MINISTERS RESUME TALKS ON PENDING ISSUES
Stevie Emilia and Adianto P. Simamora
THE JAKARTA POST/COPENHAGEN
Copenhagen climate talks entered a critical stage Tuesday with ministers beginning negotiations on pending issues of emissions cut targets and financing to be included in an agreed outcome set for announcement Friday.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen marked Tuesdays opening sessions of high-level talks.""Ministers have to be very clear and focused over the next 48 hours if we are to make [the agreement],"" conference president Connie Hede-gaard said at a press conference.
Several ministers have been in Copenhagen since Monday.Hedegaard appointed Indonesian chief negotiator Rachmat Witoelar and German Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen to chair an informal consultation with heads of delegations to break the deadlock over the emissions cut targets under the Kyoto Protocol.
Rachmat, a former president of the conference of parties (COP) in Bali in 2007, will report back to Hedegaard before the draft is submitted to a high-level meeting.He said there were difficulties in reaching consensus as each country stuck to their position.
Senior negotiators from both developed and developing countries ended their work Tuesday without reaching a consensus on emissions cut targets for a second commitment under the Kyoto Protocol, following eight days of negotiations.
African countries protested the slow progress in the discussions over emissions cut targets, which would bind rich nations to cutting more emissions.Conference executive secretary Yvo de Boer said there had been a lot of progress made in the senior official meetings, adding enormous
crucial issues including emissions cut targets and financing remained in place.""I realize were at a distinct moment, a very important phase [of the conference],"" he said.""We have seen significant progress. But we havent seen enough, if this conference wants to deliver what people around the world expect us to produce.""
Most developed countries support interim climate funds of about US$30 billion from 2010-2012 to help developing nations, but many say the figure will not be sufficient.
Tired of the deadlock, protesters took to the streets to demand the conference produce a legally binding agreement and that leaders end the political drama and take real action.
In Sydney, environmental activists sealed the iconic Sydney Opera House on Tuesday to unfurl a banner urging world leaders to strike a treaty to combat climate change.""Im aware of the [wishes of] citizens out there, their concerns and calls for action,"" Hedegaard said.""I understand that very well.""
The talks hit a snag Monday when developing countries temporarily walked away from the negotiations, fearing developed countries were backpedaling on promises to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Hedegaard said these things happened at events like the ongoing conference.
""But if you see under the surface, [the boycott] managed to get ministers down to work. A good step forward,"" she said, adding environment ministers already in Copenhagen had been working late into the night Monday to resolve outstanding issues.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former US vice president and Nobel laureate Al Gore have lent their presence to push for progress.UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown was also expected at the talks later Tuesday, earlier than planned.