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Version 26 Version 27
Act now on climate, summit urged Act now on climate, summit urged
(about 5 hours later)
Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen has described the UN climate summit in Copenhagen as an "opportunity the world cannot afford to miss".Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen has described the UN climate summit in Copenhagen as an "opportunity the world cannot afford to miss".
Opening the two-week conference in the Danish capital, he told delegates from 192 countries a "strong and ambitious climate change agreement" was needed.Opening the two-week conference in the Danish capital, he told delegates from 192 countries a "strong and ambitious climate change agreement" was needed.
About 100 leaders are to attend the meeting, which aims to strike a deal on major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.About 100 leaders are to attend the meeting, which aims to strike a deal on major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
The UN says an unprecedented number of countries have promised emissions cuts.The UN says an unprecedented number of countries have promised emissions cuts.
AT THE SCENE Richard Black, BBC environment correspondentAT THE SCENE Richard Black, BBC environment correspondent
Despite some seductive mood music this morning, sombre notes were also sounded in the opening bars of this two-week conference.Despite some seductive mood music this morning, sombre notes were also sounded in the opening bars of this two-week conference.
The first formal sign of a discord between various parties surfaced in the opening session. The head of the Grenadan delegation said the Association of Small Island States (AOSIS) would "consider their options" if a legally-binding deal did not materialise here.The first formal sign of a discord between various parties surfaced in the opening session. The head of the Grenadan delegation said the Association of Small Island States (AOSIS) would "consider their options" if a legally-binding deal did not materialise here.
It appears that this bloc of 43 countries may simply not sign a deal that they believe votes their nations out of existence.It appears that this bloc of 43 countries may simply not sign a deal that they believe votes their nations out of existence.
Some people here raise the point that small countries can be easily "bought off" by aid money or trade, or bullied into conformity, by their larger brethren.Some people here raise the point that small countries can be easily "bought off" by aid money or trade, or bullied into conformity, by their larger brethren.
Surely history indicates that is true; but if you perceive that the end of your nation is in sight as sea levels rise, perhaps that changes the usual terms of business. More from Richard BlackSurely history indicates that is true; but if you perceive that the end of your nation is in sight as sea levels rise, perhaps that changes the usual terms of business. More from Richard Black
But on the first day of the summit, divisions were evident between various blocs, with small island states indicating they would not accept anything less than a legally binding deal including deep cuts in emissions.But on the first day of the summit, divisions were evident between various blocs, with small island states indicating they would not accept anything less than a legally binding deal including deep cuts in emissions.
In July, the G8 bloc of industrialised countries and some major developing countries adopted a target of keeping the global average temperature rise since pre-industrial times to 2C.In July, the G8 bloc of industrialised countries and some major developing countries adopted a target of keeping the global average temperature rise since pre-industrial times to 2C.
However, small island states think this would cause serious climate impacts from rising sea levels, and have been arguing for a lower target of 1.5C. A number of African nations also back the lower target.However, small island states think this would cause serious climate impacts from rising sea levels, and have been arguing for a lower target of 1.5C. A number of African nations also back the lower target.
BBC environment correspondent Richard Black say it is possible that the G77/China bloc will endorse the lower target.BBC environment correspondent Richard Black say it is possible that the G77/China bloc will endorse the lower target.
He says this would raise a huge obstacle, because none of the industrialised countries have put forward emission cuts in the range that would be required to meet a 1.5C target.He says this would raise a huge obstacle, because none of the industrialised countries have put forward emission cuts in the range that would be required to meet a 1.5C target.
The African Union has threatened to walk out of the talks if industrialised countries do not agree to help poor states pay for the transition to cleaner economies.The African Union has threatened to walk out of the talks if industrialised countries do not agree to help poor states pay for the transition to cleaner economies.
The main areas for discussion at Copenhagen include:The main areas for discussion at Copenhagen include:
  • Targets to curb greenhouse gas emissions, in particular by developed countries
  • Financial support for mitigation of and adaptation to climate change by developing countries
  • A carbon trading scheme aimed at ending the destruction of the world's forests by 2030.
  • Targets to curb greenhouse gas emissions, in particular by developed countries
  • Financial support for mitigation of and adaptation to climate change by developing countries
  • A carbon trading scheme aimed at ending the destruction of the world's forests by 2030.
Any agreement made at Copenhagen is intended to supplant the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on climate change, which expires in 2012.Any agreement made at Copenhagen is intended to supplant the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on climate change, which expires in 2012.
World leaders who have pledged to attend include US President Barack Obama, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.World leaders who have pledged to attend include US President Barack Obama, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
'Immediate action''Immediate action'
In his opening remarks, the Danish prime minister told delegates that the world was looking to the conference to safeguard humanity.In his opening remarks, the Danish prime minister told delegates that the world was looking to the conference to safeguard humanity.

