re: #81 Sharmuta

And they would be wrong why?

They’d be wrong because the UN’s top climate official says they’d be wrong:

The conference centre was closed for what was supposed to be a day of rest, but across Copenhagen people were meeting in cafes, hotel foyers and at the ministry of foreign affairs.

That is where the 48 environment ministers spent the day locked in talks with the Danish President of the proceedings and Yvo de Boer, the UN’s top climate change official.

He believes the biggest resistance to a strong deal is coming from China.

Chinese negotiators do not want to sign up to an agreement that involves inspectors visiting the country to verify progress on climate commitments.

“Actions - how will they be measured, reported on and verified in the case of action the countries take on their own or in the case of actions that countries take with international support?” Mr de Boer said.

“Do we need to enhance the reporting obligations of all countries? In other words, a lot of things on reporting and on transparency and on being sure that whatever is committed to is actually achieved.”

The European Union has now joined the United States in criticising a draft agreement by the UN that says that developing nations will only reduce their emissions if they receive financial help.