Top Copenhagen
Stories
[The 15th
Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change in Copenhagen is over. Looniest comment? " 'The meeting has had
a positive result, everyone should be happy,' said Xie Zhenhua, head of
China's climate delegation." (From
Deutsche Welle.) Nobody is happy, probably not even Mr. Xie. Here are
some of the items we found:]
What did the Copenhagen climate summit
achieve?—reliability high.
"The outcome - a decision to 'take note of' an accord drawn up by a
core group of heads of state on Friday evening - is far from the
legally binding treaty which some had expected and for which many
hoped. However, this does not change the fact that the Copenhagen
conference was a unique moment in history." Lists what the agreement
has changed, and what it has not changed. "The deal at COP15, as it
stands, leaves the world on a pathway for temperature rises of 3C and
above." "it appears that the outcome will be intergovernmental policy
co-ordination with a focus on the implementation of national
strategies. The move to green growth is no longer in doubt, but the
details, actions and time frame remain unclear at best." From
BBC News.
U.N. Climate Talks 'Take Note' of Accord
Backed by U.S.—reliability high.
The U.S., Brazil, China, India and South Africa have come up with a
side agreement on climate change. The Copenhagen meeting participants
"have agreed the parties would 'take note' of the document, named the
Copenhagen Accord, leaving open the question of whether this effort to
curb greenhouse gases from the world’s major emitters would gain the
full support of the 193 countries bound by the original, and largely
failed, 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change." Although most
countries agreed to join in the vote, there was widespread
disappointment and some anger that the negotiators and national leaders
couldn't make meaningful progress toward a new agreement under the
existing The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
treaty. The Accord is vague and adds little to previous international
assertions that something needs to be done. "Mr. Serra, the Brazilian
diplomat, said that the process left many alienated, particularly the
smaller countries that have little influence in a major international
negotiation. Many involved in the process here suggested this would be
the last time that 193 nations would gather in this way to negotiate
such a complex accord. 'Certain groups like G-77 are not happy when a
few people make decisions,' Mr. Serra said. 'It’s not an inclusive
exercise. Perhaps it can’t be.'" From
The New York Times.
China
blamed as anger mounts over climate deal.—reliability high.
"An outbreak of bitter recrimination has erupted among politicians and
delegates following the drawing up of the Copenhagen accord for
tackling climate change." "The tumultuous events concluded a fortnight
of fraught and sometimes machiavellian negotiations that saw a
resurgent China link forces with India, Brazil and African states to
thwart efforts by rich nations to steamroller through a binding treaty
that would suit their interests. Although hailed by Obama, the deal has
been condemned by activists and NGOs". From
The Guardian.
China says 'development right' key in
climate talks.—reliability high.
"China will treat talks on a binding global climate change pact in
2010 as a struggle over the 'right to develop,' a Chinese official
said, signaling more tough deal-making will follow the Copenhagen
summit." "Wen said China is willing to build on the Copenhagen
agreement and push forward international cooperation on climate change.
Talks on a binding treaty are to extend throughout next year, and China
is bracing for more strife over how to mesh its economic and emissions
growth with a commitment to cut greenhouse gas levels." See
Reuters.
Investors give cautious thumbs up to climate
deal.—reliability high.
"Businesses and investment analysts cautiously welcomed a climate deal
struck in Copenhagen on Friday, but complained that it was unclear how
its commitments would be translated into law." From
Reuters.
Win-win situation for India, at least for
now.—reliability high.
"At the end of the day on Saturday, when the battle was over, India
appeared to have ceded ground on some issues but blocked intrusion on
other redlines." "But fighting a defensive battle, evidently wanting
not to be labeled obstructionist by the US, India along with the other
three partners loosened up its stance on some key issues. This
loosening of stance may not hit home immediately but it left the window
open for growing inequitable burden falling on India's head to prevent
climate change." See
Times of India.
An Air of Frustration for Europe at Climate
Talks.—reliability high.
European leaders express frustration, disappointment and resignation
about the way they were essentially excluded from the final Copenhagen
negotiations, and the limited scope of the final agreement. But Irish
prime minister Brian Cowen, for example, says, "It’s less than what we
wanted, but the process has to go on." See
New York Times.
NGOs and scientists are largely shell
shocked.—reliability medium.
"Comments displaying disappointment are plentiful from NGOs and
scientists in the early aftermath of the UN conference in Copenhagen.
'What we have after two years of negotiation is a half-baked text of
unclear substance. With the possible exceptions of US legislation and
the beginnings of financial flows, none of the political obstacles to
effective climate action have been solved,' Kim Carstensen, Leader of
global conservation organization WWF’s Global Climate Initiative,
states in a press release." Other comments from participants and
observers. See
COP-15 site.
Copenhagen summit: China's quiet
satisfaction at tough tactics and goalless draw.—reliability
high.
"The Chinese government expressed quiet satisfaction at the outcome of
the Copenhagen talks despite European accusations that it had
systematically wrecked the negotiating process. China's foreign
minister, Yang Jiechi, described the outcome as 'significant and
positive'." "Their strategy was defensive, their tactics were tough and
their tackling of opponents occasionally brutal." Quotes various
Chinese comments on outcome. From
The Guardian.
Ed Miliband: China tried to hijack
Copenhagen climate deal.—reliability high.
UK climate secretary Ed "Miliband said there must be 'major reform' of
the UN body overseeing the talks – the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) – and on the way negotiations are conducted. He
is said to be outraged that UN procedure allowed a few countries to
nearly block a deal."
Meanwhile "Muhammed Chowdhury, a lead negotiator
of G77 group of 132 developing countries and the 47 least developed
countries, said: 'The hopes of millions of people from Fiji to Grenada,
Bangladesh to Barbados, Sudan to Somalia have been buried. The summit
failed to deliver beyond taking note of a watered-down Copenhagen
accord reached by some 25 friends of the Danish chair, head of states
and governments. They dictated the terms at the peril of the common
masses.'" See
The Guardian.
Copenhagen
Accord by a Landslide: 188-5.—reliability medium.
Commentary by NDRC President Frances Beinecke: "Nearly every nation in
the world embraced the agreement, signaling support by 'taking note' of
it. In the parlance of U.N. consensus process, to 'take note' means to
agree to or accept, U.N. Assistant Secretary-Gen. Robert Orr explained
in a Saturday press conference." "Sounds like consensus to me." See
NRDC blog.
Copenhagen: a turning point but still a long
way to go.—reliability medium.
Column by Ekko van Ierland says "The curtain has fallen on the
Copenhagen summit with no firm United Nations accords. However, the
leaders of the United States, China, India and Brazil have agreed in
principle to limit the increase in global temperature to a maximum of
two degrees Celsius. The European Union stands by its decision to limit
greenhouse gas emissions to 20% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels." From
Radio Netherlands Worldwide.
Full Text of the Copenhagen Accord.—reliability
medium.
"Advance unedited version of the Copenhagen Accord signed December 18,
2009." Twelve points, one page. From
Mongabay.
[Crossposted from HaraBara.com courtesy of HaraBara, Inc. Copyright © 2009 HaraBara, Inc.]