Flying through a thick cloud overhanging Copenhagen, I arrived with awe and trepidation to the Bella Center where the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) had convened two days ago. Now underway, the COP15 (as it is affectionately called) is the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol which was ratified by 190 of the UNFCCC parties (or countries). Under Kyoto, countries pledged to stabilize their greenhouse gas concentrations into the atmosphere to levels that will prevent dangerous alterations of our climate system. The Copenhagen meetings have the same goal, and hope to lock countries into emissions limitations and reduction commitments.
Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen opened the meetings by saying, ”It [climate change] does not discriminate, it affects us all. And we are here today because we are all committed to take action. That is our common point of departure – the magnitude of the challenge before us is to translate this political will into a strong political approach.”
The meeting will extend for ten days, with 193 parties working together for the first six days, culminated by a Ministerial High Level Segment for two days starting 16 December and a final session of more than 100 world leaders during December 17-18 (including President Obama). Approximately 15,000 participants were anticipated in Copenhagen, but at least 30,000 are present including representatives from environmental organizations, state and national governments, industry, and research institutions. An estimated 5,000 are media representatives.
The mantra for Copenhagen is the 3 C’s: cooperation, commitment, and consensus. These words were spoken by newly elected COP President and Danish COP 15 Minister Connie Hedegaard. This highly anticipated conference represents a tipping point in which world leaders confront climate change, and attempt to resolve an issue that affects the health and economics of all nations.
