Summit conference on climate change opens in Copenhagen

The appeal was delivered to 15,000 high-ranking officials and experts from 191 countries through a short sci-fi film opening the event, featuring children of the future facing an apocalypse of tempests and desert landscapes if world leaders failed to act today.
 In a speech after the film, Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen urged the participants to show their will and overcome differences to reach a feasible and strong agreement. He emphasised that with the presence of 110 heads of states, the conference provides a prime opportunity for countries to reach a consensus in the fight against climate change. However, the agreement should be in accordance with the political and socio-economic situation of all nations as well as in conformity with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Bali Action Plan.
 According to the conference agenda, the participants will focus their discussions on four main topics –targets for green house gas emissions reduction in developed countries, an action plan to minimise the green house effect for developing countries, financial and technological support for poor countries in adapting to climate change and a cooperation framework among countries.
 The two-week conference is regarded as the largest-ever event on the environment. It will conclude on December 18./.