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Tear gas fired at climate talks Tear gas fired at climate talks
(10 minutes later)
Police have fired tear gas as hundreds of protesters tried to break through a perimeter fence at the UN climate summit venue in Copenhagen.Police have fired tear gas as hundreds of protesters tried to break through a perimeter fence at the UN climate summit venue in Copenhagen.
The Bella Centre, where the conference is taking place, has now been shut off, says the BBC's Sarah Mukherjee.The Bella Centre, where the conference is taking place, has now been shut off, says the BBC's Sarah Mukherjee.
Activists have been angered by lack of progress on a new climate deal and also by restrictions on access to the talks.Activists have been angered by lack of progress on a new climate deal and also by restrictions on access to the talks.
The protesters had marched to the summit across Copenhagen and police said they had detained about 100.The protesters had marched to the summit across Copenhagen and police said they had detained about 100.
The BBC's David Shukman, who is outside the Bella Centre where the talks are taking place, said there was a tense stand-off between protesters and police. The BBC's David Shukman, who is outside the Bella Centre, said there was a tense stand-off between protesters and police.
As environment ministers and their aides join the talks, Danish officials have cut the number of campaigners allowed in.As environment ministers and their aides join the talks, Danish officials have cut the number of campaigners allowed in.
Thousands of would-be delegates have queued for hours to gain access to the conference venue - many unsuccessfully.Thousands of would-be delegates have queued for hours to gain access to the conference venue - many unsuccessfully.
Those unable to take part on Wednesday included campaign group Friends of the Earth.Those unable to take part on Wednesday included campaign group Friends of the Earth.
It said its delegates arrived at the centre to find their badges were no longer valid. It said its delegates had arrived at the centre to find their badges were no longer valid.

COPENHAGEN LATEST

  • Danish environment minister Connie Hedegaard resigns as president of the summit to be replaced by Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen
  • The start of "high-level" talks, with prime ministers and other dignitaries, is delayed after developing countries protested about procedural issues.
  • UN chief Ban Ki-moon suggests a climate change deal might not include a figure on financial aid for developing countries, UK's Financial Times reports.
Updated: 11:47 GMT, 16 December

