After the last round of climate talks before the UN conference in Copenhagen ended with a sense of pessimism and pending defeat, the Danish ambassador to the EU, Poul Skytte Christoffersen, warns against the danger of postponing a deal until next year. Speaking to EurActiv, Christoffersen urged leaders to avoid falling into the trap of the Doha round at all costs. "I have been living the Doha round closely [...] The moment is never right and once you get in this logic, it is a slippery slope," he said. Over the last weeks and months, Denmark, hosting the UN climate conference, has engaged in intensive consultations with world leaders in order to break the deadlock over global climate negotiations to agree on a post-Kyoto treaty to reduce global emissions.
Speaking to EurActiv, Christoffersen urged leaders to avoid falling into the trap of the Doha round at all costs. "I have been living the Doha round closely [...] The moment is never right and once you get in this logic, it is a slippery slope," he said.
Over the last weeks and months, Denmark, hosting the UN climate conference, has engaged in intensive consultations with world leaders in order to break the deadlock over global climate negotiations to agree on a post-Kyoto treaty to reduce global emissions.
The United Nations and Denmark, the host of the Copenhagen U.N. climate change summit, on Monday suggested new deadlines next year for the conclusion of a binding treaty on greenhouse gas emissions. The top U.N. climate official said a treaty could be wrapped up by mid-2010, while Denmark said it might take until December. Negotiations on the deal, originally due to be reached at the December 7-18 summit, are badly bogged down. Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on Sunday proposed to a group of world leaders that next month's conference aim for political agreements on emission cuts and financing, but delay the drafting of a legally binding treaty.
The top U.N. climate official said a treaty could be wrapped up by mid-2010, while Denmark said it might take until December. Negotiations on the deal, originally due to be reached at the December 7-18 summit, are badly bogged down.
Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on Sunday proposed to a group of world leaders that next month's conference aim for political agreements on emission cuts and financing, but delay the drafting of a legally binding treaty.
