(Gulp)...UK Taxpayers Group Works Out Copenhagen Cost....$215 Million...

The Taxpayers Alliance is a campaign group here in the UK that ought to bring a warm glow to Governor Palin’s heart.

Here is the TPA’s Mission Statement

The TPA's mission is:
• To reverse the perception that big government is necessary and irreversible
• To explain the benefits of a low tax economy
• To give taxpayers a voice in the corridors of power

To this end, the TaxPayers' Alliance will:
• Oppose all tax rises
• Oppose EU tax harmonisation
• Seek the abolition of inheritance tax
• Criticise all examples of wasteful and unnecessary spending
• Champion opportunities for votes on tax and spend

(Memo to the Governor – I am sure you would be a welcome guest at the TPA when you cross the pond....)

They have just done a line by line estimated cost analysis of the Copenhagen Climate conference and wonder if it will really give value for money....

From 7 December to 18 December 15,000 delegates will descend on Copenhagen to work towards negotiating a treaty to succeed Kyoto and reduce emissions. However, even before the conference has begun, there have been questions over whether a new deal will be struck. US President Barack Obama and Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen have conceded that the conference is unlikely to produce a treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, and are beginning to make arrangements for a delay until the next conference, in Mexico. British officials also do not expect a new deal, with binding restrictions, to be agreed this year.

In light of that and the large number of other international conferences that have been held this year, taxpayers around the world – who will be supporting the conference and the delegations being sent there – might question whether the conference will constitute good value for money. This research note provides the first estimate of the total cost of the conference.

A conservative estimate of the total cost of Copenhagen is £130 million ($215 million, €143 million).

This estimate is based on the Danish government budget and the costs to participating
governments of sending 15,000 delegates – including flights, accommodation, food,
conferencing facilities and salaries paid to delegates while they are at the conference. It is a conservative estimate as it leaves out costs such as the need for supporting work by staff in the home countries.

Read the rest here and just ask yourself - how many extra lives could be saved in the world this year if that amount was added to the global malaria elimination programme....