Latest news from Copenhagen 
Tuesday 14th Dec
We are now over half way through the climate change conference. What has been achieved so far?
Draft agreement on the table By the end of the first week of negotiations a new deal to tackle climate change was on the table in Copenhagen. The draft agreement could form the basis of a final deal by the end of the 2-week conference.
The draft text calls for greenhouse gas emissions to be halved worldwide by 2050 compared to 1990 levels, but it also suggests 80 percent and 95 percent reductions by that year as possible alternative options.
Within the agreement there are calls for developed nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25-45% from 1990 levels by 2020.
Countries around the world have indicated their commitment to emission reductions. For example, the EU
have currently proposed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, or by more if a global deal is agreed in Copenhagen.
For the first time the US have said they are prepared to cut emissions - by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020, 42% by 2030 and 83% by 2050. [This is equivalent to 1.3% below 1990 levels by 2020, 31% by 2030 and 80% by 2050].
China and India have proposed cuts to their emission intensity - that is the amount of greenhouse gases they emit per unit of GDP - by 45% and 25% respectively by 2020.
Read more on where countries stand>>
Developing countries agree to resume talks
The main session of the negotiations resumed on Tuesday morning following a suspension of talks at noon on Monday. Talks were susopended on Monday after several developing nations accused developed countries of trying to wreck the existing Kyoto Protocol and of plotting to weaken their emission reduction commitments. The walk out highlights the sensitivities between the rich and poor nations of the world.
Many developing countries want to extend the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which imposed legally binding emission reductions on developed nations, but made no such binding demands on developing nations. The US however are not part of the Kyoto Protocol. Developed countries would prefer to see a whole need deal forged at Copenhagen which encompasses emission limitations for all countries across the globe.
Read more>>
Small Island States call for global temperature rise to be kept below 1.5 degrees C
The Association of Small Island State (AOSIS) is so concerned about rising sea levels that they have called for emission reductions to prevent global temperature rising more than 1.5 degress C. This is more stringent than the figure of 2 degrees C which most countries around the world are using as a target to guide commitments to reduce emissions.
The latest science suggests that keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees C is virtually impossible and that keeping it below 2 degrees C will tough. |
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