Climate Talks Deadlocked with 2 Days to Go

(CBS/AP)  Danish police fired pepper spray and beat protesters with batons outside the U.N. 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.

With the talks so clearly deadlocked, Connie Hedegaard, former Danish climate minister, resigned from the conference presidency to allow her boss, Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen to preside as world leaders from 115 nations streamed into Copenhagen. She was to continue overseeing the closed-door negotiations.

Hundreds of protesters were trying to disrupt the 193-nation conference, the latest action in days of demonstrations to demand "climate justice" - firm action to combat global warming. Police said 230 protesters were detained.

Inside the cavernous Bella Center convention hall, negotiators dealing with core issues debated until just before dawn without setting new goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions or for financing poorer countries' efforts to cope with coming climate change, key elements of any deal.

"I regret to report we have been unable to reach agreement," John Ashe of Antigua, chairman of one negotiating group, reported to the full 193-nation conference later Wednesday morning.

In the overnight talks, the American delegation apparently objected to a proposed text it felt might bind the United States prematurely to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, before the U.S. Congress acts on the required legislation. U.S. envoys insisted, for example, on replacing the word "shall" with the conditional "should."

If they fail to reach a deal in Copenhagen, world leaders flying in their private jets and huddling in five-star hotels will have little to show for their efforts beyond a big, fat carbon footprint.

The U.N. estimates 40,500 tons of carbon dioxide will be pumped into the atmosphere during the 12-day conference - 90 percent of it from flights. The rest comes from waste and electricity related to transport to and from the conference center and lodging in and around the Danish city.

Hundreds of protesters marched on the suburban Bella Center, where lines of Danish riot police waited in protective cordons. Some demonstrators said they wanted to take over the global conference and turn it into a "people's assembly," and as they approached police lines they were hit with pepper spray.

Television pictures showed a man being pushed from the roof of a police van and struck with a baton by an officer.

After nine days of largely unproductive talks, the lower-level delegates were wrapping up the first phase of the two-week conference and handing off the disputes to environment ministers in a critical second phase.

The lack of progress disheartened many, including small island states threatened by the rising seas of global warming.

"We are extremely disappointed," Ian Fry of the tiny Pacific nation of Tuvalu declared on the conference floor. "I have the feeling of dread we are on the Titanic and sinking fast. It's time to launch the lifeboats."

Others were far from abandoning ship. "Obviously there are things we are concerned about, but that is what we have to discuss," Sergio Barbosa Serra, Brazil's climate ambassador, told The Associated Press. "I would like to think we can get a deal, a good and fair deal."

"A lot of things are in play," said a longtime observer, Fred Krupp of the U.S. Environmental Defense Fund. "This is the normal rhythm of international negotiations."

Governments had weeks ago given up hope of concluding a finished treaty at Copenhagen, as once envisioned, and aimed instead at establishing a framework, through decisions here, for negotiating more formal agreements next year.

[gosstom]

World leaders flying in their private jets and huddling in five-star hotels will have little to show for their efforts beyond a big, fat carbon footprint.
Thank God that this hideous charade is coming to an inevitable close. It will finally show the world what Gullible Warming really is: A stupid, grossly expensive Exercise in Futility that had absolutely no chance of survival. Al ***** may have to go the Carbon-hagen with the Lyin' Hawaiian to try to salvage something from this abortion.

[endurorob_5]

hopefully the next headline reads "Climate Talks Dead."

[joseluisbelmar]

I have known always that the rats abandon a ship before the captain, but now I have learned that the biggest rat abandoned the ship before the mice. I knew this was going to happen. Rattie Hedeggard looked like completely lost for the past days. It seemed that she did not want more cheese but to get out of the mousetrap organized by the many asslickers of the number one hoaxer in the world, Pinocchios Al M(G)ore Lies. Poor Rattie. She deserved a better luck, but it is her own fault: She bought the wrong ticket at the wrong place for the worst cause. The boat is about to sink worse than the Titanic, but without Leonardo Di Caprio saving Rattie. No wonder Hamlet said that ``something is rotten in Denmark``, but he should have said "something has always been rotten in Denmark and Sweden", countries which unconditionally supports all the lies of Al Gore. And the protesters? Well, well, well. They have given COP15 Conference the biggest Xmas present they could have ever received. Sorry: they gave us, the skeptics, a huge Xmas present by showing how stupid and disrespectful environmentalists are in order to convey their stupid messages about climate changes. I was in Copenhaguen four days ago and believe me: the majority do not have the faintest idea about climatology. They believe it is a new Swedish-Danish delicacy. José Luis Belmar, one CO2 lover and one of the millions of COP15 skeptics. -JOSE LUIS BELMAR - SWEDEN

[curse914]

Breath deep of the soot, Tool, and down yourself a nice muddy cup-o-muck for me. You still have not made the case for dirty air and water, but keep up the good work.

Next time try paragraphs, they help to legitimize your diatribe and make it a little more easy on the eyes.

[endurorob_5]

Why do the police always have to beat on the peace loving liberals?

[MADDAT52]

Several of the major player are just giving the concept the bird instead of commiting to the restrictive nature of the deal. People that have been protesting want in so they can voice there own opinions but I guess the police had other ideas. his is a tough sell when so many countries are having so many money problems. Very bad timing.

[MADDAT52]

Several of the major player are just giving the concept the bird instead of commiting to the restrictive nature of the deal. People that have been protesting want in so they can voice there own opinions but I guess the police had other ideas. his is a tough sell when so many countries are having so many money problems. Very bad timing.

[MADDAT52]

Several of the major player are just giving the concept the bird instead of commiting to the restrictive nature of the deal. People that have been protesting want in so they can voice there own opinions but I guess the police had other ideas. his is a tough sell when so many countries are having so many money problems. Very bad timing.

[MADDAT52]

French President Nicolas Sarkosy Has been living in front of the cameras of late attempting to explain his new program now known Europeas?THE BIG LOAN?.The more he talks the higher his disapproval rating goes now at negative 57%, sound familiar? The main reason for the falling popularity is that the people can?t figure out where the money for all his new programs can come from. Using the same bait and switch All over the world leader are pulling money out of thin air.

[parisdakar]

In other news, protesters attacked by police were largely unharmed. Police attribute the failure of their efforts to the heavy coats, hats and gloves worn by climate change protesters to combat the unusually cold weather.

[Brokennews]

That & look at the size of that club he's using!
That little tiny club couldn't hurt a kitten.

I bet Danish police have club envy.

[Brokennews]

I can say that the Danish police have nothing on the LAPD in regards to the quality of beating they give their suspects!! Take the above picture for example. No respectable LA cop would ever go solo on a guy. LA cops believe in teamwork & cooperation when they put a beatdown on someone.
Maybe some sort of exchange program would help educate the Danish police in the proper use of billy clubs & tasers.