Things are becoming increasingly fraught at the climate talks in Copenhagen. There was an overnight session on Tuesday night as negotiators tried to keep things on track in order to deliver a text that would be acceptable for world leaders to sign. Whether such a text is what is required from a scientific basis is entirely another matter, something which almost seems to be lost in the unbelievable chaos of the Bella Centre, where thousands of people march from meeting room to side event to national delegation rooms, and into bilateral talks if required. Most people look exhausted. I’m amazed anything at all gets agreed, but it seems this is how international diplomacy functions.
Matters weren’t helped today when the Danish Minister for the COP-15 talks, resigned from her role as President of the conference, reportedly to allow the Prime Minister of Denmark to take over the role as it would be more appropriate for him to do so as so many world leaders were arriving. This was certainly unexpected. Also unexpected, this evening the UN’s top climate official Yvo De Boer reported that talks had stopped. This is not scheduled and it seems that delegates need time to discuss how the rest of the talks are to go. It had been expected that the Danish conference presidency would present a text designed to reach consensus this evening, particularly between African and island nations, and the developed countries, but there is no sign of this. The issues still waiting for resolution are the same ones as earlier in the week:
- Money for developing countries – both to help them reduce their own emissions they seek to develop, and to adapt to the effects of climate change.
- Progress towards clear, binding targets in a global agreement which will see developed countries make real, meaningful progress in emissions reductions.
It continues to be unlikely that a binding global agreement will be signed this week, but Copenhagen remains crucial if an agreement is to be reached next year. The world leaders are beginning to arrive, and maybe this will give the talks the boost they need. The carbon footprint of the conference has certainly gone up with many more motorcades, police and helicopters in evidence.
One issue that did get some movement today was forestry, with the US, Australia, France, Japan, Norway and the UK making $3.5 billion available for developing countries that produce ambitious plans to slow and eventually reverse deforestation. The draft text of a forestry agreement circulating in the conference though is a lot shorter and weaker than previous drafts.
The organisation outside the conference continues to leave a lot to be desired – I’m not sure the Italian Environment Minister was too impressed at being locked out of the talks earlier in the day after coming in the wrong entrance. Another organisation barred from the conference was Friends of the Earth, one of many observer organisations feeling increasingly marginalised in the Conference. It has been clear for days that observer organisations would be getting only a handful of spaces in the conference over the last two crucial days, but the protest actions from Friends of the Earth inside also led to a complete closedown for any more observers gaining access today. A demonstration, smaller than that held on Saturday, marched on the Bella Centre at around midday but were kept away from the perimeter fence.
The Danish Government and a Danish NGO network are hastily trying to set up an alternative centre for observers for the last couple of days where they will be able to follow proceedings remotely (apart from the closed door meetings of course).
Today’s interesting website is Nordhaven, Copenhagen’s new sustainable city district. If the new area builds on what already exists in the city then an excellent transport system, integrated renewable energy and fantastic cycling facilities will be part of the plans (over a third of journeys to work in Copenhagen are made by bicycle).
