Kiribati looking to buy land abroad to reocate its people

[Stacey King]

THE VENUE www.bmw.com.au Monday December 07 2009

Built in the 1970s, the sprawling concrete and glass Belle Centre on the southern edge of Copenhagen will be the focal point of the conference after a multi-million pound facelift to ensure a 20pc cut in its C02 emissions as delegates shuttle between dozens of plenary sessions and fringe meetings.

The UN itself admits that the fortnight's proceedings will produce 40,500 tons of CO2 -- equivalent to the entire annual output of the Pacific Island nation of Kiribati, which is so likely to be obliterated by global warming that its leaders are looking to buy land abroad to relocate its people. As a result, the organisers are at pains to underline the measures they are taking to minimise the carbon footprint of the talks. They include: the provision of tap water rather than bottled water to delegates; biodegradable cups and glasses that will be turned into biogas after use; free public transport for all delegates; and a guarantee that 65pc of all food and drink on offer will be organic. The Danish Foreign Affairs Ministry, which is meeting the €66m cost of the summit, is paying €884,800 to offset the carbon emission by funding 20 efficient brick kilns in Bangladesh. And if anyone was expecting the traditional "goodie bag" provided by conference hosts, they will be disappointed. The Danes have banned such freebies and spent the money on funding 11 university scholarships.