Oxfam's verdict: The Copenhagen climate change summit 2009

How will history remember the Copenhagen climate talks? Delay, not urgency. Posturing, not concession. Unforgiveable failure. And, ultimately, no big deal.

And that's a very big deal indeed. Rich countries' lack of ambition means even more people in developing countries will now feel our climate's tightening grip. Oxfam's verdict

Oxfam press stunt on the final day of Copenhagen climate talks. [Photo credit: Oxfam]

Oxfam press stunt on the final day of Copenhagen climate talks.

Ordinary people, extraordinary efforts

You don’t need to be a big cheese to show world leaders the human cost of climate change. Oxfam supporters at Copenhagen are getting the message across – the ingenious, persistent, vocal and feisty way!

Pushpanath "The pilgrim" Krishnamurthy

How far would you go to stop climate change? ‘Push’ Krishnamurthy walked all the way to Copenhagen, and picked up a huge amount of press coverage on the way.

See also: Climate Charge - activists hitch-hike to Copenhagen

Rob “The Insider” Bailey

Rob Bailey, Oxfam's climate expert at the Copenhagen talks, explains how your support helps him get the message across to policy makers and government advisors.

Anna "The Tracker" Collins

“We all have a right to a say about what’s being negotiated in our name. The fate of our planet, shouldn’t be decided behind closed doors.” Anna has been following every move of the UK negotiation team in person so they stay on track for a fair and safe deal.

Joe "The Wave" Public

Yes, that means people like you! On 5 December 2009, more than 50,000 people from across the UK took to the streets of London for The Wave climate change demonstration. Another 10,000 went to a similar rally in Glasgow. Here's what happened:

Today in Copenhagen

Our team in Copenhagen – and our inimitable, carbon-neutral host, Mr Green compiled all the best bits from each day at the summit.

Blogs we like

During the Copenhagen summit, we’ve been browsed all the best blogs from Oxfam and beyond so you don’t have to…

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Copenhagen blogroll

Copenhagen 2009

Campaigners from across the world hand in the signatures of 10 million people to Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC [Photo credit: Oxfam]

It’s no exaggeration to say that the hugely disappointing outcome in Copenhagen affects everyone on the planet.

Oxfam's verdict

 

What the world needed from Copenhagen

And why we keep fighting for a real deal...

Action: A commitment to a rapid and significant reduction of greenhouse gases, with rich nations reducing emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020.

Cash: $200bn must be made available for poor countries to adapt to the immediate impact of climate change and to develop in a sustainable way.

Justice: Rich countries must take most responsibility for the problem they did most to create.

Why the world can’t wait

Oxfam is already helping people adapt to the effects of climate change in 20 percent of the countries we work in. The scale of the problem is huge:

250 million people in Africa could be facing water shortages by 2020 as a result of climate change.*

Sea levels could rise 50cm by the end of the 21st century, exposing millions more people to flooding.*

There will be 150 million ‘climate refugees’ by 2050 if global temperatures continue to rise unabated. And that’s a conservative estimate.*

* Source: UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, 2007.

 

 

Urgent action

Urgent action

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Test your knowledge

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In depth

In depth

Find out more about Oxfam's work on climate change.