The beginners guide to Copenhagen

Copenhagen has suddenly appeared on the map, and in the papers and all over the internet because from 7 – 18th December this year, that is where the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) is being held. This is an annual conference held under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), where governments from around the world come together to negotiate and agree  on how to tackle global climate change.  This year’s is a landmark conference, similar to one 12 years ago in Japan, in a city called Kyoto which resulted in the Kyoto Protocol (a climate agreement by all signatories to commit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions).  


The Kyoto Protocol came into effect in 2005, but it’s binding GHG reduction targets end in 2012, and Copenhagen is where the post-2012 climate treaty is being negotiated and in effect will create the successor to the Kyoto Protocol. That is why “Copenhagen” is so important.


Speculations on the likely outcome is causing a stir. The level of finance needed and available technologies will be discussed, but it’s mostly a political issue. With the right political leadership, it is possible to achieve a deal that sets us on a path to averting catastrophic climate change.

We should get a sense of how much the larger GHG emitters around the world  are prepared to reduce by in the next timeframe. This includes developing and developed nations alike.
The interesting ones to watch will be the USA, Europe, China and India (the latter two are currently not part of the Kyoto Protocol and have no targets). Also keep an eye on Brazil and South Africa.

Various negotiations have been taking place through 2009 in the run up to Copenhagen, so keep your ears open for news on the last two of the list below:

  • Bonn, 29 March-8 April and 1-12 June.
  • 10-14 August in Bonn
  • 28 September-9 October in Bangkok and
  • 2-6 November in Barcelona


By mid December we should have a clearer idea of what the post-Kyoto landscape will look like, although there will still be a lot of maneuvering to be done.

Will it be Climate Change’s Waterloo? I hope not. But maybe, just maybe, it will be Climate Change’s Copenhagen!