SCRAMBLING TO SAVE FACE WITH HIS CHICOM PARTNERS:

Copenhagen ends with a deal surrounded by confusion (Ben Webster and Philippe Naughton, 12/18/09, Times of London)

The United Nations climate change summit at Copenhagen drew to an unsatisfactory close last night, with negotiators only able to secure a non-binding agreement between the developed and developing nations. [...]

The deal did not include emissions reduction targets, only an over-arching aspiration to limit the temperature rise to 2C.

A draft text leaked this afternoon did not include figures for binding commitments by developed nations to cut their greenhouse gas emissions in the next decade. At the insistence of China, it also featured watered-down language on the need for verification of action taken by emerging economies.

The most recent draft did not include a commitment for the parties to meet again in the next six to 12 months to agree a full international treaty.

At least he didn't not get the Olympics.

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 18, 2009 6:26 PM