Richard Casson takes a look at the who, what, where and why of the Copenhagen climate summit which will take place this December.
“Richard, what exactly is happening in Copenhagen this December?” was the question a colleague of mine, Emma, asked when we both sat down looking bleary-eyed for our 10am meeting last Tuesday morning.
Ten minutes later (after the conversation detoured into how the Sunday Times Style Magazine now thinks that protesting is fashionable, but that’s another story) and I realised that lots of other people may be wondering the very same.
So, on the back of our chat, I thought it might be useful to pull together a short guide to the ‘who, what, why, where and when’ for the Copenhagen climate talks. A Copenhagen 101, if you will.
If there’s anything I’ve missed then please drop me a comment below.
What’s happening in Copenhagen this December?
The catchily named Fifteenth meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (though I prefer Copenhagen climate talks) will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 7 to 18 December 2009. At the meetings, a decision on how to replace the Kyoto Protocol - the existing international treaty for the reduction of greenhouse gases - will be finalised.
What makes the Copenhagen talks different to other international negotiations, such as the G8 or the G20, is that the final agreement will be legally binding. Making it more difficult for countries to shirk their responsibilites at a later date.
Why is 2009 so important?
“Critical”, “unmissable”, “crucial” and “important”. Journalists often use these sort of words when they’re trying to get across just how much the Copenhagen talks matter. To me though, no amount of adjectives can quite emphasize what’s at stake. What’s decided this December will be the end point of years of work. The culmination of hundreds of thousands of hours of research and debate.
It will be the moment when the entire world has the opportunity to act together to limit global warming and its effect on people. There will be few other opportunities quite like this any time soon. And with climate scientists saying we only have a few years left to avoid dangerous climate change, it’s ultra-important that international decision makers get the right solution this year.
What outcome are we looking for?
Basically, two things: cuts in emissions; and cash to help poor countries. Global CO2 emissions must fall at least 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050. If emissions are not cut fast enough, and global warming is allowed to exceed 2°C (average temperature has already risen by almost 0.8°C), the impact on water resources, food production, sea levels, and ecosystems is predicted to be catastrophic for millions of people. Scary stuff, to put it mildly.
Who’s attending?
5,000 delegates. Representatives from 200 countries. Climate scientists. Government advisors.
What can I do to help?
A good start would be to take our action to ask Gordon Brown to attend the Copenhagen talks. Next, to get a better sense of the problem we face, the film Age of Stupid is a must watch.
Events in the UK will culminate in a huge rally in London on 5 December. Everyone attending will be asked to dress in blue (so i guess that means denim jeans and jackets will be making a revival), which will symbolise a ‘human flood’ and represent all those who are already being affected by climate change. Block the date in your diary now.
Tags: 100 days, climatechange, Copenhagen, Copenhagen climate conference, richardcasson
This is a very helpful guide richard. I have a question about how you see the chances of this meeting coming to an agreement which will really make a difference. The Kyoto agreement was legally binding but made weak by the refusal of the USA and some other important countries to sign. What are we expecting this time. Will Obama join the process fully? Are you optimistic about that? Where are China? Does Oxfam have special targets for key countries who’ve let us down in the past. Or do you know anywhere where I can get more information on all this. Thanks again.
May 16th, 2009 at 2:53 pmThis is a great post! Everyone should visit http://www.oxfam.org.uk/hereandnow and add their name to the petition!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBdThu0HXvs
May 18th, 2009 at 10:58 amExcellent! Nice one Richard.
In the same vein, Cowboy Tactics: 101 is a night which offers a ‘101′ on a variety of human rights issues with talks, visuals and live music.
Our next event is on Israel & Palestine, introducing the people, the place, the conflict…
The Croft, Bristol, Thursday 11th June ‘09!!
We’ll be running the climate change Cowboy Tactics: 101 in London in November… watch this space… cowboytactics.org
Peace!
May 18th, 2009 at 7:43 pmI thought I’d post my ad here that I did as part of the 48 hour challenge.
Check out the ad I made as part of a contest and vote for it if you feel it did a good job =)
And sign the petition it advertises too please.
