Climate change summit results 'failure'

> COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Dec 21, 2009 -- UPI
>
> The climate change summit in Denmark, expected to produce a historic
> document, fell way short of the mark, officials and organizations
> said.
>
> European leaders called the two-week gathering at Copenhagen
> "disappointing"
> while environmental organizations characterized it as a "failure," the
> EUobserver.com reported.
>
> After nearly two weeks of stalled talks on a treaty to succeed the
> Kyoto Protocol for curbing greenhouse gases, the countries approved a
> five- page document that recognizes the need to limit global
> temperatures from rising no more than 2 degrees Celsius over 10 years,
> but doesn't require signatories to take measures to address climate
> change.
>
> As explained by U.S. President Barack Obama Friday, countries will
> list "concrete commitments" into the document's appendix, and would be
> subject to international consultation and analysis, leading to a
> hoped-for more binding document later. Among other things, the accord
> also sets a goal of delivering $100 billion annually to developing
> countries to help them address climate change.
>
> Fredrik Reinfeldt, Sweden's prime minister and sitting as EU's six-
> month rotating president, said the conference's document won't counter
> global warming.
>
> "Let's be honest. This is not a perfect agreement. It will not solve
> the climate threat," he told EUobserver.com.
>
> The agreement, while a step forward was "clearly below our ambitions,"
> European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said. "I will not
> hide my disappointment."
>
> The United States bullied developing countries "into backing a plan
> that completely undermines the existing U.N. process," said Andy
> Atkins, Friends of the Earth executive director. "This summit has been
> a complete failure -- the climate accord should be sent to the
> recycling bin."
>