Walkout and tensions heighten fear of failure

The UN climate summit hit major turbulence yesterday when developing nations staged a five-hour walkout and China accused the West of trickery, as the spectre of failure loomed heavily over Copenhagen.

As campaigners warned negotiators had five days to avert climate chaos, ministers admitted they had to start making giant strides before 120 heads of state arrived for the summit’s climax on Friday. But their hopes were hit by the boycott, which only ended after the developing nations secured guarantees on separate Kyoto Protocol talks.

That core emissions-curbing treaty ties rich countries that have ratified it to binding emissions curbs but not developing nations. It does not include the US, which says the protocol is unfair as the binding targets do not apply to developing giants that are already huge emitters of greenhouse gases. A first round of pledges under Kyoto expires in 2012 and poorer nations are seeking a seven-year commitment period. The walkout delivered another blow to a summit already marred by spats between China and the US.