3 - Negotiations stall!

Negotiations stall!

Negotiations came to an abrupt standstill in Copenhagen yesterday morning after what initially seemed like a disagreement over procedure escalated into a split between developing countries over the legal form of any Copenhagen outcome.

The small Pacific island state of Tuvalu proposed the establishment of a formal working group to discuss the possibility of a legally binding, two protocol outcome from Copenhagen. A two protocol outcome would see the continuation of the Kyoto protocol, the current framework governing developed country emissions reductions, and the creation of a second legally binding treaty that would cover the US, who never ratified Kyoto, and developing countries.

Tuvalu’s proposal would have enabled this important issue to be discussed in an open and inclusive forum. The Alliance of Small Island States, and Least Developed Countries quickly intervened in support of Tuvalu’s proposal.

However when Connie Hedegaard, the chair of the negotiations suggested that this working group be set up Saudi Arabia, India, China, and Venezuela blocked this proposal. They argued that Tuvalu’s proposal was submitted too late – under UN rules proposals of this nature must be submitted six months prior to the commencement of the negotiations.

Connie Hedegaard then suggested moving to closed informal sessions to resolve this issue the but Tuvalu rejected this proposal, stating that negotiations must take place in a transparent and open forum. In a bold move, Tuvalu then asked the Chair to suspend negotiations. One of Denmark’s top diplomats was called in to conduct informal negotiations between opposing countries but no consensus been reached and talks remain suspended.

What seems like a disagreement over procedure has become a proxy for broader debate regarding the nature and form of any agreement in Copenhagen.

As the chair returned to give an update on the status of these informal negotiations, a spontaneous demonstration erupted outside the plenary hall, spurring on Tuvalu and other small island states by repeatedly chanting “what do we want… to stay alive!”. In order to, literally, keep its head above water, Tuvalu and other small island states need to see global temperatures increases kept to below 1.5 degrees C. Getting a legally binding deal here in Copenhagen would give a much greater chance of achieving this.

Ian Fry, lead negotiator for Tuvalu said,

"Being one of the most vulnerable countries in world, our future rests on the outcome of this meeting. We are here to seal the deal. We are here to commit to a legally binding agreement that will guarantee the future of Tuvalu and the future of millions of people around the world. ... The time for procrastination is over. It is time to deliver."

Yesterday evening Tuvalu was awarded the first ever 'Ray of the Day' by campaigners in Copenhagen, an award that is only given to parties who significantly advance negotiations. Tuvalu has raised the issue of legal outcomes of Copenhagen, in a positive move that if successful, would see this crucial issue be discussed in a open, transparent and inclusive forum, rather than behind closed doors. Go Tuvalu!.

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