Expectations over Copenhagen climate change conference too high, says Prescott

Published on Wednesday 14 July 2010 20:54

The over-optimism of the previous government has contributed to the failure of the Copenhagen climate change conference, John Prescott said in his maiden speech in the House of Lords.

Former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott - who attended the conference last December as the Council of Europe's rapporteur on climate change - yesterday criticised the push for a legally binding agreement on emissions.

Watched by his wife, Pauline, who was sitting in a visitors' gallery, Lord Prescott was loudly cheered by his fellow Labour peers after finishing his eight-minute speech.

He said: "Copenhagen was not a success, but its expectations were too high, especially hoping for an internationally agreed legal enforceable agreement.

"I said at the time it was not possible. My colleagues in the previous government believed you could and I think that contributed to the failure of Copenhagen."

He added: "Kyoto (the agreement on climate change from 1997] took four years to negotiate and finalise, but at Copenhagen it was expected … it would be done in four weeks."