The Copenhagen climate change talks are hailed as the summit that will help save the earth however researchers have estimated that the bill for the 12 day talks will be over £130 million and will produce more greenhouse gasses that a whole African country.

Over 15,000 delegates and 45,000 green activists are expected to visit Copenhagen for the climate change talks along with 100 world leaders and over 5,000 journalists. The UN has confirmed that the travel arrangements (including flights, rail and bus travel) couple with the meals served will generate over 41,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the meetings. This figure is more than Afghanistan, Malawi or Sierra Leone will produce over the same time period.

The Danish government has been quick to react to the comments saying that they will plant trees and invest in green projects to offset the carbon dioxide emissions. However critics are unhappy that a conference aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions is itself causing massive emissions.

Some of the facts ‘n’ figures to do from Copenhagen include:

• 140 aeroplanes used to fly the 100 world leaders
• 900 miles of computer cable have been laid
• 41,000 tonnes of CO2 to be emitted by delegates
• £130 million: the estimated cost of the conference (the 2005 G8 summit cost £20 million)
• £54.5 million: the amount of salary delegates will receive whilst at the climate change conference

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