Hosting next year’s summits will increase expectations on the Canadian government to correct its image as a “laggard” on climate change, Keith Stewart, climate change program director at WWF-Canada, said Sunday.

“Canadians expect their government to do much more to try to be an honest broker, particularly in the coming year when we’re going to be the president of the G8 and co-hosting the G20,” he said.

“We know climate change is going to be a big part of these discussions, so Canada has to move from trying to do as little as possible … toward trying to help broker a deal.”

The Copenhagen conference narrowly avoided utter failure with a limited but politically saleable last-minute pact Saturday.

More than 190 countries agreed they would “take note” of the non-binding Copenhagen Accord, which will see countries list individual emission reduction targets and begin a process to send tens of billions of dollars in financial aid to poor nations to help them adapt to climate change.

The Copenhagen Accord commits the world to keeping the effects of climate change limited to less than two degrees Celsius. It also seeks to raise $100 billion annually by 2020 to help poor countries adapt to predicted global warming that is expected to bring more floods, droughts and rising sea levels.

The summit saw Canada heavily criticized in some quarters for its oilsands and its perceived reluctance to move toward deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

“We didn’t get the kind of deal we were hoping for in Copenhagen so there’s still a lot of work to be done,” said Stewart.

“They’ve agreed on a goal, which is to keep warming below two degrees, but the emissions cuts on the table right now would lead to at least three degrees in warming, so it’s clear that there’s more that has to be done,” he said. “The good thing is almost everyone recognizes more needs to be done…. But the longer we wait, the harder and more expensive it’s going to be to actually solve this problem.

“A lot of the work is going to be done through the G8 and the G20 in the lead up to Mexico next year, that’s where Canada has a role, we’re setting the agendas,” he said.

The next major United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting will be held in Mexico in late November or early December 2010. It will be preceded by a major two-week negotiating session in Bonn, Germany, in May and June.

Some environmentalists however weren’t convinced Canada would seize the opportunity afforded to it by hosting the G8 and G20 summits in Ontario.

“As chair of the 2010 G8 meeting and co-host of the next G20, Canada could be a key player in reaching a strong, binding global climate deal,” wrote Clare Demerse of the Pembina Institute, a Canadian energy and environmental think-tank, on her Copenhagen conference’s blog.

“Right now, Canada is utterly unprepared to step into that role. Avoiding a reprise of the criticism the government faced in Copenhagen will mean ending the delay and putting strong and effective policies in place well before the G8 gets underway next June.”

Ian Bruce, climate change specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation, said he believes the pressure will be on the federal government again in the coming year.

“We’ve seen Canadians come out in full force from all walks of life calling on the prime minister to take strong leadership on climate change and I believe that will continue and will only intensify as the world comes to Canada for the upcoming G8, G20 meetings.”

Copyright 2009 The Vancouver Sun

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Silva says the U.S. stance at one point prompted several European nations and Japan to reconsider the Kyoto Protocol, which he says would have been “very serious.” Under the Kyoto Protocol, 37 industrial nations were already making modest emissions cuts.

The U.S.-brokered Copenhagen Accord reached Saturday calls for, but does not require emissions reductions.

Commenting during his weekly radio program Monday, Silva warned that all nations will need to keep treating climate change as a priority to reach a definite solution to global warming.

Copyright 2009 Associated Press

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An agreement dubbed the Copenhagen Accord drawn up by a limited group of countries Friday night was formally accepted by the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP15) during a closing session on Saturday morning, Reuters reports.

“The conference of the parties takes note of the Copenhagen Accord,” says a final decision.

The text is still strongly debated, and it remains to be seen how many countries will sign on to the Copenhagen Accord.

According to Danish daily Berlingske, the COP15 President, Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, expresses satisfaction:

“I am satisfied. We have achieved a result. Now nations will need to sign on, and if they do so, they will support what has been agreed (in the Copenhagen Accord). This will have effect immediately.”

(Photo: Scanpix/AFP)

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The last day of the UN climate conference in Copenhagen ended with a group of countries including the US and China agreeing a deal which the EU early Saturday described as “not perfect” but “better than no deal

UK PM to push for legally binding treaty – At a midnight press conference Friday evening, the Prime Minister says he will lead an international campaign for legally binding treaty

EU: “The only deal available in Copenhagen” – While the head of China’s climate delegation thought “everyone should be happy,” it was uncertain late Friday night whether the “Copenhagen Accord” agreed by the US, China, Brazil, South Africa and India would win broader support among countries.

