With stakes so high, and with 130 heads of state, an agreement among 192 nations was a deal waiting to happen. After Obama left the Bella Center in the evening, US officials announced that a deal had been reached with the Basic countries of Brazil, South Africa, India and China. But an hour later, minister for environment Jairam Ramesh said that a ¨legally non'binding deal¨ had been worked out, before he went into a meeting with UK prime minister Gordon Brown and others. About two hours later, UNFCCC executive secretary Yvo de Boer said that ¨some nations had worked out a deal and it would take a ¨couple of hours more¨ for it to accepted by more countries, including the small island states. By midnight, the deal had not been struck and rumours started flying the European Union had not accepted the basic deal. But that was not true. Ramesh later came down and said the deal had been stuck with Obama’s intervention. The G-77 spokesman Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping said an hour later that the deal was a failure and many countries would oppose it.
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Night of rumours
When there are 3,500 reporters get together, you would think that authentic information flow would be the order of the day. Think again. Friday evening saw a rumour being circulated that President Barack Obama would give a press conference. Soon, there was a mad rush for the main press conference room in Bella Center. And associated press television news decided to send live footage from the Center. After the place was jampacked, a senior UNFCCC official announced that the room had not been booked by anyone for a press conference. And this happened again about an hour later. Disappointed reporters and TV crews then waited outside the room where Obama was meeting Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, only to see the US president using a side exit to leave Bella Center.
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Negotiating leaders
Most nations did not want this — having their top leaders negotiate. They wanted the heads of state or government to come to Copenhagen and just approve the document forged by their negotiators. India had taken a strong exception to Australian suggestion that leaders should enter into climate change negotiations. But that’s what has happened, ultimately. Since Friday morning, the final text of the Copenhagen Accord was being negotiated and renegotiated by the leaders. By late evening a fifth (or was it sixth?) draft was floating around, with leaders arguing over words and meanings. Prime minister Manmohan Singh delayed his departure for India to bring about a consensus, as did US President Barack Obama.
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Grounded in flight
One problem with travelling with the prime minister is that members of media and officials have to reach the aircraft two to three hours before take off. The same happened to official media and agency reports as well as officials who were going back to India with the PM from Copenhagen. They were asked to reach the plane by 4 pm in preparation for take off by 7 pm local time. But because the negotiations went on till late, the people had to cool their heels inside the aircraft even as the prime minister entered into deep discussions with several leaders to forge a climate deal.
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Not time bound
Climate talks, it seems do not care about the clock. The ‘informal’ high-level meeting called for 10 am on Friday by president of the conference Lars Lokke Rasmussen, the prime minister of Denmark, could not start till 11.55 am, possibly because heads of state were huddled together in separate meetings. French president Nicholas Sarkozy was said to be holding a meeting of 20 nations which included Brazil and India. President Barack Obama, who arrived in the morning, was reportedly in talks with Chinese premier Wen Jiabbao. Prime minister Manmohan Singh was seen in the plenary hall at 11.20 am, although he had arrived at the Bella Center at around 9.15. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvia was also seen at the same time. High parleys apparently do not keep watch on the clock. In fact, the opening ceremony of the Copenhagen Conference on December 7 started off about 40 minutes late.
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Dinnerless diplomacy
Prime minister Manmohan Singh missed the palace dinner hosted by queen of Denmark perhaps because an Air India loading truck in New Delhi hit the gate of the plane damaging it slightly. The plane had to be changed, delaying Singh’s arrival for over three hours. But officials in Copenhagen have been saying for over three days that prime minister would not attend the dinner. The dinner was used by leaders of more than 100 nations to do some quick diplomacy to push the deadlock talks in Copenhagen. Some of the leaders also met after dinner to discuss the final text to be adopted, but India and China were not invited to this meeting.
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Party gatecrashers
Well it’s not only White House parties that gatecrashers can get in. At the dinner hosted by queen of Denmark on Thursday evening at the royal palace, three Greenpeace protestors got inside the building and unfurled handheld banners saying “politicians plan, leaders lead” or words to that effect. They were quickly bundled out by the security personnel, before they could reach the over 100 leaders gathered for the dinner and a speech by UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon. Several other protestors outside the palace in Copenhagen were arrested.
