We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Agriculture suffers as Copenhagen talks stall
CLIMATE change talks have stalled in Copenhagen prompting fears that agriculture will miss a golden opportunity to tackle greenhouse gas emissions.
The African delegation of nations walked out of key negotiations yesterday (Monday, December 14) after Western nations refused to agree to significant cuts in their emissions.
World leaders had hoped to thrash out a deal before the end of the conference on Friday (December 18) in order to cut emissions to prevent temperature rises, but that now looks in doubt.
Agriculture – which is estimated by the UN to contribute a fifth of global greenhouse gasses – had been put on the front line of talks during Agriculture Day in Copenhagen on Saturday (December 12).
Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn told more than 300 policymakers, farmers and scientists that talks would have to get back on track if agriculture was to make significant greenhouse has savings.
“We have five days left in which to get a climate deal. The UK Government, as all governments, is making an all-out effort. We are not there yet. There is a lot of work to be done.”
He added optimistically: “We can achieve something that a generation ago would have seemed impossible.”
The NFU delegation, led by its chief climate change advisor Jonathan Scurlock, told negotiators that a climate change deal without agriculture would in effect be a ‘no deal’.
In his Blog from Copenhagen, Mr Scurlock urged leaders to strike a history-making deal. He said: “Agriculture is where poverty reduction, food security and climate change intersect – and we all want it included in the climate change agreement.”
In a bid to get talks back on track, Gordon Brown will travel to Copenhagen today (Tuesday, December 15), two days earlier than planned.
“His view is that these negotiations can’t wait until the last minute. He believes we have learnt the lessons from the G20 that it takes leadership to get involved and try to pull together what is required as soon as possible,” said a spokesperson from Number 10.
Readers' comments (1)
Richard Micklethwait | 18 December 2009 12:01 pm
Russian TV reported that the Met office had selected data from urban sites in Russia and not included rural ones to support the climate change debate.
No wonder we do not know who to believe.
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