Host proposal at Copenhagen calls for 50 per cent cuts by 2050

But mid-term target is lacking for developing countries, leading to India's rejection of proposal

Cath Everett, BusinessGreen, 30 Nov 2009


The world should cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2050 from 1990 levels, with most of the cuts coming from rich countries, according to a draft proposal from Denmark, which will host UN climate change talks next month.

A copy of the draft, which was seen by Reuters, could become the basis of a political agreement at the forthcoming summit in Copenhagen, which will take place between 7 and 18 December.

The text said that industrialised nations should generate a huge 80 per cent of the proposed global emissions cuts, and suggested that 2020 be endorsed as the year when such emissions should peak.

The draft also advocated that efforts should be made to keep average temperature rises across the world to within 2°C.

But no mid-term emissions target was specified for developed countries, even though this is a key demand of southern nations. As a result, India has already criticised it as a “dead end”.