Climate change conference presidency changed

By Sun Xiaohua (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-12-16 22:49

Soecial Coverage:
Climate change conference presidency changed Copenhagen Climate Change Conference

Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen will replace Minister Connie Hedegaard as president of the Conference of Parties at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen, according to UNFCCC.

Rasmussen has appointed Hedegaard as his special representative. She will continue conducting informal consultations at Copenhagen.

"Approximately 115 heads of state and government have decided to participate in COP15 at a summit level to close a deal in Copenhagen," said Rasmussen.

"This historical will to address the climate challenge is the strongest possible driver for a global agreement. The final negotiations will be tense and strenuous. I have therefore asked Minister Connie Hedegaard to continue to negotiate the Copenhagen outcome with her colleagues."

"With so many heads of state and governments arriving to give their statements it is appropriate that the Danish Prime Minister preside," Hedegaard said.

However, with the negotiation falling into an impasse Tuesday night, changing the president of the conference aroused much talk.

Yu Jie, head of the research program of The Climate Group China office, said: "Connie stresses the calls and interests by the developing countries, while Løkke Rasmussen stands by the developed countries.

"With her replacement, it is very hard to tell how the outcome will balance the interests," she said. Tuesday night, during the consultation on Long-term Cooperation Action (LCA) under the UNFCCC, the US delegations expressed dissatisfaction with draft text provisions on greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation responsibilities by developing countries.

The latest draft text included the US proposals.