Copenhagen: Arnie leaves Alex to fight global warming alone, and Ban and Boris pull out too

Published on Monday 14 December 2009 21:35

THE First Minister has been left embarrassed after Arnold Schwarzenegger and other high-profile figures pulled out of a shared event in Copenhagen.

A newspaper sci-fi mock-up showing Barack Obama, Yukio Hatoyama and Hilary Clinton

Alex Salmond eagerly announced on Friday that he was to share a stage with the governor of California at a Climate Leaders Summit alongside the global warming conference.

He also told a press conference at the end of last week he hoped Ban Ki Moon, secretary-general of the United Nations, and London mayor Boris Johnson would be speaking with him at the event in Copenhagen this morning.

However, The Scotsman has learned that all three have pulled out. Lauren Bird, from event organisers the Climate Group, confirmed last night that Mr Schwarzenegger had withdrawn. Mr Johnson decided to attend a mayoral event instead, and Mr Ban also had other engagements, she said.

Instead, Mr Salmond will be joined by the UN Development Programme administrator Helen Clark, Prince Albert of Monaco, Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed, Quebec premier Jean Charest and South Australia premier Mike Rann.

As recently as yesterday, a press release from Mr Salmond's team said he would "address the opening commitment session Climate Change Summit 2009 tomorrow alongside scheduled speakers such as governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger".

A spokeswoman for the First Minister declined to comment last night. Mr Salmond has flown out to the Danish capital to join world leaders at the climate change conference – despite being excluded from the official UK delegation.

In an article for The Scotsman today, Mr Salmond said: "Scotland is a small country making a big difference on this global challenge."

And he added: "It is, of course, disappointing that the Westminster government did not agree to the common-sense approach, which could have seen Scotland as part of the formal UK delegation attending Copenhagen.

"But that will not prevent Scotland's voice being heard loud and clear on the world stage."

The Climate Change Act passed at Holyrood earlier this year commits Scotland to cutting emissions by 42 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020, and by at least 80 per cent by 2050.

The First Minister will also sign a joint statement with Mr Nasheed of the Maldives, an island nation threatened by rising sea levels. The statement will set out a commitment to work together to combat climate change through the sharing of technology and research.