Climate deal comes down to US and China
LEIGH PHILIPS
18.12.2009 @ 17:35 CET
EUOBSERVER / COPENHAGEN - Following intense talks amongst world leaders at the global climate summit in Copenhagen on Friday (18 December), US President Barack Obama has signalled that a deal is unlikely.
"While the science of climate change is not in doubt, I think our ability to take collective action is in doubt right now, and it hangs in the balance," he told delegates to the UN meeting as none of the major world blocs were able to add any new offers to the discussion.
Mr Obama said he had come to the Danish capital "not to talk, but to act." (Photo: Flickr)
Echoing the slogans of activist banners calling on politicians to move on from talking, Mr Obama said he had come to the Danish capital "not to talk, but to act."
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, for his part, insisted once again on his country's position, common to the rest of the developing world, that the global north is responsible for the crisis.
Those across the table from the developing world must not "turn a blind eye to historical responsibilities, per capita emissions and different levels of development," he said.
The final discussions in many ways came down to a game of chicken between Washington and Beijing. The US has not moved from its position that China offer some way of verifying its voluntary emissions growth reduction promises. China argues that it will consider reviews of any actions it takes that are financed by the developed world, independent actions need no check-up. Furthermore, America must offer more in terms of its own reductions.
In terms of climate finance, China earlier this week said it was not interested in climate cash in the way that poorer members of the developing world are.
Mr Wen did offer to "further enhance" its monitoring regime and "increase transparency and actively engage in international exchange, dialogue and co-operation."
But his American counterpart felt this still did not go far enough.
A climate deal "where we all are not sharing information and ensuring we are meeting our commitments ... doesn't make sense. It would be a hollow victory," Obama said.
Following their presentations to the conference, the two leaders went off to meet alone, talking for about an hour.
