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Copenhagen climate talks resume 'Get to work', urges climate head
(about 1 hour later)
Talks at the UN climate summit resumed on Monday afternoon after protests from developing nations forced a suspension. The president of the UN climate summit has urged delegates to "get to work" after protests from developing nations forced a suspension of several hours.
But talks have been limited to informal consultations on procedural issues, notably developing countries' demands for more time on the Kyoto Protocol. Talks resumed late on Monday after the president, Danish minister Connie Hedegaard, addressed some of the developing countries' concerns.
The G77-China bloc, speaking for developing countries, said the Danish hosts had violated democratic process. Their key demand - separate talks on the Kyoto Protocol - was met.
Some delegates talked forlornly of the vast amount of negotiating left to be done before the summit concludes.Some delegates talked forlornly of the vast amount of negotiating left to be done before the summit concludes.
The G77-China bloc, made up of 130 nations, suspended their co-operation as they accused organisers of trying to formulate a deal behind closed doors. Earlier, the G77-China bloc, speaking for developing countries, said the Danish hosts had violated democratic process.
THE WEEK AHEAD Tues 15 Dec - Prince Charles delivers a speech on the dangers of deforestation; UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrivesWeds 16 Dec - Ministerial teams take over negotiations as the high level segment beginsFri 18 Dec - More than 100 world leaders, including Barack Obama, attend closing sessionTHE WEEK AHEAD Tues 15 Dec - Prince Charles delivers a speech on the dangers of deforestation; UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrivesWeds 16 Dec - Ministerial teams take over negotiations as the high level segment beginsFri 18 Dec - More than 100 world leaders, including Barack Obama, attend closing session
But Ms Hedegaard, who will take up the new post of EU climate commissioner after this meeting, said she had told developing countries repeatedly that the Kyoto Protocol was not being sidelined.
"They have been assured all the way," she told BBC News.
"Yesterday I met with 48 delegations, the main part of those coming from G77 countries.
"I consulted with them on the way forward today, and I heard no objections. That's why it's a bit surprising that we had to spend almost one day on these procedural issues."
The G77-China bloc negotiates on behalf of 130 countries - ranging from wealthy nations such as Saudi Arabia, to some of the poorest states - in the UN climate negotiations.
Protocol question
Blocs representing poor countries vulnerable to climate change have been adamant that rich nations must commit to emission cuts beyond 2012 under the Kyoto Protocol.Blocs representing poor countries vulnerable to climate change have been adamant that rich nations must commit to emission cuts beyond 2012 under the Kyoto Protocol.

CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY

Glossary in full
But the EU and the developed world in general has promoted the idea of an entirely new agreement, replacing the protocol.But the EU and the developed world in general has promoted the idea of an entirely new agreement, replacing the protocol.
Developing countries fear they would lose many of the gains they made when the Kyoto agreement was signed in 1997.Developing countries fear they would lose many of the gains they made when the Kyoto agreement was signed in 1997.
They point out that the Kyoto Protocol is the only international legally binding instrument that has curbed carbon emissions, and also that it contains functioning mechanisms for bringing development benefits to poor countries such as money for investment in clean energy projects. They have been arguing for a "twin track" approach, whereby countries with existing targets under the Kyoto Protocol (all developed nations except the US) stay under that umbrella, with the US and major developing economies making their carbon pledges under a new protocol.
Previously during this meeting - formally called the Conference of the Parties (COP) 15 - developing countries have accused the Danish chairs of ignoring their concerns. The chairman of the G77-China delegation here, Sudanese diplomat Lumumba Di-Aping, suggested that the Danes' decision to lump together informal consultations on both tracks in a single session amounted to bias.
G77-China chief negotiator Lumumba Di-Aping explained why the bloc had taken the decision to withdraw its co-operation.
"It has become clear that the Danish presidency - in the most undemocratic fashion - is advancing the interests of the developed countries at the expense of the balance of obligations between developed and developing countries," he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One programme."It has become clear that the Danish presidency - in the most undemocratic fashion - is advancing the interests of the developed countries at the expense of the balance of obligations between developed and developing countries," he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One programme.
"The mistake they are doing now has reached levels that cannot be acceptable from a president who is supposed to be acting and shepherding the process on behalf of all parties.""The mistake they are doing now has reached levels that cannot be acceptable from a president who is supposed to be acting and shepherding the process on behalf of all parties."
Last week, the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu forced a suspension after insisting that proposals to amend the UN climate convention and Kyoto Protocol be debated in full.Last week, the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu forced a suspension after insisting that proposals to amend the UN climate convention and Kyoto Protocol be debated in full.
'Twin track'
At a news conference earlier in the day, UK Climate Secretary Ed Miliband said that for the developed world to commit to further cuts under the Kyoto Protocol would be "irresponsible for the climate".
Some developing nations are wary of the way negotiations are progressing Developing countries split on CO2Some developing nations are wary of the way negotiations are progressing Developing countries split on CO2
He said it would leave some of the world's biggest emitters such as the US, China and India without targets for cutting emissions, which was why the EU favoured an entirely new agreement covering all countries.
Many developing countries have been arguing for a "twin track" approach, whereby countries with existing targets under the Kyoto Protocol (all developed nations except the US) stay under that umbrella, with the US and major developing economies making their carbon pledges under a new protocol.
Kim Carstensen, director of the global climate initiative with environment group WWF, said that much more movement was needed on the Kyoto Protocol negotiations here.Kim Carstensen, director of the global climate initiative with environment group WWF, said that much more movement was needed on the Kyoto Protocol negotiations here.
"The point is being made very loudly that African countries and the wider G77 bloc will not accept non-action on the Kyoto Protocol, and they're really afraid that a deal has been stitched up behind their backs," he told BBC News."The point is being made very loudly that African countries and the wider G77 bloc will not accept non-action on the Kyoto Protocol, and they're really afraid that a deal has been stitched up behind their backs," he told BBC News.
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class="arr" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8314171.stm">Glossary in full 		Some delegates suggested that the suspension, and the underlying tensions to which is speaks, bode ill for the chances of any meaningful agreement here.
Some delegates suggested that the suspension, and the underlying tensions to which is speaks, bode very ill for the chances of any meaningful agreement here. One long-time observer used the word "farce" to describe a situation where governments agreed two years ago to work on a new global deal here, but with less than a week to go before that deal is supposed to be agreed, have still to agree even the basic outline and basic aims.
Responding to the day's events, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon warned that time was running out for nations to reach an agreement.
"I appeal to all world leaders... to redouble efforts to find room for compromise," he told reporters. "Time is running out. There is no time for posturing or blaming."
Heads of state and government will shortly arrive for the final segment of talks that are due to finish on Friday.Heads of state and government will shortly arrive for the final segment of talks that are due to finish on Friday.
Richard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.ukRichard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk
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