KEVIN Rudd is considering an unscheduled dash to Denmark next week in the opening days of the Copenhagen climate change conference.
The Prime Minister and more than 70 other world leaders are scheduled to attend the top-level segment of the meeting from December 16-18, but sources said that could be Mr Rudd's second trip to the Danish capital within two weeks if he proceeds with plans to visit next Wednesday to coincide with US President Barack Obama's attendance.
Sources told The Weekend Australian the RAAF was on standby for the snap trip, aimed at restoring momentum as uncertainty surrounded even the conference's watered-down aim for a clear political agreement, rather than a legally-binding treaty.
Despite intensive diplomacy and emission reduction pledges in recent weeks from major emitters including the US, China and India, negotiators have not resolved the divisions between rich and poor nations that have blocked a global emission reduction deal for years.
And on the eve of the talks, criticism of their "cap and trade" framework is growing, with world-leading climate scientist James Hansen arguing the approach is "so fundamentally wrong" it would be better to scrap it and consider a carbon tax. The International Monetary Fund is also arguing for carbon taxes over emissions trading because they deliver greater reduction in emissions and more certainty.
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