On 7th December policy-makers and world leaders gathered in Copenhagen for the Climate Change Conference. A day after the upbeat opening of the conference a document was leaked to The Guardian that has caused a furore. Proposals in 'The Danish Text' include: a weakened role for the United Nations in handling climate change finance, forcing developing countries to agree to specific emission cuts and measures that were not part of the original UN agreement, and not allowing poorer countries to emit more than 1.44 tonnes of carbon per person by 2050, whilst allowing rich countries to emit 2.67 tonnes. This has deepened the divide between the developed and developing countries, making negotiations much harder. To follow what is happening in Copenhagen over the next week see the websites of The Guardian and the United Nations.

More information - the Guardian     More information - the United Nations