16 December,2009 08:45 AM IST | | Rahul Bose
It was a day of high drama at Copenhagen yesterday. African countries walked out of COP15, exasperated with the stalling tactics of rich countries when it came to discussing binding emissions reductions. Jeremy Hobbs, executive director of Oxfam International, with whom I have worked all week, issued this formal statement: "Africa has pulled the emergency cord to avoid a train crash at the end of the week. Poor countries want to see an outcome which guarantees sharp emission reductions, yet rich countries are trying to delay discussions on the only mechanism we have to deliver thisu00a0-- the Kyoto Protocol.
"This (is) not about blocking the talksu00a0-- it is about whether rich countries are ready to guarantee action on climate change and the survival or people in Africa and across the world. Australia and Japan are crying foul while blocking movement on legally binding emission reductions for rich countries. This tit for tat approach is no way to deal with the climate crisis."
Thankfully, sanity prevailed. The Danish presidency announced that there would be an informal (closed session) on developed country mitigation targets and the first issue that would be discussed would be emissions reductions by rich countries under the Kyoto Protocol. The African group, supported by most of the G77 (the group of developing countries), wanted a commitment from the Danish presidency that the Kyoto Protocol track would be the priority. Since then, Africa has come back to the table.
By its action, many feel that the African group has shown an example of toughness within the G77 that had not been displayed before. Whether that's true or not, for me the day had conflict, breakdown, reconciliation and a (temporary) happy ending. All the ingredients of entertaining cinema!
