Rumbling discontent over industrialised nations' reluctance to commit to ambitious carbon emission targets reached a climax today, when delegates from about 50 African countries attending the latest round of UN talks in Barcelona forced the cancellation of several key meetings in protest at the negotiating position of richer nations.
According to Associated Press reports, the technical meetings, which were intended to help finalise the draft negotiating text ahead of next month's Copenhagen Summit, were suspended when African negotiators said they were only willing to discuss the carbon emission pledges currently tabled by industrialised countries.
Meetings intended to discuss which greenhouse gases should be regulated, how to account for forest-related emission reductions, and how to manage industrialised countries' investments in low-carbon technologies in developing economies were all affected by the boycott.
Several delegates warned that unless the standoff is resolved, the row could further diminish the chances of a deal being reached in Copenhagen next month.
Artur Runge-Metzger, head of the European Commission delegation, told Reuters that he sympathised with the protest, but warned that any move to block negotiations would 'certainly not get us to a result'. However, poorer nations are increasingly frustrated at the position taken by richer countries which they accuse of failing to do enough to help tackle climate change.
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