US, China, India, Brazil and South Africa reach deal - According to a senior Obama administration official the United States, China, India, Brazil, South Africa and South Africa have reached a “meaningful agreement” on climate change Friday evening.

New draft for Copenhagen deal - In a newly written draft named the “Copenhagen Accord” a 2010-deadline for reaching a legally binding climate treaty has been dropped, Reuters reported Friday afternoon.

Chávez felt excluded - Venezuela’s President, Hugo Chávez, criticized the UN climate conference for “a real lack of transparency.”

EU challenges US and China – The European Union makes clear it is ready to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2020 compared to 1990 levels – if the US and China “do their part.

Obama: I came here to act - “Our ability to take collective action is in doubt,” US President Barack Obama warned the plenary at COP15.

Brazil ready to provide funding – “As the first developing country Brazil offers to contribute to the finance mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol – if an agreement is reached in Copenhagen Friday, says President Lula.

World leaders in last-minute climate talks - The UN climate talks were in serious disarray Friday, prompting President Barack Obama to upend his schedule and hold close-door talks with 19 other world leaders to work out a last-minute agreement on fighting global warming.

China and India signal progress on transparency – The world’s two largest emerging economies both respond positively to a call from US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. “We are 75 percent underway with a solution,” says Indian minister.

Hillary Clinton brings positive momentum - After statements by the US Secretary of State on financing, a number of key players have agreed on a draft text that will be discussed on the UN conference’s last day.

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• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• United Nations Environment Programme
• World Meteorological Organization
• Convention on Biological Diversity

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Drive My Car – Limos at the COP15 Copenhagen
Americans for Prosperity investigates the “carbon-conscious” way many U.N. delegates are getting to the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP15).

Copenhagen COP-15 Conference – The Cube
Here in Copenhagen at the COP-15 Climate Change Conference, a giant art installation called “The Cube”, is playing YouTube videos submitted on youtube.com/cop15 all day long. It’s part of our climate change campaign with CNN, in which YouTubers can submit videos for our CNN/YouTube town hall. The cube represents a cubic ton of carbon, and is located on a small pond near the planetarium in Copenhagen. Since it’s dark for much of the day in Copenhagen, the visual display is quite stunning.

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After the Danish COP presidency was forced to give up on creating consensus around a draft text for a political climate deal, negotiations broke the deadlock Thursday and continued on a two-track basis.

Sarkozy: Failure in Copenhagen would be a catastrophe - European leaders expressed themselves in no uncertain terms when addressing fellow heads of state and governments attending the penultimate day of the UN climate conference in Copenhagen.

Brown urges Copenhagen to overcome obstacles to a deal - Prime Minister Gordon Brown will deliver an impassioned plea this morning to fellow world leaders to ‘make the desirable possible’ by overcoming their differences.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown addresses climate summit – ‘In these few days in Copenhagen, which will be blessed or blamed for generations to come, we cannot permit the politics of narrow interest to prevent a policy for human survival.’

Kyoto proponents win first round - The Copenhagen negotiations broke the deadlock on Thursday and are now moving forward on a two-track basis that maintains the integrity of the Kyoto protocol.

Uphill struggle for ambitious deal - The Danish Presidency has given up on its ambition to create consensus on a text that would form the basis of a global political deal to combat global warming, reports a Danish daily.

China willing to detail emission effort – According to Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei China is ready for “dialogue and cooperation that is not intrusive, that does not infringe on China’s sovereignty”.

The US insists on transparency – In partnership with other countries, the US will try to mobilize 100 billion dollars a year for climate aid by 2020, according to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The US insists that funding will only be granted if developing countries allow for full transparency of their emissions.

China signals hope for deal - China was reported to signal an operational accord out of reach. Now China’s climate change ambassador says China has not given up hope for a deal.

COP15 agree on procedure - At Thursday noon, the delegates at the UN climate conference decided to continue the climate talks in two tracks, one on the Kyoto Protocol, another on the Climate Change Convention.

Obama won’t break new ground at summit – US officials stressed Wednesday that when Obama travels to the climate conference in Denmark this week he won’t bring anything to the talks beyond Washington’s already stated goals.

