Developing nations' boycott stalls talks on climate change
Source: Agencies |
December 15, 2009, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
DEVELOPING nations boycotted United Nations climate talks in Copenhagen yesterday, bringing negotiations to a halt with their demand that rich countries discuss much deeper cuts in their greenhouse gas emissions.
The move disrupted the 192-nation conference and forced the cancellation of formal working groups, delaying the frantic work of negotiators trying to resolve technical issues before the arrival of more than 110 world leaders this week.
The developing countries want to extend the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which imposed penalties on rich nations if they did not comply with its strict emissions limits but made no such binding demands on developing nations.
The boycott was largely seen as a move to shift the agenda to the responsibilities of the industrial countries and make emissions reductions the first item for discussion when world leaders begin arriving today.
"I don't think the talks are falling apart, but we're losing time," said Kim Carstensen, of the World Wildlife Fund. The developing countries "are making a point."
"Nothing is happening at this moment," Zia Hoque Mukta, a delegate from Bangladesh, said. He said developing countries have demanded that conference president Connie Hedegaard of Denmark bring the industrial nations' emissions targets to the top of the agenda before talks can resume.
Poor countries, supported by China, say Hedegaard had raised suspicions that the conference was likely to kill the Kyoto Protocol. "We are seeing the death of the Kyoto Protocol," said Djemouai Kamel of Algeria, the head of the 50-nation Africa group.
UN climate chief Yvo De Boer said Hedegaard was holding informal consultations with delegates "to get things going."
It was the second time the Africans have disrupted the climate talks. At the last round of negotiations in November, the African bloc forced a one-day suspension until wealthy countries agreed to spell out what steps they would take to reduce emissions.
"They are trying to put the pressure on" before world leaders arrive, said Gustavo Silva-Chavez of the Environmental Defense Fund. "They want to make sure that developed countries are not left off the hook."
An African delegate said developing countries decided to block the negotiations at a meeting hours before the conference was to resume. He said applause broke out every time China, India or another country supported the proposal to stall the talks.
The move disrupted the 192-nation conference and forced the cancellation of formal working groups, delaying the frantic work of negotiators trying to resolve technical issues before the arrival of more than 110 world leaders this week.
The developing countries want to extend the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which imposed penalties on rich nations if they did not comply with its strict emissions limits but made no such binding demands on developing nations.
The boycott was largely seen as a move to shift the agenda to the responsibilities of the industrial countries and make emissions reductions the first item for discussion when world leaders begin arriving today.
"I don't think the talks are falling apart, but we're losing time," said Kim Carstensen, of the World Wildlife Fund. The developing countries "are making a point."
"Nothing is happening at this moment," Zia Hoque Mukta, a delegate from Bangladesh, said. He said developing countries have demanded that conference president Connie Hedegaard of Denmark bring the industrial nations' emissions targets to the top of the agenda before talks can resume.
Poor countries, supported by China, say Hedegaard had raised suspicions that the conference was likely to kill the Kyoto Protocol. "We are seeing the death of the Kyoto Protocol," said Djemouai Kamel of Algeria, the head of the 50-nation Africa group.
UN climate chief Yvo De Boer said Hedegaard was holding informal consultations with delegates "to get things going."
It was the second time the Africans have disrupted the climate talks. At the last round of negotiations in November, the African bloc forced a one-day suspension until wealthy countries agreed to spell out what steps they would take to reduce emissions.
"They are trying to put the pressure on" before world leaders arrive, said Gustavo Silva-Chavez of the Environmental Defense Fund. "They want to make sure that developed countries are not left off the hook."
An African delegate said developing countries decided to block the negotiations at a meeting hours before the conference was to resume. He said applause broke out every time China, India or another country supported the proposal to stall the talks.
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