As snowfall hit Copenhagen, the cityscape became a winter wonderland. Inside the Bella Center negotiators are burning the candle at both ends as many sessions are being delayed. Those due to start at 7pm start at 5am, and 1pm sessions are being delayed until 10pm.

Unfortunately, the snow is also causing problems, as public transport and taxis grind to a halt. I overheard one woman from Namibia enquiring how she could get to the airport: “Sorry madam, the taxis, trains and buses are really struggling today.” This can leave a sour taste for those who not only couldn’t get into the Center, but now can’t get out of the city and start their journey home!

Back to the nitty gritty. The opening line of the NGO daily briefing was: 'The UN is violating its own laws and going against the Geneva Convention’ by excluding civil voices. This is in reference to that fact that so many big NGOs are being banned from the conference – a decision apparently made by the UN, not the Danish Government. 

The news from inside the negotiations was that 'Blame Game' tactics are being applied - developed countries blaming developing countries for stalling the process with their demands, and developing countries criticising the developed countries for trying to buy them out. An example is Ethiopia whose prime minister is agreeing to offers of 100 billion euros from the UK & EU, when official estimates say USD500-600 billion is required. This came as a surprise to the rest of The Africa Group, which is asking for ‘fast-start’ financing of USD$400 Billion by 2012 and a long term commitment of 5% of developed countries’ GDP. South Africa’s Jacob Zuma arrived today to have words!

Discussions on the two tracks continue: to merge, or not to merge? 

The Kyoto Protocol track would require developed countries to continue taking on reduction commitments under the Kyoto agreement.  As the first phase of the Protocol comes to an end, part of the negotiation under this track focuses on defining the timeframe for the next phase. It will run from 2013 but until when? 2020? 2050? Nobody knows. There is also much number trickery going on when it comes to choosing the baseline years to which the emission reductions will be compared. Most countries are working against 1990 levels, whereas the US is going for 2005 - this is a higher and therefore more favourable level of emissions to use for their baseline. 

Under the LCA (Long-term Cooperative Action) track, developed countries are meant to be deciding on actions on issues such as Finance, Technology and REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation). Developing countries want a revision of the Kyoto Protocol - i.e. clear mitigation targets from developed countries, before the LCA text gets decided upon.  

Developed countries want to merge the two tracks, and rumour has it that the Danish prime minister took over the position of COP chair because he wants to collapse the two tracks. The USA and other developed countries want to promote the idea of a bottom-up approach, with domestic action from individuals being the driver regardless of science or climate justice. This system, based on domestic action, is sometimes referred to as 'pledge and review' and ‘show and tell’.

It has become somewhat of a stalemate inside.

Anyway fear not, yesterday I spotted a gold bling trailer parked in the centre of town offering daily casting sessions for the role of Brad Pitt in a movie about climate change. In big red writing on the side it says 'BRAD PITT IS HERE TO SAVE THE PLANET'. Now we can sleep easy. It will all be dandy...

Anya Boyd for Green Energy Republic