Danish PM to replace minister for climate at Copenhagen summit

Connie Hedegaard (L), Danish Prime Mininster Lars Loekke Rasmussen at the High level opening ceremony on Dec 15. AFP

"With so many heads of state and government having arrived it's appropriate that the Prime Minister of Denmark presides," Hedegaard told the 193-nation meeting.

"However, the Prime Minister has appointed me as his special representative and I will thus continue to negotiate the...outcome with my colleagues," she said.

She said the move was procedural. Separately, Hedegaard has been criticized by African nations for favoring rich nations in the negotiations.