Climate Council, a collaboration between business and science, says progress has been made towards reaching an agreement.
"It's far from perfect yet but I think we're beginning to see the elements fall into place for what I'd call a good agreement."

7 comments:

  1. WRONG AGAIN:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/14/copenhagen-climate-talks_n_390750.html

    Click here to find out more!
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    Copenhagen Climate Talks SUSPENDED, In Chaos, As Countries Walk Out Of The Conference (UPDATED)
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    First Posted: 12-14-09 06:48 AM | Updated: 12-14-09 11:56 AM
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    The UN international climate change conference is in chaos as the G77, which represents 130 developing countries "pulled the emergency plug" suspending the talks over wealthy countries' reluctance to discuss a legally binding emissions treaty.

    Jeremy Hobbs, Executive Director of Oxfam put out this statement:

    Africa has pulled the emergency cord to avoid a train crash at the end of the week. Poor countries want to see an outcome which guarantees sharp emissions reductions yet rich countries are trying to delay discussions on the only mechanism we have to deliver this - the Kyoto Protocol.


    This not about blocking the talks - it is about whether rich countries are ready to guarantee action on climate change and the survival or people in Africa and across the world.

    "Australia and Japan are crying foul while blocking movement on legally binding emissions reductions for rich countries. This tit for tat approach is no way to deal with the climate crisis."

    African countries have refused to continue negotiations unless talks on a second commitment period to the Kyoto Protocol are prioritized ahead of broader discussions under a second LCA track. Australia, Japan and others have succeeded in stopping Kyoto Protocol discussions as a result. Of the two tracks of negotiations underway in Copenhagen the Kyoto Protocol is the only one which includes a mechanism for legally binding emissions reductions by rich countries.

    UPDATE: 7:07 AM EST:

    The Australian news site, News.com.au reports more on the walkout:
    Story continues below

    The G77, a group which represents 130 developing countries, walked out because it is concerned the existing Kyoto protocol will be abandoned.

    Australia's Climate Change Minister Penny Wong confirmed that organisers were trying to fix the problem and coax back the developing world.

    Many countries at the UN climate summit want a brand new treaty to tackle climate change, but the developing world wants the Kyoto protocol to continue as well.

    UPDATE: 11:51 EST

    Reuters reports that Africa has returned to the discussions after a half day suspension.

    "We're going back," Pa Ousman Jarju from the delegation of Gambia, told Reuters after a meeting of the African group.

    The protest held up a session due to start at 1030 GMT, just four days before a summit of 110 leaders aims to agree a U.N. pact to combat global warming that could bring more heatwaves, floods and rising sea levels.

    He said that the Danish hosts gave assurances that there would be more focus on African nations' demands for an extension of the Kyoto Protocol, the existing pact for curbing emissions of greenhouse gases.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bruce, to say wrong again means Chris was wrong before. Where was that?

    Also, he was right at the time he posted his article. It's like you saying I am now wrong about Obama being at -19 yesterday on the Rasmussen Poll, because Obama is at -18 today:

    http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

    The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows that 24% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-two percent (42%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -18.

    That’s a one point improvement from yesterday when Obama’s Approval Index rating fell to the lowest level yet recorded. Prior to the past three days, the Approval Index had never fallen below -15 during Obama’s time in office.

    As the health care plan struggles in the Senate, public opposition remains stable. Fifty-six percent (56% ) oppose the plan working its way through Congress while just 40% favor it. In Nevada, the health care bill is causing problems for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s bid for re-election.

    Overall, 44% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. That’s the lowest level yet measured for this president. Previously, his overall approval rating had fallen to 45% twice, once in early September and once in late November. Fifty-five percent (55%) now disapprove.

    Seventy-two percent (72%) of Democrats now offer their approval while 80% of Republicans disapprove. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, just 36% approve.
    Seventy-seven percent (77%) of liberals approve while 76% of conservatives disapprove. The bad news for the President is that there are a lot more conservatives in the country than liberals.

    You're a moron Bruce Failk.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Did they WALK out or DRIVE OUT in Golf Carts,just asking thought there might be Global Community Program based on OUR finely TUNED Program! FORE!

    Obama Care will COST many Politicans their JOBs hopefully Starting with the Levin Twins and Stabenow! Libs DONT you worry about them though hear they got ONE HELL of a Golden Parachte Retirement Package including THEIR own Health Care,gotta luv it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bruce, maybe you should tell the rest of the liebertard Hypocrats about your video conferencing. Aren't you "The Video Guy" or some stupid thing like that?!?! BWAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA

    Copenhagen summit carbon footprint biggest ever: report
    http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BD4D020091214?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&rpc=22&sp=true

    Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:28pm EST

    COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The Copenhagen climate talks will generate more carbon emissions than any previous climate conference, equivalent to the annual output of over half a million Ethiopians, figures commissioned by hosts Denmark show.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hell, Bruce can't even copy and paste correctly,,lol,,what a waste.

    ReplyDelete
  6. ROFLMAO, you got that right Christopher! Spot-on! LOL

    When is a REAL challenge to the conservatives going to show up? This Failk is a chump. Not even fit to wear a pinata for a head! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  7. This will put "global warming" in the right perspective for you DEMONcRATS:

    http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/an_unprecedented_as_the_rising_run#64951

    ReplyDelete

Please keep it clean and nice. Thank you for taking the time to post you thought. It means a lot to me that you do this.