WHY DID COPENHAGEN FAIL? PERSPECTIVES

About 45,000 travelled to the UN climate summit in Copenhagen - the vast majority convinced of the need for a new global agreement on climate change.So why did the summit end without one - and without agreement that something significantly stronger should emerge next year?

1. KEY GOVERNMENTS DO NOT WANT A GLOBAL DEAL

Until the end of this summit, it appeared that all governments wanted to keep the keys to combating climate change within the UN climate convention. Implicit in the convention, though, is the idea that governments take account of each others' positions and actually negotiate.That happened at the Kyoto summit. Developed nations arrived arguing for a wide range of desired outcomes; during negotiations, positions converged, and a negotiated deal was done. In Copenhagen, everyone talked; but no-one really listened.

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The outcome of the Copenhagen summit has been branded an "abject failure" by environmentalists and "a betrayal" by developing countries. The Copenhagen Accord, which recognizes the need to limit global temperature increases to two degrees centigrade, was effectively passed after angry discussions at the Danish capital's Bella Centre.But it prompted criticism for not setting tough, legally binding limits on future climate emissions for the 193 nations present. Friends of the Earth said the conference had been an "abject failure", adding that the effects of global warming would be felt most by the poor. "Rich countries have condemned millions of the world's poorest people to hunger, suffering and loss of life as climate change accelerates," said international group chairman Nnimmo Bassey adding that the blame rested "squarely on the shoulders of developed nations." Representative Ian Fry, from the threatened island state of Tuvalu, said "it looks like we are being offered 30 pieces of silver to betray our people and our future."Sudanese delegate Lumumba Stanislas Dia-ping said the pact meant "incineration" for Africa.The main opposition in the all-night session came from the Latin American countries, including Nicaragua and Venezuela, who claimed it did not go far enough. Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, as chairman, ruled that the meeting would "take note" of the agreement – one step short of formal acceptance.

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Now that Copenhagen failed, whats the way forward?