Radio Mundo Real

A draft accord written secretly by some industrialized nations, especially by the Danish government, was leaked to the media in the negotiations of the COP 15 on Climate Change being carried out in Copenhagen.

Developing countries reacted furiously and strongly questioned the Danish presidency of the COP, which in this framework should act impartially and take into account the positions of all parties.

The now known as the “Danish text” is actually a secret agreement drafted by a group of individuals called the “circle of commitment” which includes UK and US, in addition to Danish negotiators.

There´s nothing secret now about the draft, which is circulating through all list servers of developing governments, and also of different social movements and organizations.

The document would be included at the end of the negotiations next week “through the back door”, so that it could be signed by the governments of the world.

The arrival of some Presidents, especially US President Barack Obama, would be used as a way to speed up the signing of the draft.

In an interview with Real World Radio, Bolivian Ambassador to the UN, Pablo Solon, had already warned about this (See “They want to kill the Kyoto Protocol”).

Solon stated that developing countries have made clear that they will not accept a “last minute” text, and that presidents are not negotiators.

The draft gives the World Bank an effective control over finance against climate change, abandons the Kyoto Protocol (which establishes the mandatory reduction of emissions by rich countries) and gives funds to developing countries depending on their commitments to certain obligations.

Meanwhile, Danish Climate and Energy Ministry said that the reaction of the developing countries is a result of the difficult atmosphere dominating the negotiations, and denied the existence of a Danish proposal.

According to an analysis made by developing countries, the draft would force them to agree on emission reductions and is trying to divide them by creating a new category of developing countries called “the least developed”.

The text also undermines the role of the UN in climate finance management and does not allow developing countries to emit more than 1.44 tons of carbon per person by 2050, while it allows rich countries to emit 2.67 tons per person.

Friends of the Earth on the “Danish text”

“The leaked draft Copenhagen Agreement violates the democratic principles of the UN and threatens the Copenhagen negotiations”, stated former Friends of the Earth International Chair and member of FoE Malaysia, Meena Raman.

“By discussing their text in secret back-room meetings with a few select countries the Danes are doing the opposite of what the world expects the host country to do”, she added, according to a press release issued yesterday by Friends of the Earth International.

Raman, who has been following closely the UN negotiations on climate change for years, also stated that “the Danish government must stop colluding with otherrich nations.”

“Instead it must take as a starting point the positions of developing countries - which are the least responsible for climate change, but who are most affected by it.”

The member of FoE Malaysia said that “The only way to achieve a strong and just climate agreement is by including all countries, sticking to the principles of the UN Climate Convention.

The Danish ’Rich-country Agreement’ must be ditched and the UN process must get back on track here in Copenhagen.”

Friends of the Earth International demands in the press release that the developed nations (comprised in the group of the Kyoto Protocol called Annex I) should cut their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% in comparison with 1990 levels by 2020. It also adds that “offsetting, including through the ’Clean Development Mechanism’, is a false solution and should be rejected.”

The environmental federation states that rich countries owe to developing countries a climate debt that is the result of decades of pollution.

“This debt must be recognized and repaid, for example through massive emission reductions and through the provision of sufficient public funds democratically through the UN to fight climate change.”

Friends of the Earth also demands that the World Bank and its climate funds be rejected as they are set to increase developing country debt and promote dirty energy.

Finally they denounce that transnational corporations are avoiding a just climate agreement to advance “their own economic interests at the expense of people and the planet”.