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Inscrutable Indians
Even as the Chinese have taken centre stage, talking to international press regularly in Copenhagen and holding official briefings twice a day, India has not addressed a single press conference for the international media in 12 days of the conference. Reporters from the international press have come individually to minister of environment and forests Jairam Ramesh for comments or interviews, but unlike most leading nations which have held regular briefings, India has been missing. Ramesh, who holds briefings informally with the Indian reporters, held one formal meeting with the Indian press and NGOs the day he arrived, and there’s a closing press conference scheduled for Friday afternoon. In fact, for Friday two press conferences were officially listed by Indian delegation. The first one was not held. A future superpower would need to be more communicative. Or have the Indian delegation been advised to lie low?
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Leaders in, but draft missing
Already, around 119 heads of state or governments have gathered in Copenhagen by Thursday morning to help put their stamp of approval on a ‘political document’ emerging from the climate talks negotiations, but there was no sign of the document they may adopt. Nor is there any consensus on the two track of discussions on the Kyoto Protocol and the long-term cooperative action, which was supposed to be adopted by Thursday morning by the ministers and the negotiating teams, despite a night of discussions. Prime minister Manmohan Singh is arriving late in the evening.
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Weather woes
The weather in Copenhagen continued to have an impact on the gathering as one foot snow overnight led to treacherous roads and slippery paths led to further delays in people arriving at the Bella Center where the conference goes into its last day of deliberations before a final adoption of a ‘political document’ on Friday.
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Restrictions galore
The area of movement continues to be restricted inside the Bella Center in Copenhagen, with the lobby areas and access to delegation offices block for the media. Those who wanted to cover press conferences of heads of state or government were escorted in batches. The entry of NGOs have been scuttled down to a miniscule 300 out of tens of thousands who were accredited, with the result that entry was relatively smooth. Many top business persons unable to have easy access to Bella Center have cut short their visit and are returning to their countries.
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Doing it to Greenpeace
An organisation called committee for constructive tomorrow (Cfact), which brings together global warming sceptics have to Greenpeace what the latter does to other ships and vessels. Cfact activists unfurled a ‘Propaganda Warrior’ banner on the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior. Cfact, which is in Copenhagen to “give the other side” said its activists had also boarded Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise to unfurl a banner reading ‘Ship of Lies’ by gain entry after offering doughnuts to the crew. Cfact said the protest was against Greenpeace’s “callous disregard for truth.”
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Battleground Bella Center
The ministers and heads of delegations meeting in Copenhagen were involved in intense discussion throughout Tuesday night and going into Wednesday night, trying to come to a common position. The meeting is expected to go on till Thursday morning when they are expected to deliver two agreed texts on the Kyoto Protocol and long-term cooperative action. The format of this meeting has been structured so that heads of state or government, who have started arriving, do not have to enter into negotiations. They will approve the documents finalised by their delegations, unless there’s a breakdown.
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Battleground Bella Center
The Bella Center became a battleground when thousands of demonstrators sought to enter the negotiating venue, with the police using tear gas, pepper spray and force to disperse those who scaled fences and jumped over police vehicles. Over 250 people were arrested, but none succeeded in getting in, as police presence is very strong around the conference center in Copenhagen. The police came down heavily on the people gathered, and several of those who were not a part of the demonstration also had to bear the brunt of the action.
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Alternate for NGOs
The Danish government is setting up an alernative meeting venue for those non-government organisations and intergovernment organisations which could not get all their accredited members into the Bella Center, where high-level negotiations have started. The UNFCCC had restricted access to the center because almost 45,000 sought entry while the place could accommodate only 15,000. The alternate at Forum Copenhagen was arranged in discussion with NGO-network peoples’ climate action.
