Posted by
BLOGASSAULT on Monday, December 14, 2009 3:15:38 PM
The walk out occurred as African nations sought guarantees that the summit would not sideline talks about the future of the Kyoto Protocol. They want a second seven-year commitment period to the Kyoto Protocol, which runs out in 2012, be given priority over broader discussions on a "long-term vision" for cooperation on tackling climate change.
The Kyoto Protocol, which was never ratified by the United States, ties rich countries to legally binding limits on emissions. Poorer countries do not have the same legally binding curbs. The Protocol is also a mechanism to transfer clean-energy technology to poorer nations.
They want the money, the technology, and the free pass that all the developing countries got under the old protocal. What a surprise...
Poor countries ended a boycott of U.N. climate talks Monday after getting assurances that rich nations were not conspiring to soften their commitments to cutting greenhouse gases, European officials said.
European Union environment spokesman Andreas Carlgren said informal talks resolved the impasse, which was started by African countries and backed by major developing countries, including China and India.
Rich and poor countries "found a reasonable solution," he said.
Well, they got what they wanted I guess. There is no details on what they agreed upon.
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.
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 will take to reduce emissions.
"They are trying to put the pressure on" before Obama and other world leaders arrive, said Gustavo Silva-Chavez, a climate change specialist with the Environmental Defense Fund. "They want to make sure that developed countries are not left off the hook."
Well, good for them. God forbid they have to go to these talks and get nothing out of them. Besides, they are
poor. We should not forget that. Problem is, they are obviously not poor enough to
not show up. Did they hitch a ride with another country, or did they
take their own private jet? I wounder if
they are taking part in any of the other, shall we say, pleaseantries that Copenhagen is offering this week.