COPENHAGEN LATEST

  • Danish environment minister Connie Hedegaard resigns as president of the summit to be replaced by Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen
  • The start of "high-level" talks, with prime ministers and other dignitaries, is delayed after developing countries protested about procedural issues.
  • UN chief Ban Ki-moon suggests a climate change deal might not include a figure on financial aid for developing countries, UK's Financial Times reports.
Updated: 11:47 GMT, 16 December
Some campaigners have said that after marching to the summit they would try to break in. Some campaigners said that after marching to the summit they would try to break in.
A correspondent at the Bella Centre said a small group of 10 protesters got into the central concourse. In another development, Danish environment minister Connie Hedegaard resigned as president of the summit on Wednesday, to be replaced by Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
She said the move was procedural.
"With so many heads of state and government having arrived it's appropriate that the prime minister of Denmark presides," Ms Hedegaard told the meeting.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has suggested that poor countries may have to give up their hope of getting immediate long-term financial commitments from richer countries.Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has suggested that poor countries may have to give up their hope of getting immediate long-term financial commitments from richer countries.
The amount of aid rich nations will pay poorer ones to combat global warming has been one of the main stumbling blocks at the summit.The amount of aid rich nations will pay poorer ones to combat global warming has been one of the main stumbling blocks at the summit.
In an interview with the UK's Financial Times, Mr Ban said he didn't think the exact amount was vital to the current deal. In an interview with the UK's Financial Times, Mr Ban said he did not think the exact amount was vital to the current deal.
"If they are not able to agree this time at Copenhagen, then there needs to be some initial arrangement. This is a time when common sense, compromise and partnership should prevail," he said."If they are not able to agree this time at Copenhagen, then there needs to be some initial arrangement. This is a time when common sense, compromise and partnership should prevail," he said.
Once negotiations do get under way, delegates will find they still have a huge number of fundamental issues to address, our correspondent says. Once negotiations do get under way, delegates will find they still have a huge number of fundamental issues to address, the BBC's Richard Black in Copenhagen says.
These include the size of emissions cuts by developed nations, how finance should be raised and disbursed, and most fundamentally, whether a deal here should aim to keep the global temperature rise to 2C or 1.5C.These include the size of emissions cuts by developed nations, how finance should be raised and disbursed, and most fundamentally, whether a deal here should aim to keep the global temperature rise to 2C or 1.5C.
HAVE YOUR SAYIf you believe in Santa Claus then you believe something of substance will be agreed to at CopenhagenRudy, Victoria, Canada Send us your comments
Two years after governments decided to seek a new global climate deal and just three days before it is due to be completed, there is clearly still an immense amount of negotiating left to do, our correspondent adds.Two years after governments decided to seek a new global climate deal and just three days before it is due to be completed, there is clearly still an immense amount of negotiating left to do, our correspondent adds.
In another development on Wednesday, African nations are expected to reject a deal forged by Ethiopia, France and the UK aimed at breaking the deadlock at the summit, the BBC has learned.In another development on Wednesday, African nations are expected to reject a deal forged by Ethiopia, France and the UK aimed at breaking the deadlock at the summit, the BBC has learned.
The deal - said to have been organised during Ethiopian President Meles Zenawi's recent visit to Paris - would have raised funds for financing clean development and climate adaptation through "innovative mechanisms" including taxes on air travel and on bank transactions.The deal - said to have been organised during Ethiopian President Meles Zenawi's recent visit to Paris - would have raised funds for financing clean development and climate adaptation through "innovative mechanisms" including taxes on air travel and on bank transactions.
'Important moment''Important moment'
The high-level phase of the talks began on Tuesday, with environment ministers and negotiators from 193 countries struggling to make progress on core issues.The high-level phase of the talks began on Tuesday, with environment ministers and negotiators from 193 countries struggling to make progress on core issues.

CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY

Glossary in full

CLIMATE CHANGE GLOSSARY

Glossary in full
Draft text released to delegates and obtained by the BBC makes clear that the most important parts of any eventual deal still have to be decided.Draft text released to delegates and obtained by the BBC makes clear that the most important parts of any eventual deal still have to be decided.
Temperature targets are still in the text as alternatives, our correspondent says. Proposed figures for emission cuts by developed nations - apart from the US - range from 15% by the period 2013-2017 to 49% by 2013-2020.Temperature targets are still in the text as alternatives, our correspondent says. Proposed figures for emission cuts by developed nations - apart from the US - range from 15% by the period 2013-2017 to 49% by 2013-2020.
The section on finance consists entirely of paragraphs in square brackets, meaning that none of it has been agreed, our correspondent adds.The section on finance consists entirely of paragraphs in square brackets, meaning that none of it has been agreed, our correspondent adds.
However, the White House says President Barack Obama, who will join world leaders in Copenhagen later in the week, is confident of reaching a deal. However, the White House says US President Barack Obama, who will join world leaders in Copenhagen later in the week, is confident of reaching a deal.
"The president believes that we can get... an operational agreement that makes sense in Copenhagen, over the next few days," spokesman Robert Gibbs told a briefing."The president believes that we can get... an operational agreement that makes sense in Copenhagen, over the next few days," spokesman Robert Gibbs told a briefing.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is already in Copenhagen, told reporters on Tuesday that it was a critical moment.UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is already in Copenhagen, told reporters on Tuesday that it was a critical moment.
"This is a very important moment for the world," Mr Brown said."This is a very important moment for the world," Mr Brown said.
"It is possible that we will not get an agreement and it is also true that there are many issues to be sorted out. But I am determined... to do everything I can to bring the world together.""It is possible that we will not get an agreement and it is also true that there are many issues to be sorted out. But I am determined... to do everything I can to bring the world together."
More than 120 leaders will formally join the talks on Thursday, aiming to seal an accord by Friday.More than 120 leaders will formally join the talks on Thursday, aiming to seal an accord by Friday.
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