COPENHAGEN LATEST

  • Summit venue is sealed off as police and demonstrators clash outside
  • African countries soften their demands for climate finance from rich developed nations
  • Danish environment minister Connie Hedegaard resigns as president of the summit to be replaced by Danish PM
  • UN chief Ban Ki-moon suggests climate change deal might not include a figure on long-term financial aid for developing countries
Updated: 16:40 GMT, 16 December

COPENHAGEN LATEST

  • Talks delayed for nine hours due to wrangles over conference text
  • Japan offers $5bn a year to poor nations if a deal is reached
  • Australia, France, Japan, Norway, the UK and US collectively commit $3.5bn over three years to combating deforestation
  • Ethiopia, on behalf of African Union, endorses the G8 and EU target for maximum temperature rise of 2C
Updated: 22:03 GMT, 16 December
"By the end, we must be able to deliver back to the world what was granted us here today: hope for a better future," Mr Rasmussen said."By the end, we must be able to deliver back to the world what was granted us here today: hope for a better future," Mr Rasmussen said.
UN climate convention head Yvo de Boer said the time had come to deliver cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.UN climate convention head Yvo de Boer said the time had come to deliver cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
"The time for formal statements is over. The time for re-stating well-known positions is past," he told delegates."The time for formal statements is over. The time for re-stating well-known positions is past," he told delegates.
"Copenhagen will only be a success if it delivers significant and immediate action.""Copenhagen will only be a success if it delivers significant and immediate action."
Connie Hedegaard, conference president and Denmark's former climate minister, said: "This is our chance. If we miss it, it could take years before we got a new and better one. If we ever do."Connie Hedegaard, conference president and Denmark's former climate minister, said: "This is our chance. If we miss it, it could take years before we got a new and better one. If we ever do."

CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY

Glossary in full

CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY

Glossary in full
On the same day that the Copenhagen summit opened, a US government agency declared that greenhouse gases posed a risk to human health.On the same day that the Copenhagen summit opened, a US government agency declared that greenhouse gases posed a risk to human health.
The ruling by the Environmental Protection Agency on the dangers of greenhouse gases allows it to issue rules to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, even if the US Congress fails to pass suitable legislation.The ruling by the Environmental Protection Agency on the dangers of greenhouse gases allows it to issue rules to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, even if the US Congress fails to pass suitable legislation.
Climate legislation passed narrowly in the House of Representatives in June, but the bill has been delayed in the Senate.Climate legislation passed narrowly in the House of Representatives in June, but the bill has been delayed in the Senate.
Meanwhile, a new poll commissioned by the BBC suggests that public concern over climate change is growing across the world.Meanwhile, a new poll commissioned by the BBC suggests that public concern over climate change is growing across the world.
In the survey, by Globescan, 64% of people questioned said that they considered global warming a very serious problem - up 20% from a 1998 poll.In the survey, by Globescan, 64% of people questioned said that they considered global warming a very serious problem - up 20% from a 1998 poll.
To stress the importance of the summit, 56 newspapers in 45 countries published the same editorial on Monday, warning that climate change will "ravage our planet" unless action is agreed, the London-based Guardian reported.To stress the importance of the summit, 56 newspapers in 45 countries published the same editorial on Monday, warning that climate change will "ravage our planet" unless action is agreed, the London-based Guardian reported.
The editorial - published in 20 languages - was thrashed out by editors ahead of the Copenhagen talks, the newspaper said.The editorial - published in 20 languages - was thrashed out by editors ahead of the Copenhagen talks, the newspaper said.
"At the deal's heart must be a settlement between the rich world and the developing world," the editorial says."At the deal's heart must be a settlement between the rich world and the developing world," the editorial says.
Environmental activists are planning to hold protests in Copenhagen and around the world on 12 December to encourage delegates to reach the strongest possible deal.Environmental activists are planning to hold protests in Copenhagen and around the world on 12 December to encourage delegates to reach the strongest possible deal.