Key mitigates importance of Copenhagen conference

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Sun, 29 Nov 2009 5:58p.m.

John Key has said the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference is nothing more than a photo opportunity for politicians

John Key has said the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference is nothing more than a photo opportunity for politicians

By Scott Campbell

Commonwealth leaders meeting in Trinidad have agreed to throw their weight behind a push for a comprehensive outcome at Copenhagen's Climate Change Summit next month after a plea from UN boss Ban Ki Moon for them to turn up.

But while all are keen to see action, not all of them will go.

Prime Minister John Key has labelled the summit a “photo opportunity” and says it will not be effective.

The Caribbean sun has been sweltering in Trinidad and Tobago and the heat has well and truly been put on the Commonwealth leaders holed up there.

UN boss Ban Ki Moon claiming it is time for politicians to show some leadership.

“My message to the leaders is start focussed, stay committed and come to Copenhagen and seal a deal in Copenhagen."

90 leaders are now confirmed to be heading to Denmark, including United States President Barack Obama.

But Prime Minister John Key remains defiant saying Copenhagen will not have any legal clout, and will not be enforceable or hold big polluting nations to account.

But today Key and the other leaders committed to do all they can to push for a comprehensive outcome.

The main focus of today’s declaration is financial; leaders pledging to set up a $10 billion fund by 2012 with much of that to help smaller nations fight global warming.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says "what the Commonwealth has done today is throw its full weight behind the process.”

The UN Secretary General says the pledge is significant and substantial but more is needed.

“We are united in purpose, we are not yet united in action,” said Ban Ki Moon.

But Key says he is happy for cabinet ministers Nick Smith and Tim Groser to go to Copenhagen without him.

John key has said that Copenhagen is simply a chance for politicians to be photographed but it seems everyday more leaders are deciding to go.

Key has left himself some wriggle room should this start to look like a snub, and he may need it.

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Comments

30 Nov 2009 08:13a.m.

annon wrote:

Thank-you John for trying to protect the future of NZ, I suspect that you have been put under great pressure to sell NZ to these Banking Oligarchs!!. But as you say we have a voice and I at least wont have a bar of slavery for life!. Free Will!.

30 Nov 2009 12:03a.m.

thomas Orr wrote:

You can stay at my house John, we have a spare bed. only a 15 minute train ride away from the conference. Let me know and i will put some fresh sheets on the spare bed.

29 Nov 2009 10:50p.m.

annon wrote:

Because all the hype about Cop15 has been about saving the world! I believe that the agreement is being demanded by something, someone, some bank!, and that if this legally binding agreement is not signed, then literally our world is at stake!. To simply dismiss this event as just a naked Lucy Lawless publicity stunt would great but I can't!. Skeptic!

29 Nov 2009 09:52p.m.

Greg O'Neill wrote:

Very disappointing even if it may be the truth. This looks like its setting the public up for his imminent failure.

29 Nov 2009 09:45p.m.

Brit wrote:

Key is now showing his true colurs as he formaly denied global warming and supported the NZCSC. The NZCSC have consited of “scientists” that include an admiral, the late Channel 3 weatherman Augie Auer and discredited scientist David Bellamy . Members Vincent Gray and Bob Carter have been contributing writers to a foundation funded by Exxon-Mobil .

However, when looking at the real world of science; not a single non-partisan single peer reviewed science article has doubted global warming. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/306/5702/1686 The vast majority of scientists have demonstrated with hard data that carbon and methane emissions have pushed the normal cooling and warming cycles way off the charts –as had ALL scientists at the recent Climate Change and Governance conference.

29 Nov 2009 08:35p.m.

annon wrote:

Maybe you do have NZ's best interests at heart after all!. After watching the Australian prime minister practically foam at the mouth when he talks of the skeptics of Global Warming are a danger and should be practically rounded up and shot!. With the news of "ClimateGate" casts significant doubt about everything and anything the UN's IPCC is promoting as fact, I suggest NZ is treading a realistic path.! I would suggest however that Mr Key may find that significant powers of this world will force him to attend Cop15 and sign away NZ future forever such is the fanaticism of the cult of CO2 and the power of the money traders pushing this currency!. Hopefully "God help us" may have more sway than than the CO2 hoax!.

29 Nov 2009 07:49p.m.

Kenobi wrote:

To Ban Ki Moon,
I'm sorry but our Prime Minister wouldnt know what leadership was if it turned around and bit him in the backside.

Regards

New Zealand.

29 Nov 2009 07:32p.m.

Alien wrote:

We already know that this will be just a photo op that will gain very little. It is already becoming noticeable that in the States Climategate has had a Major influence with Congress now having the numbers to refuse any legislation that Obama puts toward them, and that is exactly what the politicians are saying they will do. So no matter what Obama promises, he no longer has the ability to deliver that.

29 Nov 2009 06:23p.m.

Freedom fighter wrote:

The only thing likely to come from Copenhagen is the foundation of a one world government. Officials have even come out and stated that their desire is to see 'global management' as their motive. Just listen to the cries from the extremists, single currency, population control measures that make China's pale by comparisson, hate speech restrictions on freedom of expression...