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Security stepped up
The heads of state and governments have started arriving in Copenhagen, and a further tightening of security is happening all over Bella Center, the venue of the climate change meeting and the city. Police patrol are visible deep inside bylanes, and the security presences is highly visible everywhere. Already, entry restrictions have been put in place, with the NGOs and others having to obtain a second pass for entry. The executive secretary of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Yvo de Boer said he took blame for the two days of problems faced by participants at the entry gate where waits up to four hours were not unheard of. The Media Center and other places are getting a second level of metal detectors and x-ray machines, apart from the close scrutiny of that one has to go through at the entry point.
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Crowd control improves
The entry problem that beset the Bella Center for two days was vastly streamlined by Wednesday morning, though people still had to wait for security lines to move. On Monday and Tuesday there was virtual siege of the Center with thousands of members of the negotiating teams, NGOs, the media and business leaders held up at entrance. The Bella Center metro station was shut down since Monday with the automatic trains not stopping at the platforms. Those who wanted to come to the Center had to walk down from the station before. On two days, several rows of lines were seen stretching half a kilometre long under the station and just outside the only public entrance. Most people took between two to four hours to enter, and many thousand had to return disappointed. The reason was that almost 45,000 people who had asked for accreditation descended on the Center which has a capacity to handle 15,000. Already, 22,800 badges had been issued, and many of those who came on Tuesday had yet to collect their entry badge. Monday was the last sort of ‘open day’ allowing everyone in. From Tuesday,the NGOs were be restricted, with only four or so member from each organisation being allowed in.
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India lost and found
Heads of state or government are each making a speech starting Wednesday morning and going into the early hours of Thursday, but India’s name has been missing from the official list of the UN climate change conference for three days, only to be restored on Wednesday, with time allocated after 8 pm. Some countries have their ministers speaking on behalf of the heads of state, and that includes minister of environment and forests Jairam Ramesh who asked for time on Wednesday, rather than Thursday. The minster asked his officials on Monday and Tuesday about it, but apparently the system works slowly because the name could find place only on Wednesday.
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'Power’ of press
The minister of environment Jairam Ramesh was livid railing against the press, saying that he was become “fed up with the Indian press.” His ire was aimed at two stories by the Press Trust of India. One which the newspaper interpreted as saying that Manmohan Singh would not be coming to Copenhagen and the other saying that India had walked out of the negotiations along with the Africa group. “How could such patently wrong stories go through,” he asked, arguing with the reporters. He calmed down when it was explained that most of it was interpretation by the newspapers after the story said Singh would not come to Copenhagen “for negotiations”, meaning the prime minister was not expected to negotiate. The walkout story was also based on some wrong reporting by a TV station which PTI picked up. “I am getting phone calls from Delhi every ten minutes asking why India had walked out,” Ramesh said.
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Environment awards
Internews, which calls it’s an international media development organisation, has come out with 15 environment related award being given to journalists in various countries, with the top global public award being bagged by two Brazilian journalists writing on how traditional farming practices are clashing with new methods of what is called responsible agriculture. The awards were given away by IPCC chairman R K Pachauri in Copenhagen to people chosen by an independent jury from over 1,000 entries. The only Indian writer in the list got the award for writing on strides Eritrea had made on adapting to climate change.
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Extreme weather
The World Meteorological Organization has been warning of more extreme weather in the coming years before of global warming. Perhaps an evidence of sorts was available on Sunday in Copenhagen when the Sun come out for the first time in week, with very few clouds visible in the sky. Of course, it was too good to last and with half an hour the sky was back to its overcast gloom. But by evening the pendulum had swung to the other side and it started snowing. Well, the flakes last for a couple of hours and then calm returned. Perhaps a small microcosm of the weather system. But something like this would not be abnormal in this part of the world.
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Struggling IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is practically under siege on the email leakage scandal which showed scientists at the University of East Anglia had manipulated data on climate change which ultimately may have found its way into the IPCC report. At every press conference chairman R K Pachauri is asked several question about the manipulation, but so far he has effectively thwarted demand for investigation. On Saturday too, he was asked whether he would order an independent probe, but he refused to do so, saying their analysis had shown there was no problem with the IPCC latest report in 2007. That was indeed a quick look at more than a thousand emails to conclude that the report had not been compromised.
