The biggest climate meeting in history, with 15,000 participants from 192 nations, opened in Copenhagen on Monday, with hosts Denmark saying an unmissable opportunity to protect the planet was

China and India are on different sides of the climate debate and, after the US, Beijing has to make the most cuts
Surjit S Bhalla / New Delhi December 08, 2009, 0:36 IST

China and India are on different sides of the climate debate and, after the US, Beijing has to make the most cuts

As the biggest environmental meeting in history opens in Copenhagen, the scientific case for a global agreement to fight man-made climate change remains overwhelming.

Business leaders have called for agreement at Copenhagen, urging governments to provide the support for the vast investment in clean energy they say will be needed to sustain fuel supplies while curbing carbon dioxide emissions.

The world is "within closing distance" of agreeing cuts in greenhouse gases that would satisfy scientific demands, according to a new analysis.

Officials from the governments of more than 190 countries arrived at the talks yesterday with the aim of forging a new global deal on climate change.

HARDEV SANTORA
HARDEV SANTORA COPENHAGEN

As over 15,000 visitors descend on the city of 5.2 million to talk climate over the next 12 days and more than 100 heads of state or government expected to visit towards the end, the expectations have been watered down for a binding treaty on climate change among 192 nations, though a lesser contentious "political agreement" is in the work.

RASHME SEHGAL with agency inputs
NEW DELHI

Indian team in Copenhagen says Delhi has drawn `red lines' Climate chief of UN expresses concern over leaked emails New survey finds that world less concerned about climate

RASHME SEHGAL with agency inputs
NEW DELHI

Indian team in Copenhagen says Delhi has drawn `red lines' Climate chief of UN expresses concern over leaked emails New survey finds that world less concerned about climate