Post
COP15. The Final Cut
After waking up just to find out that EU hadn't actually pushed for more, but on the contrary it played along on the Copenhagen Accord card, it became even harder (than last night, when a tiny hope was still flickering inside our hearts) to find words to describe the Flopenhagen (the word used most often today in relation to the COP15 outcome).
I've had the chance to read some of the notes written around the negotiations last night (the ones that lasted until 6am because some officials had planes to catch). Words and names were used as ping pong balls. When vicounts are condemned for naming the climate activists 'Hitler youths' it should be clear that Holocaust related comments - regardless of who is making them - are not going to help either; on the contrary they may fuel even more fires and my belief is that these kind of arguments are the proof of the desperate ways developing countries tried to grab to something in their free fall (for it's time to admit $30bn by 2012 is not going to do much if the richer will go on doing what they know best - emitting & polluting).
It's bad. I've read a dozen of articles today - many from people who actually should know what they're talking about. While NGOs focus on the incredible mobilization of the people from all around the world, while the classic media repeats over and over again that this accord is a beginning for something bigger and that we should remember Copenhagen as the first conference related to climate action, few clearly state the reality. COP15 did nothing valuable.
After 2 weeks of negotiations, we got nothing. Nothing that includes binding CO2 cuts (who cares about pledges if nothing is written black on white?), nothing that changes the inequitable future of the developing countries. After eight draft texts and God knows how many talks between 115-130 (does anybody actual know the real number?) world leaders, it was left to the top 2 polluters to choose for everybody else. And, understandable, they've simply went the natural way & put their interests before everybody else's. How many of you wouldn't do the same? Probably, without the tremendous citizen mobilization and events & cries, there would have been even less.
We are said that the financing side apparently met improvement through this so called accord. But then again, I'm not even sure whether the $30 bn by 2012 will not be money that simply move from one fund (i.e. Foreign Aid) to another (Adaptation to Climate Change) in which case all the fuss becomes pathetic because the same money would have gone to the same countries anyway. Asking the half of the world that lives for less than $2/day to adjust to climate change by giving up to education or basic needs, when you know you've invested several times more in war is mocking the world's intelligence. However, if we account for the end result, it seems it works wonders.
It's not a watered down accord, it's a completely dried one.
And world leaders should at least have the courage to stand and admit it.
Right now, I simply wish I could go live on a different planet, because I am ashamed how cheap human lives have actually turned out to be.
Comments
I’ve just seen Andreas comes with a slightly different approach towards the cop15 outcome.
Thanks for your great and clear final posts yesterday and today, Adela! I also agree with you on the “Holocaust” argument and think that it is important to say that such arguments don’t help anyone and are an offence to the people who died or lost relatives in the Holocaust.
There was no possible agreement.
The question was put to back.
To have a plant which grows it is necessary to put the roots in the ground!
We live during one time of swing.
China will take the place of the USA on the economic plan.
The severe criticism of the USA is unjustified.
The idea of the poor countries was to make pay the rich countries.
It is necessary on the contrary to ask them to find innovative solutions to diffuse all over the world.
Months of talks, negotiations, millions of euros spent for organising everything, thousands of people travelling by plane for this event… and all they could come up with were 2 bad numbers, and from what I understand not even legally binding.
Wow.
@andreas yup, although it’s not an excuse, i believe that the sudanese leader got carried away and forgot about diplomacy.
@paul i don’t understand your comment in relation to this post. Actually china’s already huge, the fact that they’re lending money to usa should tell you something. And obama did screw it up big time. As the leader everybody claims he is, he should have taken the risk to act without the acceptance of the american senate. Instead he just came and gave the same ol speech about acting without any proposal that would have turned usa into a model to follow. So please, don’t tell me he’s not to blame.
@federico yup, not legally binding. In fact not urging anything.
P.s. Forgive the typos, i’m writing from my phone, romania’s under snow & i still have a long way to go until i get home
Dear Adela,
Perhaps I know a little about democracy in the USA.
It is not the same as in France and perhaps in your country;
The president do not make what he wants.
Barack Obama is extraordinary in a terrible position. Perhaps you forget the wars he has on his arms.
The day where the USA stop buying anything in the world you can forget any richnesses.
We are at a top and the falling down is near!
He knows that!
It is terrible!
Then ... after that I think of you and your problems in your not so easy country.
Why to be disappointed to Copenhagen outcome? Did someone believe to this circus? Like other big meetings with lot of participants the main aim probably was to have a nice (paid) hobby with positive slogans about saving earth etc. The political elite, bureaucrats and NGO leaders could have some nice Xmas shopping in Copenhagen and that’s it. Clima change - who cares?
If there is a need to cut emissions and finance 3rd world clima projects so USA and China could decide details between themselves. If there is need to finance huge environmental projects, alternative energy research etc so eg Tobin tax could produce enough money. If clima change is the top priority for EU it could put economical embargo and visa restrictions to G2.
Nothing this will happen because from my point of view the topic is not so important for world powers and political elite which is thinking next elections and not how the world will look 2050.
@Paul - I’ve written in the comment before that the US pres. depends on the Senate. Just like many EU countries depend on Parliament to pass laws. The situation may have been slightly different but this doesn’t stop leaders to rightfully represent their people if they have the guts to do it.
And I’m sorry to say, but the Copenhagen Accord is a wound in the heart of democracy. So speaking of democracy actually only makes the outcome even worse.
Obama is not to pity. Passing the health reform (if it’s going to pass) is one great achievement for him, but he screwed it with the climate action instead. He had to make a choice, fine. But any choice comes with responsibilities.
@Ari - Part of what you say is true. World powers don’t give a crap about the poor countries or on anything else but their own interests in general. But what would they do without the poor countries? Try to imagine world without the south (producing countries).
What I don’t agree is climate change as main priority in EU. I think it is there on top. I can’t see it as priority in my country, but I could see it in Copenhagen (and all Scandinavia develops sustainably), I know it’s of sky high importance in Germany and in Switzerland.
I also don’t agree with NGO leaders using COP15 as just another reason to fund their consumerism. There probably have been some who did it, but one can’t generalize. I’ve seen young and old cry in anger and distress, NGO leaders staying in the cold all night in front of the Bella Center to protest against unfair outcome and so on.
I am sad to see that we have evil to understand us.
You have good intentions and me too.
It is the rule of the debate not to always be able to meet.
I am relieved,that Copenhagen failed.
Carbon tax is a great evil and people do not want it.
In New Zealand 2003 the government tried to put carbon tax on farts and burps of sheep (flatulence tax). Which would ruin the farmers.
Fortunately, the citizens protested and the tax was abolished.
COP15 was an attempt to do this to all of us.