International relations is a funny thing

Throughout this process I have felt a growing sense of empathy for the actual negotiators involved.  No doubt, this is an extremely frustrating experience for them.  With so many delegates, so many world leaders involved, so many cameras and microphones everywhere, so many documents making the rounds, so many people watching/listening, and with so much at stake, I can't help but feel sorry for these individuals.

Let us always remember that these are people who, I have to believe, are generally working toward trying to reach an agreement.  Such are the follies of international relations, however, that these types of negotiations are a painfully long and complicated process.

Let us also remember who some of these world leaders are that are attending.  Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe), Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Iran), Hugo Chavez (Venezuela), and other leaders notorious for outlandish behaviour at best and egregious human rights violations at the worst.  Such are the ways of international relations that all these leaders, all these countries are being asked to work together with official and unofficial enemies such as the United States (E.g. Iran and the U.S. technically do not have formal relations and therefore technically are not supposed to have any interaction on an official state level with the other).  Obviously, there are many ways to avoid such confrontations (i.e. having go-betweens).  Additionally, many of these countries have allied themselves with larger blocs such as the G77, meaning that direct negotiations between hostile states may in fact not be necessary.

Regardless, the purpose of COP 15 is action on climate change and in theory all other items will be left at the door.  Perhaps, this explains why Hugo Chavez received a standing ovation when it was his turn to speak at the Copenhagen talks (Click here & here for more info).  Then again, hearing his actual remarks, perhaps it doesn't...

Speaking of COP 15, how is that going anyway?  2 days to go and here is some of the latest:

• The U.S. pledges to support a $100 billion U.S. fund to help developing nations fight climate change.  This money is contingent on a deal being reached.

• France and Brazil announce plans to hold a working group tonight for world leaders with represenatives from around the world to break the political impasse.

• A leaked UN report suggests that the emission cuts already offered by states would lead to a rise in the Earth's temperature by an average of 3°C, while the target is to limit a rise to no more than 2°C (1.5°C is what developing countries are asking for).  While a small difference on paper, the result "would mean up to 170 million more people suffering severe coastal floods and 550 million more at risk of hunger, according to the 2006 Stern economic review of climate change for the UK government - as well as leaving up to 50% of species facing extinction."

• Obama is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

• Prime Minister Harper, who has arrived in Copenhagen, will not address the plenary session (Jim Prentice, however, will in his place).

• The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW), and the United Steelworkers union (USW) have come together in a show of solidarity to release a statement arguing for PM Harper to show leadership and press for action on climate change in Copenhagen.