Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are now meeting in Copenhagen to wrangle over the details of a new global climate deal — a potential successor to the Kyoto Protocol. See Nature’s Road to Copenhagen special and the Climate Feedback blog for more coverage.

“We have – over the last week or so – seen progress in a number of areas, but we haven’t seen enough of it. There is still an enormous amount of work and ground to be covered if this conference is to deliver what people expect it to deliver.”

The UN’s Yvo de Boer says things aren’t moving fast enough (BBC).

“It’s just like schoolchildren. If they have a very long deadline to deliver an exercise they will wait for the last moment.”

Connie Hedegaard, the Danish conference chair, comments on the slow progress (Times).

“We believe all people will benefit from an equitable climate deal that truly energizes the world economy.”

A quote apparently from Canadian Environment Minister Jim Prentice about his country’s plan to reduce emissions by 40% from 1990 levels by 2020. It was actually part of a hoax perpetrated by the Yes Men group (Yes Men, Globe and Mail).

“More time should be dedicated to playing a constructive role instead of childish pranks.”

Dimitri Soudas, a spokesman for the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office, responds after a number of newspapers are taken in by the hoax (CBC).

“The world’s governments alone cannot make the progress that is needed on global climate change. They need the cities, the states, the provinces, the regions. They need the corporations, the activists, the scientists, the universities.”

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says it will not just be governments that solve climate change (AP).

Under 10,000 – 20/1

Over 30,000 – 4/1

– Bookies Paddy Power offer odds on polar bear numbers in 2011 (via the Guardian).