As world leaders walk away from the UN climate change talks in Copenhagen (COP15), a watered-down accord was accepted by the Conference of the Parties on Saturday morning. The accord which was largely brokered between the USA, China, South Africa, India & Brazil recognises the scientific necessity of keeping global temperature rises to no more than 2°C, but contains no tangible commitments to reduce emissions to achieve that.

Even Barack Obama, who was largely responsible for the agreement being reached, said "This progress is not enough."

The Sudanese negotiator, Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, described the accord's draft as asking "Africa to sign a suicide pact".

Protesting in Trafalgar Square Friday evening
Ashok Sinha, the Director of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, commented on Saturday:

The challenge at Copenhagen was to deliver a new, binding and fair programme of international action to keep global warming as far below the danger threshold of 2 degrees C. There has been a gross failure to achieve this and the fault lies squarely with the industrialised countries. They have not pledged sufficiently deep and rapid cuts in emissions, nor offered enough finance to assist developing countries. Given the threat that humanity and the world’s ecosystems face this is unforgiveable.

It defies comprehension that, confronted by the greatest danger that humanity has ever faced, our political leaders are trying to pass off a dismal, so-called political declaration, as progress. This deal will not prevent catastrophic climate change.

Millions across the globe mobilised to give our leaders a clear mandate to act decisively. Their collective response has been dire and utterly irresponsible. We will not rest until we have pressured our leaders to show the political courage and vision necessary, in the short time left, to pull us back from the brink of disaster.

Reactions from Stop Climate Chaos Coalition members also reflected the deep disappointment at the lack of a fair, effective and binding deal.

Greenpeace summed up the talks as:

Not fair, not ambitious and not legally binding.

The World Development Movement described the talks as a:

shameful and monumental failure.

Kim Carstensen, leader of WWF's Global Climate Initiative, pointed out the problem of the talks:

Well meant but half-hearted pledges to protect our planet from dangerous climate change are simply not sufficient to address a crisis that calls for completely new ways of collaboration across rich and poor countries.

Oxfam's reaction was:

World leaders have produced a hollow deal that has let down people around the world

Jeremy Hobbs, Executive Director of Oxfam International, said:

The deal is a triumph of spin over substance.