Plenary Drama

I had to write this before i forgot and lost the excitement. today has been eventful and overwhelming! just from the hr and a half long que to the variety of bothes available....not to forget the expensive and bad food!

Today as you may have read, the African states walked out of negotiations......'This is a walk-out over process and form, not a walkout over substance, and that's regrettable," Reuters

African states are very unhappy with the way negotiations are going. I cant really say much on this issue at the moment, il update later.

Talks have resumed but have been limited to informal consultations on procedural issues, notably developing countries' demands for more time on the Kyoto Protocol.
The G77-China bloc, speaking for developing countries, said the Danish hosts had violated democratic process.
Some delegates talked forlornly of the vast amount of negotiating left to be done before the summit concludes.
The countries that suspended co-operation were those which make up the G77-China bloc of 130 nations. These range from wealthy countries such as South Korea, to some of the poorest states in the world.
The G77-China bloc speaks for developing countries in the climate change negotiation process.
var querystring = 'value=average';
Blocs representing poor countries vulnerable to climate change have been adamant that rich nations must commit to emission cuts beyond 2012 under the Kyoto Protocol. But the EU and the developed world in general has promoted the idea of an entirely new agreement, replacing the protocol. Developing countries fear they would lose many of the gains they made when the Kyoto agreement was signed in 1997. They point out that the Kyoto Protocol is the only international legally binding instrument that has curbed carbon emissions, and also that it contains functioning mechanisms for bringing development benefits to poor countries such as money for investment in clean energy projects. Previously during this meeting - formally called the Conference of the Parties (COP) 15 - developing countries have accused the Danish chairs of ignoring their concerns. G77-China chief negotiator Lumumba Di-Aping explained why the bloc had taken the decision to withdraw its co-operation.

"It has become clear that the Danish presidency - in the most undemocratic fashion - is advancing the interests of the developed countries at the expense of the balance of obligations between developed and developing countries," he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One programme.
"The mistake they are doing now has reached levels that cannot be acceptable from a president who is supposed to be acting and shepherding the process on behalf of all parties."

He said it would leave some of the world's biggest emitters without targets for cutting emissions.
Many developing countries have been arguing for a "twin track" approach, whereby countries with existing targets under the Kyoto Protocol (all developed nations except the US) stay under that umbrella, with the US and major developing economies making their carbon pledges under a new protocol.
More than 100 heads of state and government are scheduled to be in the Danish capital on Friday for the closing session to sign a final deal.

in plenary, the President of Maldives brought statement delivery to a halt as he fiercefully expressed hes disappointment in the negotiations and talks. ' This needs to STOP! stop! we need to stop talking! we have been talking for 14 years, its time to act!' he shouted and just as the president of the conference was about to agree with him, the G77 president and represenatative of Sudan calmly took center stage as he asked for answers from the CMP some of which included; what the resolution will be, if we are negotiating on Kyoto or a political agreement or a converging path.....

To my disappointment, the president couldnt clearly asnwer these, it got to a point where i almost dozed off ......'the resolution will be what will be agreed' answered the CMP... hahahhah! seriously?! ahh...anyway, i hope for better discussions.

the next coming days will be more exciting, presidents want agreements on the spot (atleast thats the feeling im getting) they want quick answers from their ministers and the conference Secretariat, its getting nasty in here and i hope that all thisenergy will be drawn towards productive actions and talks.

side note: i have never been more proud of my country, we have a great team here in COP15, people that know what they are doing and what they need to see. the best of it all is that they are practising inclusive leadership and we (youth) feel like we belong (as we should)!