Chaos descends on Copenhagen

Published on Wednesday 16 December 2009 21:42

CHAOS hit the Copenhagen climate summit yesterday, as mass protests broke out and negotiations between wealthy and poor nations reached deadlock.

• One of the hundreds of protesters arrested outside the Copenhagen summit is carried off as about 5,000 demonstrate and delegates are refused entry. Picture: Getty Images

As police wielded batons outside the conference centre in the Danish capital, attempts by negotiators to make progress on a deal showed signs of floundering.

With just two days of the two-week climate change summit remaining, 192 nations are trying to reach a deal on contentious issues, such as levels of emissions cuts and finance for poorer countries. Outside the conference, there were reports of up to 5,000 people protesting in the streets. Police sprayed tear-gas and arrested about 230 campaigners.

Following all-night negotiations on Tuesday, Danish minister Connie Hildegard resigned from the conference presidency to allow Danish prime minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen to preside.

As security was stepped up, blocking thousands of delegates from the proceedings, Andy Atkins, the executive director of Friends of the Earth, said the conference was "fast becoming an international shambles".

However, Gordon Brown insisted last night that a "breakthrough" was possible. Today, the Prime Minister will urge fellow world leaders to "make the desirable possible" by showing the statesmanship needed to secure a global climate change deal. He will say: "The task of politics is to overcome obstacles, even when people say they cannot be surmounted. The task of statesmanship is to make the desirable possible, and make ideals real, even when critics tell you they are unachievable dreams."

He will add: "We will not condemn millions to injustice without remedy, to sorrow without hope, to despair without end."

Rifts over financial support from rich nations for poorer countries, and on emissions targets, remained the focus of negotiations yesterday.

Many developed nations believe limiting temperature rises to 2C is the most ambitious target possible. However, African countries said this could still have devastating consequences for many developing nations, and have called for a 1.5C limit.

There are also clashes over the amount of money on the table from rich nations, with some suggestions developing countries are expecting up to 246 billion a year. Developed countries, suffering recession, are struggling to see eye to eye with poorer nations.

Duncan McLaren, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, told The Scotsman that he thought the talks had descended into farce. He said there were "protests inside and out, talks in deadlock and organisational failures of the highest orders".

The entire 50-strong delegation from FoE, including Mr McLaren, was banned from entering the conference centre, despite having accreditation.

"I think they have done it because they are frustrated and nervous," said Mr McLaren.

"Inside the talks, things are not going well. Temperatures are high. Outside, they were facing a major protest on the streets. As often is the case with these summits, they have massively overreacted."

There were claims security was so high that the plenary sessions, where world leaders were speaking, were almost empty.

The Scotsman understands that even Lord Nicholas Stern, an economist and government adviser, was blocked from attending the plenary sessions. One delegate said: "The world leaders are talking to empty chairs."

Chris Hegarty, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund's advocacy manager, who is attending the conference, called for action.

He said: "The leaders of the wealthy industrialised nations have the power to break the deadlocks in the negotiations, commit to substantial cuts to their emissions and provide sufficient additional funds to developing countries."

TREATY FALLS BY THE WAYSIDE AS NATIONS FAIL TO AGREE

CASH: Poor countries want developing nations to provide money to help them tackle the impacts of climate change.

They say they have contribute the least to greenhouse gas emissions, but will be hit hardest and first.

They want hundreds of billions of dollars a year from wealthy nations.

However, at a time of recession, money has not been forthcoming from all developed nations.

There are currently no firm numbers on the table.

TARGETS: Environmentalists and poorer nations say richer countries should reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent or more by 2020, compared with 1990 levels, to avoid serious climate damage. The European Union has pledged 20 per cent, and possibly 30 per cent. However, the US has offered only a 3-4 per cent cut.

Many richer nations argue emissions should be cut enough to keep temperature rises below 2C. However, some poorer countries, particularly low-lying islands such as the Maldives, want to limit rises to 1.5C.

THE DEAL: It was originally hoped that a legally-binding international treaty could be agreed by the end of the talks, but that is no longer a possibility.

Leaders are now working towards a "political agreement" with the treaty to come later.

UK politicians want a firm timetable set for signing a legal document within months after Copenhagen, but the US has called for another conference in July to secure a treaty.