NAGOYA — As the COP10 biodiversity conference headed into its second week Monday with no sign of accord on the key issues dividing delegates, participants feared the same failure that befell last year's climate change talks in Copenhagen.
"COP10hagen" was the word on the lips of many delegates, those from nongovernmental organizations in particular, as no progress was reported on securing a strong new agreement on access and benefit-sharing (ABS), after negotiators met over the weekend. COP10 negotiators were scrambling to overcome long-held differences Monday afternoon.
With senior ministers from 120 countries, including five heads of state, arriving Wednesday to formalize approval, time was running out for an accord on a final plan.