Today is the conclusion of the UN Copenhagen Climate talks. Over 100 heads of state and government attended, marking the importance attached to climate change issues, from all corners of the globe. In fact this meeting is the third time this year heads of state gathered to discuss climate change issues – in September in New York at the UN General Assembly and at the G8 meeting in Italy this past July.
A positive outcome from the Copenhagen meeting remains up in the air. Ultimately, governments need to agree on greenhouse gas emissions cuts, a transparent way to monitor these cuts, a funding mechanisms to help the worlds poorest countries adapt and mitigate the damages they are facing from climate change, and finally a way to stop the rapid deforestation taking place around our globe.
At this point, our best hope for an outcome from the Copenhagen meeting appears to be a political declaration. The declaration would commit governments to working out a timetable and agreeing on a plan for binding legislation on climate change sometime in 2010. While this is not addressing the important issues with the urgency that scientists and our planet are telling us we need, it is a strong indication that governments the world over are taking the threat and the eminent dangers of climate change very seriously. It is obvious however, that the complexity of the issues involved requires careful consideration and attention to detail, even after years of committed discussions by governments on these issues. Right now, this seems the best we can hope for. In 2010, look for sustained pressure on governments from all corners, clearer and stronger information disseminated to the public on the “urgency” of the issues before us, and a binding international agreement on Climate Change.
