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Danish Text Dims Copenhagen Conference
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Danish Text Dims Copenhagen Conference
By Li Hujun 12.09.2009
The revelation of a secret climate agreement spearheaded by Denmark in an effort to ink itself into history, only set off a blaze of controversy from developing nations and environmental organizations.
The leak of the "Danish text" caused a stir amongst key participants in Copenhagen, generating a new layer of difficulty in contemplating the conflicts behind the climate summit here.
Hardly had I arrived in Copenhagen when someone with an international environmental organization told me that the host country, Denmark might raise a secret draft agreement the next week which, of course, would hand more power to rich nations. In response, China took the lead in drawing up another agreement, joined by India, South Africa and Brazil.
China's top climate envoy and vice-minister of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Xie Zhenhua, said China would stick to the two tracks of UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) -- the 1992 framework convention adopted by 192 countries in 1992 to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations -- and Kyoto Protocol when asked about the two draft agreements at the press conference on Dec. 7. He confirmed that the BRICs and developing countries did prepare a draft agreement, but would only be released in case of another one put forward first by others.
Xie's clear-cut attitude soon dismissed doubts by the environmental organizations about China's stand. But an insider with those organizations told me that a storm was around the corner because the "Danish text" would be published the next day in the UK newspaper, the Guardian.
On Dec. 8, having not found reports about the secret agreement on the website of the Guardian in the morning, I went to cover the a forum on climate change held by the Chinese business delegation here, after a visit to an offshore wind power plant with other journalists.
Later that day, the "Danish text" was first released on the site as expected, which provoked strong protests from developing nations and international environmental organizations. Their furious reaction is understandable because the agreement is a departure from the principle of "common but differentiated responsibility" shared by rich and poor countries, clearly stated in the UN framework and Kyoto Protocol.
The so-called "Danish text," a secret draft agreement worked out by a group of individuals known as "the circle of commitment" – but understood to include the UK, US and Denmark – has only been shown to a handful of countries since it was finalized this week, according to coverage in the Guardian. Based on the document, developing countries will be forced agree to specific emission cuts and measures that were not part of the original UN agreement and poor nations are allowed to emit more than 1.44 tons of carbon per person by 2050, while rich countries to emit 2.67 tons. Besides, the obligation of developed countries to provide financial support has been toned down.
At 5 p.m. the same day, the Chinese delegation held a second press conference. The conference room was so packed with journalists that my colleague, Zhang Ruidan, found it hard to even enter. When asked about the leak of the "Danish text," Su Wei, deputy head of the Chinese delegation, stated he had not read it.
Two hours later, Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, the Sudanese ambassador to China and the G-77 group of developing countries spoke at a press conference, admonishing the text.
International environmental protection organizations expressed their anger at Denmark as well. In a statement released late that night, Greenpeace International fumed that instead of focusing on solving the roadblocks that have been caused by the refusal of rich nations to agree on deep cuts in emissions and long-term financing, the "Danish text" breeds mistrust and distracts from progress on a real deal.
As a host, it was Denmark's desire for another historic document as momentous as the Kyoto Protocol for climate negotiation. Denmark, one of leading countries in low carbon technology, shares more common interests with US or other developed nations.
Although the "Danish text" is just an informal document that might not be raised in fact, it did overshadow the climate talks in Copenhagen.
Li Hujun, senior science writer of Caixin.
Full article in Chinese:http://policy.caing.com/2009-12-09/100018458.html
(Translated by GC)
https://blog.sciencenet.cn/blog-3598-300286.html
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