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”

Copenhagen, Dec 19, 2009.

After a full day and night of negotiations, the statements for and against the proposal are continuing well into the morning here in Copenhagen.

U.S. “I think we should adopt the decision and not let this work go to waste” Todd Stern

Nevertheless, the chances for success looks increasingly slim, with strong objections coming from a few countries.

There are a few major objections.

Procedural. The document was created in a non-transparent fashion and released at the very last minute with no time even to review it.
Weakness. The two degree target is dangerous for many nations, including Africa.
Bribery. The money is being offered in exchange for survival.

Comment from a delegate in the food line: He thinks they will get this proposal through, by hook or by crook. For example, the chair can declare that consensus has been reached, even though it hasn’t, and then the body has to override the chair, which requires a three quarters vote. If true, there is an indirect way to bypass consensus and use a three quarters vote. He says this method was used in a previous conference.

Report by James George

Copenhagen, Dec 19, 2009

Several hours ago Obama announced a ‘deal’ – which was actually a proposal – and flew off. In this video, Ben Powless comments on the “deal”.

“I think it’s pre-emptive to call it a deal. What I’m hearing from negotiators on the inside that they haven’t been consulted on this”

Copenhagen, Dec 19, 2009

Obama’s proposal appears to be unraveling as reactions from other nations and groups begin to emerge.

In the plenary hall, island nation Tuvalu just announced their rejection the document.

“In Biblical terms it looks like we’re being offered 30 pieces of silver to betray our future. Mr. President, Tuvalu cannot except this document.”

Bolivia is also denouncing the document for the reason they were just given the document 60 minutes ago.
“We have one hour to decide upon the lives of millions of people… this is not the way in which the world should discuss the future of the planet which should be done in a democratic way. We are not going to endorse this document… It does not capture the consensus of all those who are present”.

Cuba: “Four hours ago Obama announced an agreement that is nonexistent … This is an insult to the world community.
there is not one single word about the commitments of developed countries in this document”

Copenhagen, Dec 18, 2009

As the talks struggle on into the night, the press is eagerly awaiting any word. First, there was a rumor that Obama was giving a press conference. A near stampede of journalists running from the media center to the press room resulted in this jammed up entrance. One journalist tried to push her way past saying – “I left my laptop in there”. After all the pushing and showing, it turned out Obama would not be making a press conference at that time nor to the large press pool at all. Instead he later gave a press conference to a small group of press traveling with him.

Later, an EU press conference was officially announced, and hundreds of journalists crammed into the NGO press room, sitting on the floor for about an hour before being told that the press conference was canceled.

Report by James George

Copenhagen, Dec 18, 2009

Representative Shelley Moore, Member of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, U.S. House of Representatives, was featured on a panel of Republicans staging a press conference here at the COP 15 today. She spoke up for coal, the energy which powers her state of West Virginia and provides some 35,000 jobs there.

Press Conference featuring Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W. Va.

I spoke with Moore briefly after her talk and asked her whether she has heard of any existing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies with power losses of less than 30%. She said no, and went on to say that the cap and trade in Waxman-Markey would price coal out of business. So essentially, while putting forth the idea that CCS is a viable way to make coal clean, she in fact recognizes that it isn’t feasible now. She wants time allowances for the coal industry to continue in U.S. in the hopes that the technology can be improved.

Her publication online for the COP 15 presents a far rosier picture of CCS. From Investing In CCS:
“The American Electric Power (AEP) 1,300-megawatt Mountaineer Plant located in my district in New Haven, WV represents an important milestone in our efforts to bring CCS online. The Mountaineer Plant which began operating in September of 2009 is one of the first demonstrations of CCS from an existing coal-fueled power plant.”

“It will capture nearly 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. And with the help of $335 million in Department of Energy funding, AEP plans to capture about 18% of their emissions in the next few years. If successful, it will serve as a blue-print for commercial scale facilities.”

“Carbon capture is our most important tool to address carbon dioxide emissions from coal. It will not only benefit a state like mine with jobs and revenue, it will also benefit our nation and world by making clean coal a reality.”

There is no mention of the fact that greater efficiencies may not ultimately be possible. However, Steven Chu, U.S. Secretary of Energy, mentioned a far out possibility for far more efficient CCS which would use technology based on biological processes that exist in nature but whose methods are not understood.

Republicans are often the first to speak out against government spending, but not in this case where it supports the coal industry. And this type of support exists on both sides of the aisle, Waxman himself voiced his support for clean coal in his press conference the day earlier.

On the other side of the fence, NASA Scientist James Hansen has been very critical of coal, and considers fazing out coal critical to avoiding climate disaster. Further, many of the 40,000 demonstrators who marched in Copenhagen last Saturday had a different view of coal, as was evidenced by the popular chant “leave the coal in the hole”.

Report by James George