UN conference recognizes climate deal after all-night deliberations
By John Heilprin, APSaturday, December 19, 2009
UN conference recognizes climate deal
COPENHAGEN — The U.N. climate conference narrowly escaped collapse by agreeing Saturday to recognize a political accord brokered by President Barack Obama with China and other emerging powers.
The decision was made after an all-night plenary session, in which a small group of nations blocked the Copenhagen Accord, because it lacks specific targets for reducing carbon emissions.
After a break, the conference president gaveled the decision to “take note” of the agreement instead of formally approving it. Experts said that clears the way for the accord to become operational in practice even though it has not been formally approved by the conference.
“The linkage is strong enough for it to become operational,” said John Hay, a spokesman for the U.N. climate change convention.
Several developing countries, including Bolivia, Cuba, Sudan and Venezuela, bitterly protested the deal and said it is unacceptable because it lacks specific targets for reducing carbon emissions. Decisions are made by consensus in U.N. climate negotiations.
