Canada's "Cut'N'Paste" Climate Treaty Stance Prompted Mass Walkout During Thailand Talks

[hatrack]

EDIT

A widening and bitter rift between rich and developing countries over climate change was laid bare last week when delegates from 180 nations met in Bangkok to shape a successor to Kyoto before its first phase expires in just over two years. The United Nations hopes to broker a draft deal in time for a meeting in Copenhagen this December. The delegates discussed whether all or parts of Kyoto should end up in the new agreement.

The developing countries want a new climate deal to complement Kyoto, but Canadian officials told the room they would rather replace Kyoto with one agreement, according to the meeting notes. Canada's delegation was apparently open to putting "some or all" of Kyoto in a new climate pact, the notes say. "Some or all of (Kyoto Protocol) elements can be incorporated into (Copenhagen) agreement," the notes say about Canada's position.

At that point, the South African delegation stood up and led the Group of 77 developing nations – except for a group of small island states – out of the room. "The conversation, in our view, at the point in time was effectively over and the G77 left the room," said Joanne Yawitch, a South African negotiator at the Bangkok talks. Talks resumed the next day.

"We're not going to walk out of any negotiating process," Yawitch said. "But there are certain conversations which we feel are outside of the perimeters of the legal mandate." The developing nations were perturbed that Canada and other industrial countries would consider copying parts Kyoto into a new treaty. "You can't do a cut and paste on a ratified treaty," Yawitch said.

EDIT

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/709146--canada-s-kyoto-view-triggers-a-walkout

[excess_3]

1. so the G77 does not want numerical limits on themselves ?

or something else?

[hatrack]

2. It's not that - what Canada is proposing would require starting from scratch - a whole new Kyoto

Or whatever it would be called . . .