The Copenhagen climate change conference is being hampered by a war of words between China and the U.S., AP reports:
U.S. chief negotiator Todd Stern urged China to “stand behind” its promise to slow the growth of the country’s carbon output and make the declaration part of an international climate change agreement.
China rejected that demand, and renewed its criticism of the U.S. for failing to meet its 17-year-old commitment to provide financial aid to developing countries and to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases warming the Earth.
“What they should do is some deep soul-searching,” said Yu Qingtai, China’s chief climate negotiator.
The remarks during separate news conferences reflected the heavy lifting that remains in the 10 days before 110 heads of state and government conclude the summit, which aims to create a political framework for a treaty next year to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
See also “U.S. Swings Back at China in Copenhagen” from Fox News and “No ‘Pass’ for Developing Countries in Next Climate Treaty, Says U.S. Envoy” from the New York Times.
