Climate minister: COP17 deal is unambitious

Developing nations agree to join Western states in legally-binding emissions targets in deal forged by former Danish environment minister Connie Hedegaard

After a marathon 60-hour negotiation session this weekend, an agreement paving the way for a global deal to tackle climate change was finally struck at the COP17 conference in Durban, South Africa on Sunday.

But the deal – the ‘Durban Platform’ – which sets a 2015 deadline on negotiating legally-binding emissions targets to come into force in 2020, was criticized by the Danish climate minister, Martin Lidegaard.

“Seen from the climate’s point of view, it’s a very unambitious deal – we should have started today,” Lidegaard said, according to Jyllands-Posten. “I’m happy that we have a deal. But a deal alone won’t keep the rise in temperature within two degrees. But it is a diplomatic victory.”

Previous deals to reduce carbon emissions faltered when developing nations argued that they should be exempt in order to reach the same industrial levels the West which had enjoyed over 100 years of industrialization without having limits placed on their carbon emissions.

In turn, countries such as the United States argued that there was no point in reducing their emissions if developing nations were exempt.

But the ’Durban Platform’ has managed to secure the backing of all the world’s 192 countries, a breakthrough described by Lidegaard as “historic”.

The European Commission also praised the deal, stating in a press release that, “the EU bids welcome to a historic breakthrough in the fight against climate change”.

But far-left government support party Enhedslisten was critical, arguing that it was too little too late.

“The Durban Platform is a catastrophe for the climate,” MP Per Clausen wrote on the partyÂ’s website. “In reality we were better served with no deal rather than a deal that keeps us on course for a climate catastrophe.”

Activist organisation Greenpeace was similarly disappointed with the outcome.

“The grim news is that the blockers led by the US have succeeded in inserting a vital get-out clause that could easily prevent the next big climate deal being legally binding,” Kumi Naidoo, Greenpeace’ international executive director, stated in a press release. “If that loophole is exploited it could be a disaster. And the deal is due to be implemented ‘from 2020’, leaving almost no room for increasing the depth of carbon cuts in this decade when scientists say we need emissions to peak.”

Climate researchers have been warning that time is running out to prevent the global temperature from rising by more than two degress Celsius – the threshold for warming at which catastrophic climate change could take hold – and that by putting off action until 2020, we risk warming the planet by up to four degrees.

Despite the lack of optimism, Connie Hedegaard, the EUÂ’s climate commissioner and Denmark’s former environment minister, was commended for her role in forging the deal.

“She is very, very good and we are lucky to have her,” Chris Huhne, the UK energy and climate change secretary told the Guardian newspaper. “She held everything together in a very impressive manner – a class act.”

With four years of difficult negotiations set to start about the exact emissions limits, HedegaardÂ’s deal is being considered a diplomatic success compared to the outcome of COP15, which was held in Copenhagen and resulted in an agreement that was not legally binding and therefore widely considered weak.

“It’s the first time that the USA, India and China have declared that they are willing to participate in a legally binding agreement,” Hedegaard said. “There were many people who thought we would not get a result. It’s been hard work. But we’ve taken a big step forward.”

The Danish government recently released an energy plan to unilaterally reduce it’s reliance on fossil fuels for energy production, with an aim to sustainably produce all of it’s energy needs by 2050.




  • Tunø: An island running out of time

    Tunø: An island running out of time

    The island of Tunø harbors a community of 74 adults and one child. There are no cars and only one connection to the rest of the world. Now, climate change threatens it

  • Cross-border moves on the rise in the Øresund region

    Cross-border moves on the rise in the Øresund region

    The number of relocations across the Øresund Region is rising. As highlighted by 2023 numbers, Sweden benefits from a growing interest, especially among younger generations.

  • In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

    In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

    He’s tickled our funny bone with countless wisecracks and clever wordplay, and in the process, made Denmark feel a little more personable to many expats. An international import himself, funny man Conrad Molden has successfully carved out a niche for himself on the Danish stand-up scene, but it’s taken a solid 13 years, much trial and error, and heaps of Danglish

  • Here Comes The Sun…

    Here Comes The Sun…

    I escaped from Denmark this winter to the south of France, where I was convinced that the sunshine would inspire me to write this year’s Crazy Christmas comedy show.

  • Volunteer Night 2025: when volunteering rhymes with integrating

    Volunteer Night 2025: when volunteering rhymes with integrating

    On Wednesday, April 30, from 17:00 to 20:00, Studenterhuset will host Volunteer Night 2025, a free event organized by the organization International House Copenhagen, which goal is to ease the relocation process for newcomers in Denmark

  • The international who shaped Copenhagen

    The international who shaped Copenhagen

    Anna Maria Indrio is one of the most important architects in Denmark, having contributed to shaping Copenhagen into what it is today. Among her best-known projects are the extension of SMK and Arken, as well as the Natural History Museum and the Darwin Centre in London. She moved here 60 years ago, when “Copenhagen was gray and dormant. Predictions suggested it would become depopulated. But putting people at the center changed everything,” she said

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.