Mon, 07 Dec 2009 5:29p.m.
Jonathan Pershing
By Kim Chisnall
In a few hours from now, the controversial Copenhagen summit will be under way - controversial because some see it as the planet's last hope, others as a scientific con job.
The feuding between the two camps is bitter.
One calls the other 'warmists' and 'alarmists', while the target of those insults dismiss the disbelievers as 'eco-holocaust deniers'.
Both sides claim science is on their side.
At Copenhagen, climate negotiators and world leaders from 192 nations will try to agree on targets to control carbon dioxide and other emissions.
There is more optimism now the world's second biggest culprit, the United States, has changed its attitude.
"One year ago, we had a different administration at these particular meetings," says US chief negotiator Jonathan Pershing. "We had a position that the issue was not central, not critical. And today, we've come back with a position that says we're prepared for a 17 percent reduction [in carbon emissions] below 2005 levels over essentially the next 10 years."
It is a shift some scientists say is unnecessary, and the conference a waste of time.
"We are seeing a climatic change but that is nothing new," says Ole Humlum, Norwegian geography professor. "All the time we have been sitting on this planet we have seen climatic change, so actually there's not very much new under the sun."
He is in the minority, and likely to be swamped by the numbers.
The normally quiet Denmark capital of Copenhgaen is about to be invaded by 15,000 delegates, 5000 journalists and 98 world leaders - and then of course there are the celebrities, among them Leonardo DiCaprio and Darryl Hannah.
Between them they will create as much carbon dioxide as a city the size of Hamilton.
Twelve hundred limousines have been gathered from around Europe to ferry them about - compare that with the five electric cars, or hybrids, available in the city.
And with the cavalcade will come the protesters. The police have already addressed their hospitality needs, with a new temporary prison, and 360 cages have been set up in an old brewery, with room for 4000 guests.
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