One of the most striking accounts of the final hours at the Copenhagen climate conference was notable not just for its controversial portrayal of China’s role in the negotiations, but the drama that was involved — heads of state banging microphones and ‘throwing up their hands in despair’.
Now there is more detail on the drama from Der Spiegel, which has some ‘leaked tapes’ from a December 18 meeting attended by Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy, Barack Obama, and “representatives of China and India”.
We can’t find the original report in English, but EUObserver.com relates some of the content of the tapes, starting with Angela Merkel:
When she presented Europe’s demand to have a commitment for a global reduction of 50 percent in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, China’s negotiator intervened abruptly and said: “Thank you for all your proposals. We’ve already said we cannot accept the long-term goal of 50 percent.”
At that point, French President Nicolas Sarkozy jumped in. “With all due respect and friendship for China,” he said, the West had already committed itself to an 80 percent reduction by the mid-century mark. “And China, who will soon be the biggest economy in the world, now tells the world ‘these engagements are for you, not for us.’ This is unacceptable. One has to react to this hypocrisy,” he scoffed.
It also sheds some light (or adds some confusion) on the reports suggesting Obama was frustrated with Premier Wen’s sending of delegates to some meetings:
US President Barack Obama tried to moderate the discussion, but also expressed his frustration that the Chinese premier preferred to stay in his hotel room and to send his chief negotiator instead. “I know there is a Chinese premier here, one who takes important decisions,” the US President said. Mr Obama then told the Chinese negotiator, He Yafei, “[the premier] is giving you instructions at this stage.”
Mr Yafei replied: “I do not speak for myself here. I speak for China. I heard President Sarkozy talk about hypocrisy. I would avoid such terms.” He argued that industrial countries had to assume their responsibility after causing 80 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions within one century. “Don’t run away from that,” he said.
As we’ve noted before, the Chinese delegation clearly had a different view of proceedings, possibly viewing that meeting as less important; and/or with Wen possibly staying away due to a perceived slight at not being invited to an earlier meeting.
(from the Financial Times Energy Source)