Update from Copenhagen Tuesday 15 December PM

Published on Tue 15th Dec 2009

Greetings from Copenhagen!

The Swedish environment minister addressed the Conference today, speaking on behalf of the EU. So too did Prince Charles, though on whose behalf nobody was really sure. One or two junior UK government ministers were present. But it seems little of consequence will happen until the heads of state and government show up at the weekend. The NGOs are calling on the EU to go further in its commitments. The EU hesitates, partly out of fear that its competitiveness will be damaged if other industrial nations fail to reciprocate, partly because the Swedish Presidency has to keep France, Germany and Poland (and smaller sticklers) on board in payments to developing countries.

Meanwhile the NGO activists don fancy costumes to protest through singing, chanting and play acting (partly to attract attention) and those of us in business suits attend briefings by the climate scientists. Today it started to snow, perhaps prophetically. In a few minutes I have 30 MPs from almost all continents attending my renewable energy supergrid supper. But for me it must be over by 1030 pm because tomorrow I rise at 0430 to fly to Strasbourg to vote in the European Parliament at lunchtime.

As such, this will be my last update from Copenhagen, but I will continue to send my weekly newsletter from Brussels and Strasbourg. If you would like to receive this please let me know and I shall add you to my distribution list.