Opening Barcelona Fossil of the Day Award
Submitted by dturnbull on
Barcelona, Spain, November 2, 2009: Two Fossil of the Day Awards were presented this evening at the UN climate talks in Barcelona, to those countries who were judged - by vote of the global Climate Action Network International (CAN-I) to have performed ‘best’ at blocking progress in the negotiations.
As government delegates and observers from the negotiations looked on, young climate activists announced the winners. Much like the Oscars, the awards are kept secret until a colourful presentation ceremony, adding some life to the otherwise bureaucratic UN conference. The winners names are passed to the host in a sealed envelope before being announced before a large crowd of spectators.
1st place was awarded to Denmark - the host of the crucial Copenhagen climate summit this December. Denmark received the award for promoting the concept of a "politically binding" deal in Copenhagen as a possible alternative to a "legally binding" framework agreement.
“Instead of showing leadership, Denmark’s Prime Minister, Lars LÆkke Rasmussen is spreading confusion and insecurity,” said Tove Ryding of Danish Greenpeace. “Rasmussen is providing fuel for the many governments attempting to downplay expectations for a legally binding framework agreement coming out of Copenhagen.”
“The concept of a ‘politically binding’ deal is simply not adequate when the threat of climate change is so urgent. As the host of the Copenhagen summit, Denmark should be supporting a legally binding outcome this December, which would be the real win for our climate.”
