Copenhagen, Dec 9. 2009

US Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern stated in a press conference this afternoon:
“We’re not going to become part of the Kyoto Protocol, so that’s not on the table…”

‘COPENHAGEN — The top American envoy to climate talks here flatly rejected arguments Wednesday by diplomats from poor lands that the United States owes a debt to developing nations for decades of American emissions that contributed to global warming.’

via U.S. Negotiator Dismisses Reparations for Climate – NYTimes.com.

Copenhagen, Dec 9, 2009.

While accepting that the US is the world’s largest historic GHG emitter, US Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern rejected outright the notion of a US climate debt or obligation for climate reparations, stating that there is no guilt because during most of the period since the industrial revolution people were blissfully ignorant of the climatic effects of CO2 emissions.

In recent days the G77 has been strongly critical of the $10 Billion adaptation figure being bandied about, stating it is not even enough to buy the coffins that will be needed. While saying he favors using funds to address real human needs, Stern did not specifically reply to a question of whether the US would consider more than the proposed $10 Billion/year for a climate fund.

Still the issue of climate debt is certainly a big part of the conversation here in Copenhagen, especially among representatives of developing nations. This morning, the “climate agents” were on display holding a banner saying “Rich countries pay your climate debt”.

Copenhagen, Dec 9, 2009 11:28 am

Tuvalu addressed the plenary this morning, re-presenting a proposal for adding an additional protocol to the Kyoto protocol, and calling for a 1.5 degree celsius maximum temperature increase target and a green house gas stabilization limit target of 350 ppm.

Excerpt from Tuvalu’s address:
“Tuvalu, being one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the impacts of climate change is honored and pleased to speak on this agenda item. Our future depends upon the outcome of this meeting. ”

“As parties are aware, Tuvalu has proposed a legally binding protocol to be incorporated under the COP. This protocol is not a replacement of the Kyoto protocol, we believe it should complement the ongoing Kyoto protocol. We have proposed amendments to the Kyoto protocal to make this clear. this The proposal for a new protocal was tabled six months ago. Therefore this is not a last minute matter. All parties have had a chance to read this proposal, and let me explain some of the key elements of the protocal.”

“Our protocal proposal follows closely the elements on the Bali action plan. It has a section on shared vision. It highlights the importance that actions to address climate to address climate change must aim to insure that global temperature increases are well below 1.5 degrees Celsius and that green house gas concentrations must stabilize at 350 parts per million at the most. Our survival is contingent upon these numbers. It’s a matter of survival.”

Senegal voices support for the Tuvalu proposal “as the only way of paying back the climate debt, which is the result of unlimited exploitation of natural resources”.

Dec 6, Copenhagen

Yvo de Boer responded to a question suggesting that military expenses could be reallocated to pay down the enormous historical ’emissions debt’ owed by industrialized nations.

Text of response:
“I was hoping you were going to ask somebody else”

“I think the issues that you raise are very important but historic responsibility is an issue that’s been thoughout these negotiations and one that is very difficult one to deal with. I think that many people would share your sentiments on military spending and probably have a whole lot of ideas, especially on the eve of Christmas, on much better ways to use that money.”

“What I would advocate for this conference – in spite of all the attention – is keep it simple. Focus on an outcome that can deliver immediate action on the ground the day this conference ends. And what I want to see at the end of this conference is a list of rich country targets that are ambitious, clarity on what major developing countries will do to limit the growth of their emissions, and a list of financial pledges that will make it possible for the much broader developing nation community both to change the direction of their economic growth and to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change. That’s what I’m asking father Christmas for.”