Today's Report From Copenhagen
Highlights from the climate change conference on Dec. 18
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(Editor’s Note: This file presents news and information from the Copenhagen climate change conference on Dec. 18, distilled from news outlet reports. We will be updating developments during the day.)
"Transparency" may be a synonym for failure at Copenhagen if China continues to refuse to allow verification of its emissions control efforts, reports AP. Despite last minute meetings with President Obama at Copenhagen, China apparently isn’t giving in. Any hopes for a meaningful political agreement from the conference are pegged to an agreement between the U.S. and China. Meanwhile, leaders of more than 100 countries are in Copenhagen, many expressing frustration at the stalled progress.
On this last day of the climate conference, President Obama’s speech to the world on climate change—highly anticipated as the climactic moment—fell short of expectations by most reports, and conference organizers were in crisis mode to create some kind of agreement. The president said the world was in peril and called for bold action, but he offered no new pledges, hinting that China and Congress were cuplrits in preventing real action. After the speech he went into private discussions with the Chinese premiere. Read The AP news report.
Leading up to today’s final moments, the hard work of negotiations was carrying on amid deep emotions. “The catastrophe is at our door,” declared the environment minister of the Central African Republic. Earthjustice attorney Erika Rosenthal describes what she observed in the final hours.
For perspectives, news and information from environmental groups at the conference, check out the The Copenhagen News Collaborative.
From 2006–2014, Terry was managing editor for Earthjustice's blog, online monthly newsletter and print Earthjustice Quarterly Magazine.