Cowen to travel to climate change summit

Taoiseach Brian Cowen will travel to Copenhagen today for the final two days of the UN Climate Change Summit.

Over 115 heads of state and government are expected to participate in the remaining sessions of the conference as the future of the deal hangs in the balance.

The world leaders are attempting to put in place a new, global agreement on tackling climate change, which would come into effect in 2013.

Mr Cowen, who will also meet his worldwide counterparts at a dinner tonight and in plenary sessions on Friday, said climate change was a real and serious threat to life on earth.

“Global problems, like climate change, require global responses,” he added.

But as protests outside the Bella Centre in the Danish capital escalated, fears grew that a deal will not be struck between the nations.

Environment Minister John Gormley, who is representing Ireland in the negotiations, said it was hard not to be pessimistic as the gap between the developing and developed countries was huge.

“It isn’t coming together,” he added.

“In fact it seems to be at this stage falling apart.”