Copenhagen Day 3: The Rift Widens After Draft Agreement Leak, Negotiations Stall Over Island Nation Walkout, and Protesters Arm Themselves

Posted by Kristy Kershaw on December 9, 2009 at 4:48 pm

Embracing one of the many globe sculptures on display in Copenhagen. (image: xinhuanet.com)

Talks in Copenhagen struggled to get back on track Wednesday, after outrage continued over the leaked draft climate agreement known as the Danish Text. Day 3 of the conference saw a targeted attack on the west by Sudanese ambassador Lumumba Stanislaus Dia Ping, according to CNN.com.

Dia Ping told a news conference that the Danish Text was aimed at “preserving and advancing developed countries’ economic dominance and supremacy.” He went on to say that the “Empire” is making a ruthless grab for “60 percent of the global atmospheric space for 20 percent of the world’s wealthiest nations.” The declaration was a huge blow to the proceedings, given that the Sudan is one of the poor nations’ leading climate negotiators.

Meanwhile, U.N. leaders and former Vice President Al Gore worked to repair the damage done by the leak, saying that many such texts are prepared in advance of the conference, and serve as the basis of discussion. Gore said the situation was not unusual, and “ought to be kept in perspective.”

Likely in response to the Danish Text controversy, small island nation Tuvalu led a walkout from the summit today, forcing negotiations to stall for several hours. According to The Times of India, Tuvalu is among several island nations most vulnerable to rising sea levels due to climate change. The nation is favoring much stronger regulations than the current proposal calls for, as well as amending the Kyoto Protocol instead of drafting an entirely new agreement. The Kyoto Protocol is beloved by many small nations for the burden it places on rich countries as opposed to developing nations. Tuvalu and other such nations are intent on walking away from Copenhagen with a legally binding agreement.

Away from the negotiating table, Danish police found and seized protest equipment during a raid, the New York Times reported today. Found in a building that city officials provided as free housing for activists, the police confiscated nearly 200 makeshift shields, paint bombs, and material for “the making of leg protections.” The discovery indicated that protesters were ready to use some degree of force in a large-scale march planned for Saturday. While the police were unable to tie the equipment to any specific protester or cause, many of the protesters descending on Copenhagen this week are there to highlight what they see as consistent failures by the worldwide community in addressing climate change.

While there are a wide variety of particular viewpoints represented among the expected 50,000 protesters, many of them have little faith in the process and want to highlight the alternatives. For example, one group of activists plans an attempt to hijack the conference for a day and make it a “People’s Assembly.” It’s unlikely they will be able to break through the high levels of security at the conference, but their message is still heard.

As Day 3 winds down in Denmark, we’re still waiting for some real progress. It will be interesting to see, in addition to declaring the Danish Text no big deal, if developing nations really come to the table with substantial concessions. Here’s hoping we’re in a better position when the big brass comes in to town next week.