Gas Emissions Causing Problems at Copenhagen Climate Conference

But it's not CO2 that's bugging folks this time, it's tear gas:

The Copenhagen climate change conference appeared to be imploding from within and exploding from without on Wednesday.

Police fired tear gas, brandished batons and detained more than 200 protesters who tried to push through the security cordon around the Bella Center – as negotiations inside bogged down, for the second time this week, over differences between China and the West over emissions, funding issues and transparency.

"People around the world [are] actually expecting something to be done from us,” a red-faced Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen lectured delegates from nearly 200 nations.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the highest ranking American to yet appear at the talks, urged attendees to put aside their differences and “make Friday our day of success.”

Minutes earlier — in a surprise move that captured growing uncertainty over conference – Denmark’s climate minister Connie Hedegaard stepped aside as president, handing the gavel to Rasmussen, as head of the host country.

Outside, Danish police – who have been accused of heavy-handedness by human rights groups – clashed with thousands of environmental activists who descended on the complex from a nearby train station and demanded entry to the Bella Center.

BBC video showed truncheon-bearing Danish police shoving the crowd backwards as protesters gasped and covered their faces to avoid breathing tear gas.

Can we just submit that as a general principle anything that rioting protesters want is probably something that will be a bad idea for the rest of us? I'm having a hard time remembering any good ideas that came from rioting protesters.