COPENHAGEN: Yesterday, the high-level segment of the COP15 discussions start, signaling that an end for the UN Climate Change Conference is close at hand. The Bella Center, which is the venue for the conference, is busier than usual, with everyone rushing around obviously more tense. During the opening ceremony of the new segment, Ban Ki-Moon, UN secretary-general, put it out to world leaders very bluntly. “Seal a deal†on climate change. “We do not have another year to deliberate. Nature does not negotiate with us.†After talks were suspended yesterday due to objections from the African group, things went back to normal today. Most of the points that they objected to had been addressed. But there is no way to make up for the time lost. At this stage of the negotiations, one day is a huge period of time to miss out on. Ministers stayed up late last night trying to iron out the agreement. But Ban Ki-Moon appeared to be still full of faith that there is hope. “We are here to succeed. We are not here for any deadlock or failure. Therefore we are firm and we are committed to succeed.†“The overwhelming response by the leaders of the world who have accepted our joint invitation to this meeting is unprecedented. That signals there is political will from the leaders.†But the question is, what kind of deal can we expect? Is it the strong deal everyone has been waiting for or a weak deal that will not really save humanity? Lars Løkke Rasmussen, prime minister of Denmark, stressed that time is running out. “This is the moment when we really change the gears. Because we really need more momentum to reach a deal by Friday.†Most points of disagreement do not yet have a finalized form to go into the agreement. “For three years, I have sought to bring world leaders to the table,” said Ban Ki-Moon. “Three years of effort comes down to three days of action.” And the fight against the clock continues, as more world leaders flock to the cold city of Copenhagen to fight off a warming climate. BM
