News Roundup
Copenhagen, Dec 13, 2009
Rajendra Pachauri spoke at the Bright Green Center after U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. Of note was his support grass roots action near the very end of part two.
Part 1
Part 2
“All of this will only materialize if we have large scale grass roots action.”
Report by James George
‘WASHINGTON Reuters – President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that disappointment over the outcome of the Copenhagen climate change summit was justified, hardening a widespread verdict that the conference had been a failure.’
via Obama says disappointment at Copenhagen justified | Reuters.
‘Late on Friday at the climate summit in Denmark, President Barack Obama announced the Copenhagen Accord, an eleventh-hour deal with the United States, China, India, Brazil and South Africa that broke a seemingly intractable impasse in the negotiations. But after the president boarded Air Force One—hoping to reach Washington before an approaching snowstorm—negotiators for 193 countries fought bitterly about the agreement through the night. In the small hours, a handful of nations—including Venezuela, Bolivia, Sudan, and Nicaragua—refused to sign the pact. Exhausted negotiators, some looking ready to keel over at any minute, railed and pleaded to no avail; a Venezuelan delegate even cut her hand to emphasize her opposition to the deal. In the end, the holdouts could not be won over, and so the summit’s final statement does not adopt the Copenhagen Accord, but merely “takes note” of it. What does this nebulous pact actually mean—and what happens next?’
‘Copenhagen was a disaster. That much is agreed. But the truth about what actually happened is in danger of being lost amid the spin and inevitable mutual recriminations. The truth is this: China wrecked the talks, intentionally humiliated Barack Obama, and insisted on an awful “deal” so western leaders would walk away carrying the blame. How do I know this? Because I was in the room and saw it happen.’
‘The final deal at the Copenhagen climate summit, which was convened to develop a comprehensive international response to the threat of global warming, came down to a behind-closed-doors conversation among some of the most powerful people in the world about the difference between two terms: “examination and assessment” and “international consultations and analysis.”‘
Copenhagen, Dec 19, 2009
Talks resumed after a lengthy morning adjournment after a near collapse of negotiations, and then, in a surprise turnaround a cheerful Secretary General of the U.N. Ban Ki-moon announced today that a climate deal had been approved.
As Ban Ki-moon left the press conference to announce the deal to the assembly, Robert Orr, Assistant Secretary General for Policy Planning, took over and reported that Ban Ki-moon talked personally to some of those leaders of nations with the strongest objections. The parties can optionally associate themselves with the accord, called “taking note” of the accord, but they are not required to do so, and presumably, those nations with the greatest objections earlier this morning, Sudan, Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua, will not “take note” to be associated with the accord.
Report by James George
Copenhagen, Dec 19, 2009.
After the delegates have been awake for a day and a half, and in some cases longer, they were subjected to an extended two hours forty minutes adjournment for what must have been some behind the scenes wheeling and dealing to try to reel in the countries objecting to the proposed deal. Without mention, the Danish Prime Minister was removed as Chair of the proceedings, after his awkward performance through the night.
Copenhagen, Dec 19, 2009
U.K.’s Ed Miliband’s suggestion of allowing those countries who object to register their objection officially, yet still ratify the proposal document, in order that the international climate funding could begin, was rejected. The flustered Prime Minister of Denmark, chairing the proceedings, seemed on the verge of throwing in the towel. U.K.’s Ed Miliband, sensing the possible demise of the talks could be at hand, started banging something gavel-like frantically, next he was recognized, and called for adjournment, which was granted. Perhaps Miliband can interject some additional legal manipulations into the arsenal of Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen, who is clearly in over his head trying to regulate this complex meeting using consensus rules to which he is unaccustomed.
The talks have now been in adjournment for about an hour.
Report by James George
Copenhagen, Dec 19, 2009
As the fate of the COP 15 hangs in the balance, Venezuela issued a strong critique of the L7 document, the proposal in question.
Partial and choppy excerpts:
“Developing countries spend 1.3 trillion dollars a year for war. Here we are not begging. These countries are calling for figures that will enable them to save there own lives. 1.5 degrees. 350 parts per million…
Now we propose that we leave L7 as miscellaneous.. we don’t want to burn it.
Keep your checkbooks in your pockets and commit yourselves to principle . You can’t purchase principles, Mr. developed countries…”
“And I would like to point out that we only have had this document for four hours. And you expect us within four hours to make a substantive decision – do you really think this is a serious proposal? That is my question….
The imperial interests are being imposed and this is flying in the face of those who are most vulnerable. And we would reject this document…”
“Our dignity does not have a price tag. We will not sell the principles – not even for 30 billion dollars, our principles do not have a price tag”