Just follow these steps:
May 18th, 2009 at 9:58 pm1. http://www.youtube.com/user/canneslions
2. Search “Billy” and click “GO!”
3. Vote thumbs up!
4. Post this on your blog or Facebook too to help it spread!
Hi Frank, good questions. Here are some answers:
> The Kyoto agreement was legally binding but
> made weak by the refusal of the USA and some
> other important countries to sign. What are
> we expecting this time? Will Obama join the
> process fully?
We’re definitely looking for Obama to start engaging with the Copenhagen talks. However, like Brown, he hasn’t yet committed to going. We certainly want him to, and some of the US’s recent actions, like the appointment of Todd Stern (as an advisor on climate change), give us reason to be optimistic. That said, the US still has a lot of ground to make up for, and we’re still waiting for concrete policies on both emissions reduction and adaptation financing (providing poor countries with money to help with flood defenses, hurricane early warning systems etc etc)
> Where are China?
It’s interesting that China so often comes into the climate change debate when China’s emissions per capita are actually so low. I don’t have the most up-to-date stats to hand, but in 2004, China was ranked 91st globally in terms of emissions per capita. That’s just below the likes of Jamaica and just above Mongolia.
In fact, if rich country’s per-capita CO2 emissions were the same as China’s then global CO2 emissions would already be around 30 per cent less than they were in 1990.
Don’t get me wrong, emerging countries like China, India and Brazil have an important role to play, but we look to the richest countries (those who have become rich by benefitting from high-carbon development) to lead the way on emission cuts. But if China was broken down into lots of UK-sized countries, it barely be an issue.
> Does Oxfam have special targets for key
May 19th, 2009 at 5:53 pm> countries who’ve let us down in the past?
As well as targetting the UK government we’re also lobbying the EU. More on that here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5eLGK8S2vk
My Participation on YouTube Cannes Young Lions Ad Contest.
May 19th, 2009 at 11:20 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PgN8ODFMQc
Gordon Brown signs a petition.
May 20th, 2009 at 10:52 pmLets heal our mother earth!!
May 21st, 2009 at 3:55 pmThe lives of 375 million people are in stake.. please sign the petition.
May 23rd, 2009 at 7:15 amYour Actions Affect Millions.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNKxuO3LOTM
Hi everyone, this is my video on the YouTube Ad Contest!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3dr-6Z00m0
The idea was to generate a viral efect.
Watch it, resend or post it, and sign the petition.
Thanks.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:13 pm[...] climate change talks between our world’s leaders gear up toward the world-changing Copenhagen Climate Change Conference this December, Duncan Green rounds up the latest media [...]
September 11th, 2009 at 12:20 amhi My name is Emily and I’m 13 years old.
i’ve just come back from an environmental conference in Korea. And some of my friends are going to Copenhagen and My group and I really want to go. I’ve asked my friends but they don’t know what there is for youth and I’ve searched all over!!
It would be great if you had any idea??
thanks x
October 3rd, 2009 at 12:30 am[...] As a political campaigner I am used to chasing after MPs to get them to listen to Oxfam’s campaigns – that’s why it is a nice change when an MP chases me to do more campaigning in their constituency. This is what happened when Karen Buck, MP for Regents Park and Kensington North, got in touch and said she really wanted to campaign for a global deal on climate change in Copenhagen. [...]
October 13th, 2009 at 9:40 am[...] On Blog Action Day there will be a climate hearing direct from the European Parliament in Brussels. This hearing will bring together witnesses from India and Bangladesh, who are already feeling the effects of climate change, and EU decision makers; people who will represent us at the United Nations Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen. [...]
October 14th, 2009 at 9:00 pm[...] main focus of Oxfam’s campaign is to get an international agreement at the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen this December. When the UK government sits at the negotiating table, we want them to lead the way in getting an [...]
October 18th, 2009 at 12:41 pm[...] On Blog Action Day there will be a climate hearing direct from the European Parliament in Brussels. This hearing will bring together witnesses from India and Bangladesh, who are already feeling the effects of climate change, and EU decision makers; people who will represent us at the United Nations Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen. [...]
October 18th, 2009 at 12:43 pm