UN talks: Rich nations must make big emission cuts
COPENHAGEN, Denmark
The draft pulled together the main elements of a global pact
that 192 nations have been negotiating for two years, but left
numbers on financing and cutting greenhouse gas emissions -- perhaps
the most contentious bargaining issues -- for world leaders to
hammer out next week.
The draft accord said all countries together should reduce
emissions by 50 percent to 95 percent by 2050, and rich countries
should cut emissions by 25 percent to 40 percent by 2020, in both
cases using 1990 as the baseline year.
It was meant to focus attention on the broad goals the world
must achieve to avoid irreversible change in climate that
scientists say could bring many species to extinction and cause
upheavals in the human environment in many parts of the Earth.
"It's time to begin to focus on the big picture," said Yvo de
Boer, the top U.N. climate official. "The serious discussion on
finance and targets has begun."
In unusually blunt language, meanwhile, China's vice foreign
minister said the chief U.S. negotiator at the talks either "lacks
common sense" or was "extremely irresponsible" for saying that
no U.S. climate funding should be going to China. The world's two
biggest greenhouse gas polluters have been exchanging barbs this
week about the sincerity of their pledges to fight climate change.
So far, pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the
industrial countries have amounted to far less than the minimum.
European Union leaders on Friday reiterated their pledge to
increase their emissions cuts by 2020 to 30 percent from 20
percent, but only if other wealthy nations, including the U.S. and
Canada, make comparable commitments.
The six-page draft document distilled a much-disputed 180-page
negotiating text, laying out the obligations of industrial and
developing countries in curbing the growth of greenhouse gases
responsible for global warming.
News of the document came as the European Union leaders agreed
in Brussels to commit $3.6 billion (euro2.4 billion) a year until 2012
to a short-term fund to help poor countries cope with climate
change. Most of the money came from Britain, France and Germany.
Many cash-strapped former East bloc countries balked at donating
but eventually all gave at least a token amount to preserve the
27-nation bloc's unity.
The EU commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 30 percent below
1990 levels over the next decade was conditional, depending on
better commitments by the United States and Canada.
The draft agreement is less specific than other proposals and
attempts to bridge the divide between rich and poor countries. It
leaves much to be decided by the 110 heads of state, including
President Barack Obama, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and most of Europe's top
leadership, who are due to arrive in the Danish capital in one week
for a landmark summit.
"This text will be the focus of the negotiations from now on,"
said Jake Schmidt, an analyst for the Natural Resources Defense
Council.
The draft, drawn up by Michael Zammit Cutajar of Malta, said
global emissions of greenhouse gases should peak "as soon as
possible." But controlling carbon emissions should be subordinate
to the effort to wipe out poverty and develop the economies of the
world's poorest nations, it said.
It called for new funding in the next three years by wealthy
countries to help poor countries adapt to a changing climate, but
mentioned no figures. And it made no specific proposals on
long-term help for developing countries.
"That's the gaping hole," said Antonio Hill, of Oxfam
International.
In his blunt remarks, China's Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei
said he was "shocked" by U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern's comments
that Beijing shouldn't expect any American climate aid money.
"I don't want to say the gentleman is ignorant," He told
reporters. "I think he lacks common sense where he made such a
comment vis a vis funds for China. Either lack of common sense or
extremely irresponsible."
In China's view, the U.S. and other rich countries have a heavy
historical responsibility to cut emissions and any climate deal
should take into account a country's development level.
China is grouped with the developing nations at the talks. But
Stern said the U.S. doesn't consider China one of the neediest
countries when it comes to giving those nations financial aid.
"I don't envision public funds -- certainly not from the United
States going to China," he said Wednesday. "China to its great
credit has a dynamic economy, and sits on some $2 trillion in
reserves. So we don't think China would be the first candidate for
public funding."
The Chinese official said China wasn't asking for money, but
suggested the U.S. and China had different responsibilities in
dealing with global warming.
In downtown Copenhagen, police detained 75 people in the first
street protests linked to the conference. About 200 people rallied
in the area where corporate CEOs were meeting to discuss the role
of business in global warming.
The protesters broke into small groups, banging drums and
shouting, "Mind your business. This is our climate!" There were
no reports of violence.
Police spokesman Henrik Moeller Nielsen said 20 of those
detained were released and at least six still in custody face
arraignment on preliminary charges of vandalism. A much bigger
demonstration is expected Saturday.
In Brussels, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the EU
commitment of $3.6 billion a year until 2012 "puts Europe in a
leadership role in Copenhagen."
The figure was reached after two days of tough talks during
which eastern EU countries -- still lagging in their own development
and further battered by the global economic downturn, resisted
pressure to chip in. In the end, all 27 EU nations agreed to
donate, but about 20 percent is coming from Britain, France and
Germany.
"There are few moments in history when nations are summoned to
common decisions that will reshape the lives of men and women
potentially for generations to come," said British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown. "This world deal in Copenhagen must be ambitious,
global, comprehensive legally binding within six months."
De Boer said the fact that Europe put a figure on the table --
about one-third of what U.N. officials say is needed -- was "a huge
encouragement to the process."
Critics said the EU was merely repacking aid promised earlier in
different forms and sidestepping key climate change issues to
produce a favorable headline.
Greenpeace said EU leaders were avoiding more important
decisions on longer-term climate financing for poor nations and on
greenhouse gas emissions cuts.
"Climate change will not end in three years ... so neither
should the flow of cash," said Joris den Blanken, the
environmental group's climate expert.
ActionAid, which focuses on development aid, said the EU was
failing to pledge "real money" and that many EU states had "a
track record of repackaging or re-announcing existing aid."