Christmas Cheer from Copenhagen?

The Friend's environment editor, Laurie Michaelis, looks at the progress so far at the Copenhagen climate change sumit.

by Laurie Michaelis 17th December 2009

Climate change is a complex, messy and huge problem. At the time of the Friend going to press, the antidote being brewed in Copenhagen seems complex, messy and inadequate. Negotiators are working on two main documents. Both are full of the square brackets used to indicate alternative possible wording and figures.  One document aims to update and strengthen the Kyoto Protocol. It would set specific emission reduction targets for industrialised countries beyond the first ‘commitment period’ of 2008-2012. But there are major problems with the Kyoto Protocol, not least that the United States is unlikely ever to ratify it.