Key keeps to schedule despite Obama plan

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Prime Minister John Key says he is not reconsidering whether to attend a climate change summit in Copenhagen, despite reports that United States President Barack Obama will now go.

Mr Key said he was standing by his position that he would not go to the leaders' meeting at the United Nations summit next month unless a definitive deal on climate change targets was on the table.

The comments came after it was revealed Mr Obama would attend preliminary talks, which begin on December 6.

Mr Key said his understanding was that Mr Obama intended to drop in on December 7 on his way to Norway to collect the Nobel Peace Prize, and that he would not attend the Copenhagen leaders' forum, which is nearly two weeks later.

Mr Key said he would still not go unless he thought a deal would be concluded.

"At this stage that seems unlikely. Good work will happen over the next few weeks as countries put on the table what they're prepared to do, the mechanism for holding accountability and enforcibility of those rules, but I think the major work beyond that will happen, actually, in 2010."

Mr Key was speaking on the way to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, where climate change will dominate proceedings.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Yvo de Boer, head of the UN framework convention on climate change, will attend the biennial Chogm summit in a sign of desperation for a deal on emissions targets and penalties to be signed off.

There have been reports that French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen may also attend Chogm, the last big international summit before Copenhagen.

The Chogm conference is not expected to discuss emissions targets, let alone reach a unified position. Mr Key will use the chance to rub shoulders with 50 other world leaders to win support for his `global alliance' initiative, which aims to share technology and research on ways to cut agricultural emissions.

Greenhouse gases from farms make up the biggest share of New Zealand's emissions.

Other issues on the agenda include the global economic recession.

Mr Key will also lobby other leaders to support New Zealand's bid for a place on the UN Security Council.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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ashamed   #9   09:48 am Nov 27 2009

It sends a very clear message about John Key's priorities. Gordon Brown, Kevin Rudd, many other world leaders signed up months ago. Now Obama is going - but our PM feels he is too important to go. Our "clean green image" is rubbish and the world is finally beginning to pick up on that. Tourism NZ might need to look at a new slogan.

Ben   #8   09:48 am Nov 27 2009

This is so embarrasing, as a New Zealander overseas!

Ruz   #7   09:38 am Nov 27 2009

Now that the President's of the USA and China have decided to go to Copenhagen it does look like John Key has made a bad call in deciding not to go. His reaffirmation not to go to Cpenhagen baffles me slightly because Mr Key has a reputation for changing his mind.

Jo   #6   09:33 am Nov 27 2009

Yeah, what Maxwell said :-)

Anne   #5   09:28 am Nov 27 2009

Of course he's too ashamed to go and too gutless to make any changes here - doesn't want to upset his cronies.

adam   #4   09:27 am Nov 27 2009

Agree with dave #2, our whole tourism strategy (for which john key is the minister) is to project a 100% pure image to the world, what then does this no show at copenhagen say to the world?

maxwell   #3   09:14 am Nov 27 2009

Not to mention he would be a little embarrassed given National's denial of climate change and continued focus on "GDP" and "economic growth". Who needs a planet when we can have money.

dave   #2   09:11 am Nov 27 2009

will do wonders for nz "clean green image" if it still excists anymore?

Michael   #1   09:10 am Nov 27 2009

My Key is obviously a gambler. If emissions targets are set in Denmark, it is going to be very embarrassing for NZ. Copenhagen has been talked about for years, how shameful our most powerful NZer isn't there. Happy to appear on the Letterman show, but show up at a major world event, na. Wow, what a great statesman.

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