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Ragpickers in Copenhagen
There’s one group of marginalised players whom you would not expect to find in Copenhagen. These are the ragpickers of Mumbai and Pune. But at least three of them are here, trying to make their voices heard against one climate change action. Under the carbon trading mechanism India is getting several incinerators for municipalities which would directly affect their livelihood. Baby Popat Mohite and Sushila Sabre are in Copenhagen, brought by an NGO group, to convince the climate change community that some of their action may have unintended consequences of wiping out a section of workers. The ragpickers, they say, including 31,000 in Mumbai and 6,000 in Pune, remove pollution from the cities and help recycle much of the stuff, which incinerators won’t. Perhaps their voices may be better heard now that they have formed an international ragpickers’ association.
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Visualising gas
What size would one metric tonne of carbon dioxide look like? Well, artists have unveiled a 27 feet by 27 feet by 27 feet sculpture in Copenhage called the CO2 cube made of shipping containers which are three-story artwork, with images projected on it green patterns. The organisers it was abstract concept of putting together the dimensions the gas would occupy under standard atmospheric pressure. According to them, the average citizen of an industrialised country releases one metric tonne of carbon dioxide per month, according to Mia Hanak executive director of San Francisco-based Millenium Art, one of the organisation involved. The cube is set up on a lake in the centre of Copenhagen.
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Group of 77 + China
The group of 77+China has asked the US government to come up with $200 billion dollars to help tackle the effects of climate change. Its Sudanese president Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping said if they can spend hundreds of billions of dollars for their defence industry, why could they not do to so “to save the world.” The European Union dismissed this saying that was more than all the money that goes out as official development assistance in the world. US’ reaction is awaited. Probably silence.
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Counting on IMF
US billionaire George Soros has proposed that developed nations provide $100 billion for climate change by using foreign exchange reserves they receive from the International Monetary Fund. The rich nations could provide the money by donating recently issued special drawing rights or SDRs issued by the IMF, he said speaking in Copenhagen. He said since the money was available at present and could have an immediate impact.
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Shoring up Kyoto
The Bella Center in Copenhagen has now started getting more protests by the activists and non-governmentals. Late afternoon saw dozens of members of the Friends of the Earth International collecting near the main lounges area to protest against what they said were attempts to kill the Kyoto Protocol. The slogan shouting went on for about half an hour with members saying the US attempt to set up a new mechanism under Copenhagen would “kill climate justice.”
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The hope hype
Since candidate Barack Obama raised the rhetoric around ‘hope’, that appears to be the most used word this year. Copenhagen now calls itself ‘hopenhagen’ with banners and posters in many parts of the city reminding people that hope of a climate agreement are very high. In fact, several speakers at the inaugural and other sessions talked about how ‘hopenhagen’ could change the world. With so much riding on the conference and the city, any agreement less than perfect would be a disappointment to many, despite watering down of expectations.
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Changed climate
The Copenhagen conference opened to a drizzle this morning bringing down the temperature, in keeping, perhaps, with the hot air that would be free-flowing inside. The sky has been overcast now for days, as is normal during these months, and the sun is barely discernible through a thicket of clouds. By 3 pm darkness almost descends and by 5 pm it seems like midnight. It’s still not darkness at noon, but should be soon.
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Have a coffee; save the world
Apart from being a talking shop of 192 countries, Copenhagen has become a cacophony of sights and sounds, with several non-governmental organizations, amorphous groups, protestors and helpers have converged in and around Bella Center, the venue of the meeting. Dozens of different organisations are holding small exhibitions and talks, with many colourfully dressed people floating around trying to convince delgates what they must do. Then there are volunteers, who just are offering free coffee. Take a cup and save the world, is what they have to say. The coffee’s not bad, though.
