The climate change talks in Lima, Peru, which were suspended last week after diplomats failed to reach any consensus, were powered entirely by diesel generators after organizers decided solar panels would be too unreliable, according to a report by The Telegraph.
Representatives from 190 countries gathered in tents at the temporary village constructed on the site of the Peruvian military headquarters “El Pentagonito,” or little Pentagon, The Telegraph reported.
Organizers reportedly decided to power the village with diesel generators after determining solar panels would be too unreliable. An attempt to hook up the site to the national grid – which is half-fed by renewable energy – also reportedly failed.
The generators, in addition to the jet fuel burned by the estimated 11,000 people who flew in and out of Peru and the fleet of coaches to get them to and from the conference, have experts suggesting the event will have the biggest carbon footprint of any UN conference in history, The Telegraph reported.
The main talks were postponed last week, as leaders said there was “no consensus,” given the complexity of the negotiations.
The United States urged all countries to accept the draft now on the table, but the developing countries, led by China and India, rejected it Saturday because it did not require the wealthy nations to assist the poorer ones in cutting emissions. The Pacific island state of Tuvalu, African nations and OPEC oil exporters all rejected the draft, The Telegraph reported.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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