Though hopes of reaching a legally binding agreement have slipped into next year, Denmark 10 days ago upgraded the Dec. 7-18 climate talks by inviting 191 heads of state and government to attend the final two days of the Copen-hagen meeting to muster forces for a political deal.
The Copenhagen conference was initially for environment ministers, but now the stage is set for a summit though it remains unclear if U.S. President Barack Obama will attend.
“To cut through the outstanding issues and make an ambitious deal … the active involvement of heads of state and government is crucial,” Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told a meeting of his Liberal Party yesterday, according to a spokesman.
“That is why we are encouraged that already more than 60 heads of state and government have confirmed they will participate, and just as important that many more have also been positive,” Rasmussen said.
A Danish government official said the number so far was 65 but declined to provide a full list of those who had agreed to come to the Copenhagen conference, adding that Denmark would let leaders make their own announcements.
He noted, however, that some leaders, such as those of Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Australia, Japan, Indonesia and Brazil, had announced their intention to attend.
