The Copenhagen Accord

Sorry I didn't post yesterday. After Morgan posted last night, the internet went down! ...But here is the article I was going to have up for yesterday:


In 2007, a leading Scandinavian had the brain child that became the Copenhagen Climate Council. The purpose of the council is to increase awareness, and stress the importance of the UN Climate Summit (COP15); and is comprised of 30 global climate leaders, from scientists to policy makers and business leaders. You could say, in layman's terms, that the council met as a practice run for COP15 in order to practice their arguments and better prepare for the upcoming UN meeting.

After the Copenhagen Climate Council conference, the leaders went to the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference where they fought for stricter emission standards, and managed to pass the Copenhagen Accord, although by no means unanimously. The key idea of the Accord was to keep global temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius, and this proposal was not taken lightly. Many countries remain very resistant towards climate regulations, but here are some of the promises that other large nations made:

• Australia: cut carbon emissions by 15 to 25% by 2020
• Canada: cut carbon emissions by 20% by 2020
• China: cut CO2 emissions by 40-45% by 2020
• European Union: cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020 (with Germany agreeing to reduce emissions by 40%)
• Mexico: reduce emissions by 50% by 2050
• Russia: reduce emissions by 10-15% by 2020, or 20-25% based on the Kyoto Protocol
• United States: cut emissions by 17% by the year 2020

As you can see from some of the other major nations pledges, the United States is certainly falling behind. Even large, rapidly industrializing nations such as China have pledged more than us. The only country that would like to do less than the United States is Russia, and even they agreed to up their efforts if a long term global effort is agreed upon. I know that we are making a definite step in the right direction by even supporting the Copenhagen Accord in this country, but it is obvious by other nations efforts that we could do so much more. That is all for day- I have some hiking to do. (I posted some excerpts form the actual treaty below).

- Amber

Excerpts from the Copenhagen Treaty Below:

1. We underline that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. We emphasise our strong political will to urgently combat climate change in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. To achieve the ultimate objective of the Convention to stabilize greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system, we shall, recognizing the scientific view that the increase in global temperature should be below 2 degrees Celsius, on the basis of equity and in the context of sustainable development, enhance our long-term cooperative action to combat climate change. We recognize the critical impacts of climate change and the potential impacts of response measures on countries particularly vulnerable to its adverse effects and stress the need to establish a comprehensive adaptation programme including international support.

3. Adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change and the potential impacts of response measures is a challenge faced by all countries. Enhanced action and international cooperation on adaptation is urgently required to ensure the implementation of the Convention by enabling and supporting the implementation of adaptation actions aimed at reducing vulnerability and building resilience in developing countries, especially in those that are particularly vulnerable, especially least developed countries, small island developing States and Africa. We agree that developed countries shall provide adequate, predictable and sustainable financial resources, technology and capacity-building to support the implementation of adaptation action in developing countries.

4. Annex I Parties commit to implement individually or jointly the quantified economy- wide emissions targets for 2020, to be submitted in the format given in Appendix I by Annex I Parties to the secretariat by 31 January 2010 for compilation in an INF document. Annex I Parties that are Party to the Kyoto Protocol will thereby further strengthen the emissions reductions initiated by the Kyoto Protocol. Delivery of reductions and financing by developed countries will be measured, reported and verified in accordance with existing and any further guidelines adopted by the Conference of the Parties, and will ensure that accounting of such targets and finance is rigorous, robust and transparent.

12. We call for an assessment of the implementation of this Accord to be completed by 2015, including in light of the Conventionís ultimate objective. This would include consideration of strengthening the long-term goal referencing various matters presented by the science, including in relation to temperature rises of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

[thanks to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COP15 for the information on the COP15 council meeting, and to http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/cop15/eng/l07.pdf for the actual Copenhagen Accord text].