12.20.09
History was not made
Published on Sunday, December 20, 2009 by Inter Press Service
Climate Summit: History Was Not Made
by Stephen Leahy
COPENHAGEN – There is no Copenhagen climate treaty. History was not made here and no deal was sealed.
After two years of intense negotiations by 193 countries, what is abundantly clear is the enormous divide between the rich and poor countries. Poor countries want deep cuts in emissions by the industrialised world, and the latter continue to resist significant cuts and legally binding targets.
Despite the enormous pressures, high expectations and last minute efforts by 128 heads of state, all that emerged is a vague agreement of sorts called the “Copenhagen Accord”.