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Yes to non-governmentals
As is the wont of United Nations, non-governmental organization have taken a centre stage. The prime minister of Denmark Lars Lokke Rasmussen spent time listening to the hopes and aspirations of NGO groups while his officials were holding parleys with delegates and the media. The groups have had access to most of the meetings and plenaries, albeit in regulated numbers. Even at COP-15 president Connie Hedegaard’s press conference, an NGO was allowed to make its presentation with a couple of dozen young people urging action through messages written on box.
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Index of change
It was only a matter of time before someone came up with an index to measure climate change risk. The database company of Munich Reinsurance has now come up with NatCatService which aims to define through one numer which countries are hit the hardest by weather extremes and are suffering the most from effects of climate change. The index will be announced on Tuesday and will let us know the countries that suffered the most since 1990.
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Pre-inauguration
Sunday security scare
The Bella Center, where the climate conference is being held went through a security scare when police dogs ‘lighted up’ on a package earlier during the day here, effectively shutting down the entry process for over an hour. Hundreds of delegates and dozens of media personnel were left to literally cool their heels outside in the bracing cold air, as a through check was carried out by the security personnel, who have sanitised the Center for Monday’s historic meeting of 192 nations. The police later gave clearance saying it was apparently a ‘false alarm.’
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Problem of plenty
The UN climate change conference has received applications from 34,000 people, compared to the 15,000 capacity of the venue. This includes 3,500 journalists from all over the world who are already accredited and more are seeing an entry. Because of these overwhelming numbers, the UNFCCC secretariat is talking to NGO delegates to reduce their numbers who would be allowed entry. Any new media personnel would not be allowed for the morning meeting, with the accreditation office opening again on Monday afternoon, after the plenary session.
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Hot air & CO2
The U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change has estimated that energy expenditures associated with the Copenhagen meeting will lead to emissions of around 40,000 tonnes of CO2. So like all good climate adherents, the World Bank and the Danish Energy Agency are working to appease the conscience of the visitors. They will arrange financing for replacing 20 energy-inefficient brick kiln units around the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka. It’s estimated to reduce 100,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
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Bags of trouble
The Finns haven’t heard of the red carpet being laid out by the Danes to the visiting delegates of the climate conference. Or so it would seem. For four days, the baggage handling staff at Helsinki airport has gone on strike, resulting in delay or misplacement of baggage of people flying in through the Finnish capital, mostly those who come in via Finnair. The airline, of course, has not bothered to inform passengers that they may face baggage problems, only announcing it midair before landing.
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Media not centre
The Media seems to be getting the short end of the bargain. The centre, which has been prepared for 1,104 journalists to file their copies, 150 cubilces for TV and radio crews, could not be set up by the tech staff, despite the legendery Danish prowess. On Saturday, the press was asked to leave the centre at 2 pm despite some meetings taking place. No explanation was given. The centre was supposed to be fully functional from early on Sunday morning, but the tech staff said it will not be ready till Monday morning.
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High on climate
Environment Minister Thakur Prasad Sharma announced that they would be holding a ‘mountain day’ on December 11 in Copenhagen to draw attention to the plight of people living in the foothills, threatened by climate change. He said the Nepal ministers had held a ‘high-level’ meeting at the Kalapattar Plateau in the Himalayas to draw the attention, not unlike Maldives where the cabinet met underwater.
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Limited coverage
Because of paucity of space, the plenary opening session on Monday will be restricted to 20 television cameras and 10 photographers. Only 20 print journalists will be allowed in. The coverage would be available to all through the host broadcaster. There will be CCTV cameras all around the venue for participants and delegates to watch the session. It seems technology has made sure that geography is no longer a constraint. Even if you are next door, you still have to watch the proceedings through television.
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Red light at green meet
You have to give it to the ladies of the night. The Danish prostitutes have offered ‘free sex’ to delegates at the UN conference on climate change in Copenhagen, protesting against the campaign started by city officials urging visitors to refrain from sex. “Be sustainable, don’t buy sex” was the message sent out in postcards and letters to hotel managers for information for their guests, according to local media. Prostitution is legal in Denmark.
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