The division between developed and developing nations is greater following the fourth day of talks than it appeared to be at the opening of the Copenhagen climate change conference on Monday, based on numerous reports.
The divide was most evident between the US and China. The two countries swapped pointed messages.
U.S. special envoy for climate change, Todd Stern, said the US would not give funds to China to help it curb emissions, according to the Wall Street Journal. He said that funds should go only to the poorest nations. The so-called ‘Danish text’ which stirred up a controversy earlier in the week suggested a further division of developing countries into those that are poorest and most vulnerable to climate change and those that are better off.
Stern also said developing nations should not receive "a pass" on their responsibility to help reduce global emissions.
The Wall Street Journal report suggests much of what is taking place right now is "posturing" before tough negotiations begin in the next few days.
As to China’s position, Xie Zhenhua, who head’s the country’s delegation, told Reuters that the US must offer deeper 2020 emissions cuts than the 3% by 1990 levels offered by Barack Obama. He said a 2050 goal of halving emissions was acceptable but that more most be done in the short term. Xie held to a 40% collective cut by developed nations, the top of the range suggested by climate scientists.
He also rejected a UN proposal to kickstart funding for poor nations with $10 billion a year from 2010-2012. He said the amount was not high enough, and that developed nations should give 1% to 1.5% of their national incomes.
Developing nations as a whole continue to raise concerns that the current legally binding framework of the Kyoto Protocol will be dropped in a new agreement.
However, developing nations are also seeing their ranks split, as the island nation of Tuvalu made a push on Thursday for a new legally binding agreement that would attempt to limit global temperature from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, instead of the 2 degrees generally accepted.
Tuvalu and other island nations argue that even a 2 degrees rise will cause the total destruction of their nations from rising sea levels.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a the proposal by Tuvalu was blocked by China, India and Arab oil states.
Watch video highlights from Day 4 below, including the Tuvalu incident and Yvo de Boer’s press briefing at the link below.
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