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Groups declare Canada world's biggest environmental offender at climate talks
Fri Dec 18, 2:07 PM
By The Canadian Press
COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Canada is the "Colossal Fossil" in Copenhagen.
Environmental groups bestowed the dubious accolade on Canada Friday at the United Nations climate talks.
The groups say Canada's target for reducing its greenhouse gases is "among the worst in the industrialized world" and its plan to reach its goal is "so weak that it would put even that target out of reach."
The mock honour caps a 12-day summit where Canada's image has taken a serious scuffing.
Serial pranksters The Yes Men pulled a fast one on Canada this week that shone unflattering light on the government's targets to lower greenhouse gases.
And provincial leaders, notably Quebec Premier Jean Charest, have assailed Ottawa for not doing enough to get the country's emissions under control.
Canada has faced criticism from developing countries and environmentalists who accuse the government of failing to make concessions to help reach a climate deal.
President Obama's huge Harper snub
Fri Dec 18, 7:04 AM
By The Canadian Press
COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Prime Minister Stephen Harper was left off U.S. President Barack Obama's guest list for an emergency meeting of world leaders in the final hours of the Copenhagen climate talks.
Obama arrived in the Danish capital Friday morning in the hopes his charm and influence could sway the 193 countries here to get a deal done.
Shortly after arriving, the American president headed into a special meeting with 19 other leaders.
Among the attendees were Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei, Brazilian President Luiz Lula da Silva and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
The list, provided by the White House, did not include Harper.
The Prime Minister's Office said Harper is at the Bella Centre conference hall, where the summit is being held, to attend the first plenary session.
He's later scheduled to participate in a group photo with other leaders before going to a lunch hosted by Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
Leaders sought to put on an air of optimism amid dampened expectations for a deal.
UN head Ban Ki-moon told world leaders "our discussions are bearing fruit."
But an official draft text had yet to emerge as the clock ticked down to the summit's close.
The two biggest sticking points have been climate aid for nations most affected by a warming planet, and agreements on reductions in greenhouse gases.
An agreement, should there be one, was expected to be only a few pages in length, and it would essentially be a blueprint for a legally binding deal expected next year. |
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發表於 2009-12-19 11:43
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