Walkout: Developing countries break off negotiations at Copenhagen

The main sessions of the UN conference were halted after the protest, which was led by African countries and backed by the G77 group of developing nations.

They accused developed countries of trying to back out of the Kyoto Protocol on carbon emissions.

The group refused to continue negotiations unless talks on a second commitment period to the treaty were given priority over broader discussions on a “long-term vision” for action on climate change.

“This is a walk-out over process and form, not a walkout over substance, and that’s regrettable,” Australian climate change minister Penny Wong said.