COP CHIEFS REPLACEMENT SIGNALS ADVENT OF BIG GUNS

Stevie Emilia and Adianto P. Simamora
THE JAKARTA POST/COPENHAGEN

Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen unexpectedly took over the presidency of the climate conference from Connie Hedegaard, raising fears of further deadlock as the event nears its conclusion.In his first appearance as president of the conference of parties (COP), Rasmussens statement saying he would table a new draft text angered many countries, including China. It is unclear whether the Prime Minister has a new draft text on emissions cut targets.

Hedegaard, the former Danish climate minister, is to continue conducting informal consultations at the conference.A statement from the Prime Ministers office said Rasmussen had taken over the chair as COP president due to the unprecedented number of world leaders attending the summit.
Several leaders - including Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Grenada Prime Minister Tillman Thomas and Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili - took center stage at Wednesdays high-level meeting.World leaders from 115 countries are expected to gather Thursday for the two-day summit likely to reach only a political agreement since the long-standing problems of targets on emissions reduction and financing remain unresolved.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who touched down in Copenhagen late Wednesday, is slated to speak Thursday morning at the meeting. More high-profile delegates have arrived here, from American actress Darryl Hannah to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former US vice president Al Gore stole the attention earlier Tuesday.Outside the Bella Center, the UN climate change conference venue, Danish police clashed with protesters demanding tough action on climate change, arresting around 240 people after subduing them with pepper spray and batons.The main point of contention at the meeting is on the figure for emissions cuts, with negotiators from developing nations asking developed countries to be abide by more stringent emissions cuts.

However, developed nations are demanding that all countries, particularly emerging nations China, India and Brazil, cut their emissions.Lesotho Prime Minister Mosisilo, on behalf of least-developed countries (LDC), insisted developed nations reduce their emissions by at least 45 percent by 2020 and 95 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels.""Were against any replacement of the Kyoto Protocol or its merger with any agreement,"" he said.Grenada Prime Minister Thomas, representing the alliance of small island states (AOSIS), agreed with the LDC that developed countries reductions be more than 45 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels.With two days left in the talks, Oxfam International has warned that poor countries will not sign a weak deal, and called on arriving leaders to make the big political decisions on funding and emissions reductions to turn things around.""Poor countries are ready to deliver their side of the bargain, rich countries must show they are willing to do the same,"" said Oxfam executive director Jeremy Hobbs.