Countries clash over climate
2009-12-10 14:44
Copenhagen - A major rift surfaced at UN climate talks between emerging giants and countries most exposed to the ravages of global warming, as top polluter China took aim at rich nations for failing to act.
Tensions over climate targets emerged on the third day of the Copenhagen negotiations despite efforts to restore calm after an early draft text proposed by Denmark infuriated developing nations.
As EU leaders prepared to debate climate aid, China accused developed nations of failing to live up to promises to cut emissions and give financial support to poorer countries to cope with the effects of global warming.
The US - the world's biggest economy and second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China - dismissed the criticism and hailed a "seismic" policy shift by President Barack Obama.
The tiny Pacific island state of Tuvalu, which fears being inundated by rising seas, drove a wedge among developing nations on Wednesday by calling for discussions on a "legally binding amendment" to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
Move blocked
Its plan would set targets for reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions for major emerging economies starting in 2013.
But the move - backed by dozens of the poorest countries most vulnerable to climate change - was blocked by China, India, Saudi Arabia and other large developing countries.
Small island states and mainly African countries have rejected the widely held goal of limiting the rise in global temperatures to 2°C.
They say only a cap of 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial times would give their nations a chance of averting devastating flooding or crippling drought.
"The constraints would mostly remain on developed countries but also, partly, on big developing economies as well," Tuvalu delegation head Taukiei Kitara said.
The row exposed a rare fault line in the G77 bloc of developing nations, which hitherto has insisted that rich countries caused global warming and so should shoulder the burden of fixing it. China sought to play down the divisions, saying developing countries remained "highly unified".
"Any intention to ask developing countries to shoulder mandatory obligations is inconsistent with the consensus already reached by the international community," foreign ministry official Duan Jielong told reporters in Beijing.
Framework
Copenhagen negotiators hope to forge a framework accord by a summit on December 18 to curb heat-trapping carbon emissions and pump hundreds of billions of dollars to poorer countries.
Further talks would be needed in 2010 to fill in details of the pact to succeed Kyoto, which mandated emissions cuts by industrialised economies but left action by developing countries voluntary.
Countries such as Tuvalu are worried such an approach in future will not rein in a dangerous surge of emissions from the fast-growing economies of China, India and Brazil.
China has proposed that by 2020 it will curb emissions per unit of gross domestic product by between 40% and 45% compared to 2005 levels, although its emissions overall would still rise.
China's envoy Yu Qingtai complained about a "lack of sincerity" from rich countries on cutting emissions and helping the developing world.
"You will find a huge gap if you make a comparison between their pledges and the actions they have so far taken," Yu said.
Developing nations are seeking at least $300bn in aid.
Seismic change
European Union leaders, who have pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% over the next decade, meet on Thursday and Friday to try to agree on a €6bn ($8.8bn) funding package lasting three years.
US climate negotiator Todd Stern defended US policies, saying the Obama administration had set far-reaching climate targets for the decades to come.
Obama has proposed a cut in overall emissions of 17% by 2020 off 2005 levels, and Stern said this would rise to 42% by 2030.
"This would really involve a seismic change in US policy."
Negotiations hit a rocky patch after the leaked draft Danish text appeared to give more emissions leeway to richer powers, to the G77's anger.
UN climate chief Yvo de Boer insisted it was out of date and had no chance of being endorsed.