COP15 – Success or failure
Judging by the news coverage and which channel you choose to follow you might feel that the COP15 meeting swung either ways. And after spending the last 3 days following live 24 hour coverage from the Bella Center in Copenhagen, I am not surprised you are confused.
Copenhagen December 18 2009
Every hour a new statement was issued, 1-2-3 draft versions, politicians with statements of anger, dissapointment. NGO's who were denied access to the final days of the conference. There was quite simply complete confusion about what was being agreed and it was first this morning around 11:00 Danish time that the Copenhagen Accord was delivered
To summarise what the Copenhagen Accord means
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Follow on conference from the COP15 in Germany, six months from now
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Apart from 4 developing nations, all nations agreed to the Copenhagen Accord. These nations include USA, China, India, Pakistan, most African Nations, EU. Unfortunately as the UN require full backup for a resolution to be passes, the Copenhagen Accord participation is voulentary.
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Aspirations of a maximum 1.5-2.0 degrees temperature increase
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100 Billion US Dollars spread over the next 10 years for the developing countries is a doubeling of support to these countries, this should hardly be dismissed as a failure. However, time will tell if this pledge will be honoured.
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Transparency is key to a lasting way in which to handle Global Climage Change. The 18th December press conference by US President Barok Obama outlined a CO2 control mechanism similar to that of WTO (World Trade Organisation).
The president of the Maldives was quoted as being “very satisfied” with the outcome of the Copenhagen Accord, the Maldives are looking to dissapear if Global Warming was ignored.
Failure seems to be the word of the day, but if you ask me I hail this meeting a success. Never before have the worlds nations met up in such numbers to acknowledge the need to reduce greenhouse gasses. One can not expect that over 180 nations are able to reach a legally binding agreement in the first effort of this magnitude. I am sure that the press of the world will roll around in the news of this meeting, spreading mis-information to increase sales and play on peoples fears and sceptical approach to Global Climage Change.
What really matters here is that the meeting happened and now the path has been laid for the nations of the world, to begin the reduction of greenhouse gasses on a global scale