Emissions pledges do not match needs - Emissions cuts offered so far at the Copenhagen summit will lead to global temperatures rising by an average of three degrees, a confidential UN analysis obtained by The Guardian reveals.

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A compromise proposal to be presented by the Danish presidency Wednesday was held up as the negotiating process, according to UN climate chief Yvo de Boer, was subject to an “unexpected stop”.

De Boer: “Unexpected stop” in negotiations - The negotiating process at the UN climate conference in Copenhagen was subject to an “unexpected stop” on Wednesday, according to Yvo de Boer, the UN’s top climate official.

New compromise proposal said to be on its way - Danish PM takes over the COP15 presidency, he will present a compromise on Wednesday afternoon, a Danish newspaper reports.

Climate talks deadlocked as clashes erupt outside – Danish police fired pepper spray outside the UN climate conference on Wednesday, as disputes inside left major issues unresolved just two days before world leaders hope to sign a historic agreement to fight global warming.

Africa shows a willingness to negotiate - African Union climate negotiator Meles Zenawi has scaled back the demands for climate finance from rich countries, signaling thaw under way in the deadlocked UN negotiations.

Countries pledge billions to protect rainforests - The US, Australia, France, Japan, Norway and Britain will make 3.5 billion US dollars available for developing countries that produce ambitious plans to slow and eventually reverse deforestation.

Japan: 15 billion dollars in climate aid - Japanese pledge outbids the EU’s funding for short-term climate aid in developing countries.

Kerry: US to pass “major” climate legislation - A successful deal in Copenhagen will lead the way for climate legislation in the US Congress, says Senator John Kerry.

India: Kyoto in intensive care if not dead - Whether the expiring Kyoto Protocol, which sets targets for greenhouse gas emissions from rich countries only, should be continued, expanded or replaced with an alternative agreement still splits the parties.

British PM warns of failure but brings hope - According to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the first sign of progress in the negotiations could be seen Wednesday with new proposals for climate change from African Union climate negotiator Meles Zenawi.

Hillary Clinton to attend COP15 - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Copenhagen this week, it emerged yesterday.

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The UN climate conference in Copenhagen entered its decisive phase on Tuesday, as heads of state and government began to arrive for the final three days of negotiations. The leaders will be facing “a defining moment in history”, said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Prince of Wales speech at Copenhagen - The Prince of Wales has arrived in Copenhagen to promote forest issues.He delivered a speech today at the UN Summit.

Foreign Secretary ‘determined’ to secure ambitious deal - Britain is determined to make sure that Copenhagen produces an ambitious deal on tackling climate change in which Europe plays a ‘critical role’.

UN conference gearing up for make-or-break finale - World leaders “face a defining moment in history”, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said as the Copenhagen conference formally entered its high-level stage Tuesday.

South Korea to bridge rich and poor nations - As the first emerging economy to take on absolute reduction commitments, South Korea hopes to play a key role in Copenhagen. Read more

China: Poor countries are first in line for funding – So far the majority of internationally funded projects under the Kyoto Protocol have been in China. But other countries need the funds more urgently according to Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei. Read more

Merkel concerned over Copenhagen pace – German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced concern Tuesday about the pace of climate negotiations in Copenhagen and said she is “somewhat nervous” about prospects of success. Read more

Forest negotiations are making headway – There is mounting agreement on rewarding tropical countries which slow deforestation under a new deal. This is the first issue where significant progress has been made in Copenhagen. Read more

Further commitments needed to break negotiation deadlock – A blueprint, released Tuesday in Copenhagen, outlines three options for long-term climate aid from developed to developing countries. Read more

Japan to unveil 10 billion dollars in climate aid – A pledge of funds from rich countries will be a key ingredient for any climate change deal in Copenhagen. Japan is ready to make an offer. Read more

Australian PM warns of failure – Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Monday urged world leaders to be more flexible as a consensus looks difficult to achieve. Read more

Schwarzenegger says states key to climate fight – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says countries cannot solve the problem of climate change without the help of states, cities, regions, activists, scientists and universities. Read more

Developing world threatens battle on drafts  -African countries, Brazil, China, South Africa and India say they have produced a default proposal to be used only if rich countries try to shortcut UN-led negotiations in Copenhagen. Read more

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