Developing countries walk out of Copenhagen talks

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

UPDATE: Australia’s Climate Change Minister Penny Wong confirmed that organisers are trying to fix the problem and bring the developing countries back to the table.

Sky News is reporting that Copenhagen negotiations have been suspended, after developing countries walked out in a protest led by African nations and backed by the G77 group of developing countries, who are accusing industrialised powers of trying to back out of existing agreements from the Kyoto Protocol on carbon emissions.

Oxfam International’s Jeremy Hobbs has put out a statement:

“Africa has pulled the emergency cord to avoid a train crash at the end of the week. Poor countries want to see an outcome which guarantees sharp emissions reductions yet rich countries are trying to delay discussions on the only mechanism we have to deliver this – the Kyoto Protocol.

This not about blocking the talks – it is about whether rich countries are ready to guarantee action on climate change and the survival or people in Africa and across the world.

Australia and Japan are crying foul while blocking movement on legally binding emissions reductions for rich countries. This tit for tat approach is no way to deal with the climate crisis.

African countries have refused to continue negotiations unless talks on a second commitment period to the Kyoto Protocol are prioritized ahead of broader discussions under a second LCA track. Australia, Japan and others have succeeded in stopping Kyoto Protocol discussions as a result. Of the two tracks of negotiations underway in Copenhagen the Kyoto Protocol is the only one which includes a mechanism for legally binding emissions reductions by rich countries.“

The walkout will disappoint Ed Miliband, who last week said the UK and other nations were in the “final push for an agreement” at Copenhagen.

More to follow…