Cop-out in Copenhagen

SNP Member of the European Parliament Alyn Smith has today lamented the failure of the Copenhagen climate negotiations to reach a binding, ambitious and transparent agreement which matches Scotland's ambition on climate change, and has virtually given up on any real prospect of a real deal despite confirmation delegates are to continue negotiations into the weekend.  

Smith, who has been present in Copenhagen and last weekend took part in the Wave rally in Glasgow, has expressed his disappointment at the lack of progress seen in these talks and the chaotic way in which the previously agreed common EU position was systematically ignored by EU leaders, instead advancing their own British, German or French vision. 

He has also remained vocal in his call for Scotland to be present at the negotiations.  The Scottish Government's Climate Change Act, passed earlier this year, is the most ambitious in the industrialised world, committing to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 42 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020 and by 80 per cent by 2050.  It seems clear that whatever deal is reached will come nowhere near that ambition or clarity.

"So, after all the sound and fury, no clear total emissions reduction targets for 2020. No robust inspection regime. No detail as to the source of the financing for developing countries. No detail at all really. And not even a pledge to meet the 2 degree target.

"This is not good enough. And we in Scotland will not settle for it and it makes it all the more achingly frustrating that Scotland was reduced to a sideshow by the UK government when we could have been front and centre, and who knows, we could not have done worse than this. 

"The document currently under discussion has no more credibility than if they all initialled a napkin from the Conference centre cafe.
 
"But, this cannot be allowed to rest here. This problem will not go away. A signed napkin to wave in front of the world's media will not stop climate change"

"Our ambition in Scotland to tackle the problems of climate change puts us at the forefront of the industrialised world but I had hoped that these talks would have seen others join us. Unfortunately not.

"The EU, despite its rhetoric in advance of the talks, was posted missing and global governance unravelled to leave a chaotic spectacle marked by various diplomatic incidents and squabbles.

"Any semblance of unity and coherence coming from the EU dissolved as national interest took over - we saw the UK, Germany, Poland and France all arguing for markedly different things just for a start."