Environment ministers from more than 40 countries are meeting this week to pave the way for a politically binding agreement at the Copenhagen climate change negotiations in December.

 

Ministers are meeting on 16 and 17 November in Copenhagen for the pre-COP, which is the last major gathering of ministers before COP15 (the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties) begins in Copenhagen.

 

Forty-three countries have been invited to participate. Amongst others, they will aim to consolidate areas of emerging consensus, and make progress on outstanding issues.

 

Danish Minister for Climate and Energy Connie Hedegaard, who will chair the main conference, said this week’s pre-COP meeting would 'discuss the difficult subjects that remain, such as financing and the goals to be reached'.

A rapidly approaching deadline

 

With 20 days until the negotiations begin, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has said a Copenhagen deal is 'absolutely doable', and has urged: 'If we build on this political commitment at the highest level then we can seal the deal in Copenhagen.'

The UK's ambition is that Copenhagen must deliver a comprehensive politically binding agreement and set out a very clear timetable to a legally binding treaty. A UK Government spokesperson said:

'We want maximum ambition from Copenhagen and that must include firm numbers and commitments. There’s no weakening or lowering of ambition and we’re continuing to push at Copenhagen for a comprehensive politically binding agreement, under the UNFCCC.

'But we’re also clear that the Copenhagen agreement must set out a very clear timetable to a legally binding treaty which must be agreed as soon as possible and without delay.'