New Delhi:
It was a day of high drama at Copenhagen. The thousands of activists who are in the Danish capital on Wednesday marched to the Bella centre to vent their frustration at the failure of negotiators to agree on a new climate deal amid rumours that talks were on the verge of failure.
The activists massed outside the centre, many jumping the fence to get into the venue. The riot police took hundreds of activists into custody as a security cordon was thrown outside the centre.
But the chaos outside was matched by the confusion and disarray inside with countries unable to arrive at a consensus on major issues. Earlier, the Danish minster Connie Hedegaard resigned as the summit president so that the Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen could take over.
Since heads of states were beginning to arrive, Denmark circulated a new draft agreement but one that was immediately objected to by India and G77.
Police used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds of protesters trying to disrupt the climate talks. Police spokesman Per Larsen said 230 protesters have been detained in the clashes outside the suburban conference centre.
Television pictures showed a man being pushed from the roof of a police van and stuck with a baton by an officer.
Protesters said they wanted to take over the global conference - and turn it into a "people's assembly."
Larsen said none of the activists had been able to break into the conference centre.
There is massive police deployment across Copenhagen after protesters blocked metro and rail lines. Police helicopters are circling Bella Centre, the venue of the Copenhagen Climate Summit. Protesters are marching towards this venue despite snow and sleet. At least a hundred protesters have been arrested.
The protesters claim the talks between developing and developed countries have broken down; they say this is unacceptable.
Meanwhile, world leaders have begun arriving in Copenhagen for the final lap of the summit.
But the possibility of a binding legal agreement emerging from the Copenhagen talks is now almost negligible. However, there are still hopes that world leaders gathered in the Danish capital will reach some sort of political agreement.
A second Danish draft agreement is now being circulated but some developing countries are reportedly unhappy with its contents. The first Danish draft was rejected outright by developing countries.
Developed countries, led mainly by Australia, are accused by developing countries like India and China of trying to renege on the commitments made in the Kyoto Protocol. Richer countries are pushing for international scrutiny of what countries like India will do to reduce their emissions, a condition India does not accept.
India points out that richer countries that are guilty of the highest emission levels should not be allowed to dictate new targets to developing countries. Instead, they should accept the voluntary cuts that developing countries are considering, and help with funding for new eco-friendly technology.
Peaking year?
Rich speak: Emissions must peak in next decade, decline 50% by 2050
Developing nations: Unacceptable; 'peaking year' to impact growth
Legally binding cuts:
Rich speak: EU for 30% cuts by 2020; wants US, China to do more
Developing nations: Won't accept legally binding cuts
Monitoring and review:
Rich speak: Developing nations must allow scrutiny to verify cuts
Developing nations: No MRV for unsupported actions
The big question however is can a compromise be reached before the summit ends?
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has made a desperate appeal. "Three years of effort have come down to three days of action. Let us not falter in the home stretch," he said.
The European Union is pushing for a single agreement that 'goes beyond Kyoto'. Basic countries - Brazil, South Africa, India and China - are speaking in one voice that developed countries must make mitigation pledges.
While the United States has virtually ruled out carbon cutting targets, the small island states have raised a strong pitch for obligations on the rich and emerging economies.
Even though leaders agree that a time of consensus has come, consensus seems far away.
The latest draft texts have even more gaps than before, reflecting the deepening rifts among the developed and developing nations.
(With AP inputs)
The activists massed outside the centre, many jumping the fence to get into the venue. The riot police took hundreds of activists into custody as a security cordon was thrown outside the centre.
But the chaos outside was matched by the confusion and disarray inside with countries unable to arrive at a consensus on major issues. Earlier, the Danish minster Connie Hedegaard resigned as the summit president so that the Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen could take over.
Since heads of states were beginning to arrive, Denmark circulated a new draft agreement but one that was immediately objected to by India and G77.
Police used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds of protesters trying to disrupt the climate talks. Police spokesman Per Larsen said 230 protesters have been detained in the clashes outside the suburban conference centre.
Television pictures showed a man being pushed from the roof of a police van and stuck with a baton by an officer.
Protesters said they wanted to take over the global conference - and turn it into a "people's assembly."
Larsen said none of the activists had been able to break into the conference centre.
There is massive police deployment across Copenhagen after protesters blocked metro and rail lines. Police helicopters are circling Bella Centre, the venue of the Copenhagen Climate Summit. Protesters are marching towards this venue despite snow and sleet. At least a hundred protesters have been arrested.
The protesters claim the talks between developing and developed countries have broken down; they say this is unacceptable.
Meanwhile, world leaders have begun arriving in Copenhagen for the final lap of the summit.
But the possibility of a binding legal agreement emerging from the Copenhagen talks is now almost negligible. However, there are still hopes that world leaders gathered in the Danish capital will reach some sort of political agreement.
A second Danish draft agreement is now being circulated but some developing countries are reportedly unhappy with its contents. The first Danish draft was rejected outright by developing countries.
Developed countries, led mainly by Australia, are accused by developing countries like India and China of trying to renege on the commitments made in the Kyoto Protocol. Richer countries are pushing for international scrutiny of what countries like India will do to reduce their emissions, a condition India does not accept.
India points out that richer countries that are guilty of the highest emission levels should not be allowed to dictate new targets to developing countries. Instead, they should accept the voluntary cuts that developing countries are considering, and help with funding for new eco-friendly technology.
Peaking year?
Rich speak: Emissions must peak in next decade, decline 50% by 2050
Developing nations: Unacceptable; 'peaking year' to impact growth
Legally binding cuts:
Rich speak: EU for 30% cuts by 2020; wants US, China to do more
Developing nations: Won't accept legally binding cuts
Monitoring and review:
Rich speak: Developing nations must allow scrutiny to verify cuts
Developing nations: No MRV for unsupported actions
The big question however is can a compromise be reached before the summit ends?
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has made a desperate appeal. "Three years of effort have come down to three days of action. Let us not falter in the home stretch," he said.
The European Union is pushing for a single agreement that 'goes beyond Kyoto'. Basic countries - Brazil, South Africa, India and China - are speaking in one voice that developed countries must make mitigation pledges.
While the United States has virtually ruled out carbon cutting targets, the small island states have raised a strong pitch for obligations on the rich and emerging economies.
Even though leaders agree that a time of consensus has come, consensus seems far away.
The latest draft texts have even more gaps than before, reflecting the deepening rifts among the developed and developing nations.
(With AP inputs)
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