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No climate deal without polluters No climate deal without polluters
(about 5 hours later)
Any agreement to come out of Copenhagen will be worthless without the participation of the most polluting nations, Edwin Poots has said.Any agreement to come out of Copenhagen will be worthless without the participation of the most polluting nations, Edwin Poots has said.
Delegations from 192 countries are in the Danish capital for talks paving the way for a new treaty on climate change.Delegations from 192 countries are in the Danish capital for talks paving the way for a new treaty on climate change.
Mr Poots, NI's environment minister, said that at the moment there had been a lot of posturing at the conference.Mr Poots, NI's environment minister, said that at the moment there had been a lot of posturing at the conference.
"The UK is pushing for a universal deal, which is something I strongly support," he said."The UK is pushing for a universal deal, which is something I strongly support," he said.
"While some countries wish to go back to Kyoto it is very clear that that is not deliverable."While some countries wish to go back to Kyoto it is very clear that that is not deliverable.
"What we do need to bring out of Copenhagen is a deal which all of the main countries and polluters sign up to so without the US, China, Brazil, India, Indonesia and Russia this deal isn't worth doing - so we need to bring those countries with us.""What we do need to bring out of Copenhagen is a deal which all of the main countries and polluters sign up to so without the US, China, Brazil, India, Indonesia and Russia this deal isn't worth doing - so we need to bring those countries with us."
Mr Poots made his comments in a interview with the Good Morning Ulster BBC radio programme.Mr Poots made his comments in a interview with the Good Morning Ulster BBC radio programme.
During it he was asked about plans for a single waste disposal authority for Northern Ireland, but there are fears that unless there is agreement on the review of public administration this will face delays.During it he was asked about plans for a single waste disposal authority for Northern Ireland, but there are fears that unless there is agreement on the review of public administration this will face delays.
Unless NI improves on reducing, reusing, recycling and managing waste effectively it could face European Union infraction fines that could amount to £500,000 a day.Unless NI improves on reducing, reusing, recycling and managing waste effectively it could face European Union infraction fines that could amount to £500,000 a day.

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
Mr Poots said there were unlikely to be local council elections next year and that work was continuing on the plan.Mr Poots said there were unlikely to be local council elections next year and that work was continuing on the plan.
"What we are looking at is spending about £600m on a waste infrastructure, the contribution from central government will be about £200m I want to see if that is absolutely necessary and if I can reduce that amount of spend," he said."What we are looking at is spending about £600m on a waste infrastructure, the contribution from central government will be about £200m I want to see if that is absolutely necessary and if I can reduce that amount of spend," he said.
"I want to see if we can move beyond the 50% recycling target in which case NI will not need to spend as much.""I want to see if we can move beyond the 50% recycling target in which case NI will not need to spend as much."
Heads of state will start to appear in Copenhagen later, ahead of a hoped-for signing on Friday.Heads of state will start to appear in Copenhagen later, ahead of a hoped-for signing on Friday.
But several issues remain to be solved ahead of the summit's climax.But several issues remain to be solved ahead of the summit's climax.

CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY

Glossary in full

CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY

Glossary in full
Correspondents have said suspicions among poor countries that rich ones are ganging up on them - which prompted a walk-out on Monday - remain strong.Correspondents have said suspicions among poor countries that rich ones are ganging up on them - which prompted a walk-out on Monday - remain strong.
Developing nations staged a five-hour walkout on Monday, only returning after their key demand - separate talks on the Kyoto Protocol - was met.Developing nations staged a five-hour walkout on Monday, only returning after their key demand - separate talks on the Kyoto Protocol - was met.
The bloc, which represents countries vulnerable to climate change, has been adamant that rich nations must commit to emission cuts beyond 2012 under the Kyoto Protocol.The bloc, which represents countries vulnerable to climate change, has been adamant that rich nations must commit to emission cuts beyond 2012 under the Kyoto Protocol.
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.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.
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.
The White House said President Barack Obama, who is due to address the conference on Friday, was "committed to pursuing an accord that requires countries to take meaningful steps".The White House said President Barack Obama, who is due to address the conference on Friday, was "committed to pursuing an accord that requires countries to take meaningful steps".
Campaign group Greenpeace said the summit had five days "to avert climate chaos".Campaign group Greenpeace said the summit had five days "to avert climate chaos".
Emissions targets so far offered by Western leaders such as Mr Obama amounted to "peanuts", the group added.Emissions targets so far offered by Western leaders such as Mr Obama amounted to "peanuts", the group added.