Developing nations walk out of climate talks

[TechMan]

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/developing-nations-walk-out-of-climate-talks/story-e6frfku0-1225810384368

Developing nations walk out of climate talks

    * From correspondents in Copenhagen, Denmark
    * From: AAP
    * December 14, 2009 10:25PM

THE Copenhagen climate summit is in chaos after poor countries walked out of negotiations en masse today.

The G77, a group which represents 130 developing countries, walked out because it is concerned the existing Kyoto protocol will be abandoned.

Australia's Climate Change Minister Penny Wong confirmed that organisers were trying to fix the problem and coax back the developing world.

Many countries at the UN climate summit want a brand new treaty to tackle climate change, but the developing world wants the Kyoto protocol to continue as well.

The protocol forces rich countries to reduce or limit their greenhouse gas emissions.

Senator Wong said the walkout was "most unfortunate''.

"It is regrettable that we appear to have reached a gridlock on process,'' she said.

''(This) is not a time to play procedural games.''

It is understood developing countries walked out of the working groups at the summit today, and have refused to take part in special meetings which have been organised to tackle the biggest obstacles in the negotiations.

A plenary session, for all countries, has not started as planned because of the breakdown.

Senator Wong said she and others were working hard to get the problem resolved, but she could give no indication of when that might happen.

She did not support the developing countries' focus on the need to commit now to a future for the Kyoto protocol.

"An extension only of the Kyoto Protocol is not going to achieve the environmental outcome the world needs,'' Senator Wong said.

Australia does not want the Kyoto Protocol to be the only vehicle to tackle climate change because it does not include the US, nor major developing countries like China and India.


Alternate Source:  http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/environment/Poor-Countries-Walk-Out-on-Climate-Talks-79207477.html



Hopefully the developing nations will keep up their walkout and that will be (hopefully) the end of the Copenhagen summit.

[Ben]

I found it interesting in the article I read that the developing nations were, "supported by China". Hmmm.

[longeyes]

Will be interesting to see how the shake-down proceeds.  Either way it's about far greater international governmental control over everything great and small...

[HankB]

Some of these G77 (which actually number about 130 "countries") have a population smaller than a medium-sized city . . . so why are we even paying any attention to them?

If they want our money (Did I write "IF?") what in the world do they have to offer in return?

And if we WERE to give them money, how would a new dictator's palace, a new Gulfstream for their current President for Life, or a Swiss bank account for their People's King, have ANY effect on global warming?

[TechMan]

Further Climate Change Zombies

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/copenhagen-climate-change-confe/6804753/Copenhagen-climate-summit-talks-not-on-track-warns-Ed-Miliband.html


Copenhagen climate summit: talks not on track, warns Ed Miliband
International talks in Copenhagen to tackle global warming are not on track to deliver the ambitious agreement needed to protect the planet, according to Ed Miliband, the Climate Change Secretary.
 
By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent in Copenhagen
Published: 6:35AM GMT 14 Dec 2009

With world leaders due to arrive at the talks later in the week, the pressure is on negotiators to come up with a political agreement that heads of state and government, including Gordon Brown and US President Barack Obama, can sign up to.

But Mr Miliband fears not enough progress is being made in efforts to secure a deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions and provide funding to help poor countries develop without increasing their pollution.
 
Mr Miliband said: “We’re now getting close to midnight in this negotiation and we need to act like it. That means more urgency to solve problems, not just identify them, more willingness to shift from entrenched positions and more ambitious commitments. We’re not yet on track for the kind of deal we need.

“This is the critical opportunity. Britain is working in formal and informal settings as persuaders for the ambitious and comprehensive agreement we want. If we want to do a deal we will need to create greater momentum and make active efforts to find solutions. We need more progress before the leaders arrive.”

Speaking in Copenhagen on Sunday Tony Blair, the former prime minister, said the world must take action on climate change even if the science is not correct. [Emphasis Added]

Reacting to recent claims by climate change sceptics, Mr Blair said the science might not be “as certain as its proponents allege”.

However, he insisted the world should act as a precaution against the threat of floods, droughts and mass extinction. In fact, Mr Blair added, it would be “grossly irresponsible” not to.

Mr Blair described the talks as “one of the toughest negotiations that international leaders will ever have been involved in”. However, despite sceptics claiming that emails stolen from the University of East Anglia question the science, he said it was urgent to act now.

“It is said that the science around climate change is not as certain as its proponents allege. It doesn’t need to be. What is beyond debate, however, is that there is a huge amount of scientific support for the view that the climate is changing and as a result of human activity,” he said.

“Therefore, even purely as a matter of precaution, given the seriousness of the consequences if such a view is correct, and the time it will take for action to take effect, we should act. Not to do so would be grossly irresponsible.”

He also called for a deal to halt the deforestation that is responsible for a fifth of carbon emissions by paying poor countries not to chop down trees.



Speaking in Copenhagen on Sunday Tony Blair, the former prime minister, said the world must take action on climate change even if the science is not correct. [Emphasis Added]   

What the #@**?    The science is not correct but let's do it anyways.  What a moron. 

[Standing Wolf]

Developing nations walk out of climate talks

In other news, cockroaches go on strike.

[JonnyB]

In my humble opinion, "developing nation" == "third-world dung heap".

But that's just me.

jb

[MicroBalrog]

And if we WERE to give them money, how would a new dictator's palace, a new Gulfstream for their current President for Life, or a Swiss bank account for their People's King, have ANY effect on global warming?

Are you serious or just joking?

The G-77 includes China and India.

If these people don't cooperate, Blair doesn't get any of his precious reforms.

Yes, these people are poor.

But some of them - like India - are getting their act together. Their economies are growing [India's - almost faster than China's].

Their people know that if the growth continues, eventually more and more of them will have Internet, and flatscreen TV's, and cars. And the AGW fanatics just got between them and a chance to actually improve their standard of living.

They're right to be furious.

[MicroBalrog]

If they want our money (Did I write "IF?") what in the world do they have to offer in return?

Right now? You owe them money. Specifically, you owe China 798.9 billon dollars, and the oil-producing countries that are members of G77 about 185.3 billion dollars.  In addition, the USA owes money to India, Brazil, and several other G77 member states.

P.S. I do not mean this to disparage the United States. But it is helpful to remember that many of these countries are partners of America on the international stage, even though their citizens may be poorer, and their practices may be backwards. It's not useful to just discount their influence altogether.

[HankB]

Are you serious or just joking?

The G-77 includes China and India.

It also includes such stellar example of nationhood as Tonga, Guinea-Bissau, Uganda, and North Korea, as well as a lot of African states and assorted banana republics.

Actually, at first glance, the G77 looks like a grotesque line-up of ill-mannered, self-pitying, caterwauling freeloaders banging their tin cups on the pavement demanding handouts. (with apologies to Nicholas Von Hoffman    .)

But if the climate summit collapses entirely over this, at least they'll have done some good.

[longeyes]

Their people know that if the growth continues, eventually more and more of them will have Internet, and flatscreen TV's, and cars. And the AGW fanatics just got between them and a chance to actually improve their standard of living.

They're right to be furious.

Problem is, some of them want the internet, flatscreens, and cars not as the result of their economic growth but as global entitlements paid for by us.