Developing Nations Were In on 'Danish Text'

The “Danish text”—the leaked climate change agreement that infuriated developing nations in Copenhagen and sparked accusations of bullying by rich countries—was actually drafted by a group that included China, India, and Brazil, among other countries. They had “input into the process and product” of the agreement, which seeks to impose stricter limits on developing nations’ emissions, an insider tells the Los Angeles Times.

Despite their advance knowledge of the content of the “Danish text,” which also proposes a reduced role for the UN in climate issues, it is unclear which countries had agreed to which provisions. Algeria, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh were also privy to the document’s drafting, the source says. One critic, who represents a coalition of developing nations, said the text “robs developing countries of their just and equitable and fair share of the atmospheric space.” (More Copenhagen climate change conference stories.)