We’re in overtime in Copenhagen. ABC – that’s Australian Broadcasting Corp. for those Americans who might think otherwise – reports “US President Barack Obama has launched intense after-hours diplomacy with China, hoping to salvage a new world climate pact after warning that an imperfect deal would be better than no pact at all.” (See this.) “The Guardian” has a synopsis here of all the latest changes in the negotiating text. At the heart of these negotiations is emission reductions – how much and by when. “Reductions of greenhouse gas emissions of X% in 2020 compared to 1990 and Y% in 2020 compared to 2005.” As the Guardian reports, “This phrase will spell out the responsibility of the developed world to cut gases that contribute to global warming. X and Y will be be filled in at the end of negotiations or at a later date. Most nations made commitments before Copenhagen, but there is room for manoeuvre.” What are the obligations of the major developing economies? Good question. “The Times” reports in this article that we’re going to have a watered-down agreement, falling well short of most everyone’s expectations. “A commitment to turning the “Copenhagen Accord” into a legally binding treaty within a year was deleted from a draft of the text leaked tonight. The draft also contained only vague language on the key issues of limiting the temperature increase to 2C and cutting global emissions by 50 per cent by 2050.”
As American sports fans well know, however, “The opera ain’t over till the fat lady sings.” Or, more prosaically, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” Let’s see what the wee hours in Copenhagen or tomorrow morning brings.
Wait a minute! Stop the presses! The “NY Times” reported one minute ago that White House Announces ‘Meaningful’ Climate Deal. They quote a White House official: “Developed and developing countries have now agreed to listing their national actions and commitments, a finance mechanism, to set a mitigation target of two degrees celsius, and to provide information on the implementation of their actions through national communications, with provisions for international consultations and analysis under clearly defined guidelines.” Phew!
Sounds good. Let’s see what the bold and fine print say when it’s released.
