Developing Countries Block U.N. Climate Talks

WSJ ^ | DECEMBER 14, 2009 | ALESSANDRO TORELLO

[IrishMike]

COPENHAGEN -- The Group of 77, which represents developing countries as well as large emerging economies such as Brazil, India and China, walked out of U.N. climate-change negotiations in Copenhagen on Monday, a Brazilian diplomat said.

The group walked out of the main discussion group, accusing industrialized countries of an attempt to kill the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which mandates rich nations, but not developing countries nor the U.S., to cut greenhouse gas emissions, a person close to the talks said.

Official discussions were suspended as an informal meeting was held in an attempt to solve the problem.

The move was a setback for the Copenhagen talks, which were already faltering over long-running disputes between rich and poor nations over emissions cuts and financing for developing countries to deal with climate change.

Earlier Monday, British Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said it is up to him and his counterparts in Copenhagen to help bridge that gap between rich and poor countries and "not to leave everything" to the 100 world leaders -- including President Barack Obama -- who start arriving Wednesday.

"There are still difficult issues of process and substance that we have to overcome in the coming days," Mr. Miliband said. "Can we get the emission cuts we need? We need higher ambition from others and we will be pushing for that."

[Charles Henrickson]

WARMERFUL COPENHAGEN
Tune: "Wonderful Copenhagen"

Warmerful, warmerful Copenhagen
Climate gatekeepers in town
We will say it's hot
Even when it's not
We will pass the gas around

In warmerful, warmerful Copenhagen
Putting the foolish in fuel
Now I'm turning green
Getting sick, I mean
Singing Copenhagen
Warmerful, warmerful
Copenhagen is cool!

I flew on my private jet
To pay off my climate debt
Meeting Algore for cocktails today
And there he stands, waiting for me
With a welcome so warm if I pay

Warmerful, warmerful Copenhagen . . .

Warmerful, warmerful Copenhagen
Climate gatekeepers in town
We will say it's hot
Even when it's not
We will pass the gas around

In warmerful, warmerful Copenhagen
Putting the foolish in fuel
Now I'm turning green
Getting sick, I mean
Singing Copenhagen
Warmerful, warmerful
Copenhagen is cool!

[NaughtiusMaximus]

Just think of all the good paying, meaningful, productive private sector jobs we didn’t create.

The government will make us heroes!

[steelyourfaith]

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[CedarDave]

Back on track for redistribution of wealth:

Developing countries end boycott at climate talks