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Fun times in Copenhagen

Heh -- in the continuation of an honorable tradition... From the UK Guardian:

Copenhagen climate summit in disarray after 'Danish text' leak
The UN Copenhagen climate talks are in disarray today after developing countries reacted furiously to leaked documents that show world leaders will next week be asked to sign an agreement that hands more power to rich countries and sidelines the UN's role in all future climate change negotiations.

The document is also being interpreted by developing countries as setting unequal limits on per capita carbon emissions for developed and developing countries in 2050; meaning that people in rich countries would be permitted to emit nearly twice as much under the proposals.

The so-called Danish text, a secret draft agreement worked on by a group of individuals known as "the circle of commitment" � but understood to include the UK, US and Denmark � has only been shown to a handful of countries since it was finalised this week.

The agreement, leaked to the Guardian, is a departure from the Kyoto protocol's principle that rich nations, which have emitted the bulk of the CO2, should take on firm and binding commitments to reduce greenhouse gases, while poorer nations were not compelled to act. The draft hands effective control of climate change finance to the World Bank; would abandon the Kyoto protocol � the only legally binding treaty that the world has on emissions reductions; and would make any money to help poor countries adapt to climate change dependent on them taking a range of actions.

The document was described last night by one senior diplomat as "a very dangerous document for developing countries. It is a fundamental reworking of the UN balance of obligations. It is to be superimposed without discussion on the talks".

The Guardian's copy of the Danish Text is wrapped in an online viewer - cutting and pasting not allowed. You do have the option to download but you need to be registered with Scribd first. Just skimming it makes me want to puke. The photo that accompanies the Telegraph news item sums it up perfectly:
The UN Copenhagen climate talks are in disarray today
after developing countries reacted furiously to leaked documents.
Photograph: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images First, kill all the diplomats... Posted by DaveH at December 8, 2009 3:21 PM