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FACTBOX-Comparison of Cancun, Copenhagen climate meetings

by (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. Click For Restrictions. http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Tuesday, 7 December 2010 14:32 GMT

Dec 7 (Reuters) - A U.N. climate meeting in the Mexican beach resort of Cancun is taking a more low-key approach to seeking global action on the issue than last year's Copenhagen summit.

The 2009 Copenhagen summit was billed as the world's best chance to agree to a global climate deal to succeed the Kyoto Protocol -- the present round ends in 2012 -- but ended with a brief, nonbinding agreement rejected by a clutch of countries on a bad-tempered final day.

The Cancun conference aims to cement existing emissions targets in a U.N. decision, and on payments to save rainforests and a fund to channel climate aid to least developed countries. [ID:nLDE6B526G]

Following is a comparison of the numbers of world leaders and delegates at the two meetings, and of the costs of the U.N. climate talks in 2009 and 2010. The Cancun gathering of nearly 200 countries runs from Nov. 29-Dec. 10.

LEADERS, DELEGATES AND OBSERVERS

* Cancun, 2010: Mexican authorities expect about 25 world leaders and up to 22,000 people, including 9,000 official government delegates, plus journalists and other observers.

* Copenhagen, 2009: 120 world leaders attended, plus more than 45,000 delegates and observers.

COST

* The total cost of the U.N. climate talks, not including bills for many of the delegates, was about ${esc.dollar}240 million in 2009 and ${esc.dollar}80 million in 2010.

* Included in those total costs, the Cancun conference is expected to cost the Mexican government about 841 million Mexican pesos (${esc.dollar}68.11 million).

* The Danish finance ministry said the 2009 summit in Copenhagen cost it about 1.2 billion Danish Krone (${esc.dollar}213.3 million).

(Reporting by Gerard Wynn, Editing by Will Dunham)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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