The problem with finalities…

Published 28th December 2009 - 1 comments - 1309 views -

As the COP15 juggernaut shudders to a halt, so too it seems does all talk of climate change. Pick up a newspaper, turn on the radio, watch the news - or simply browse the pages of this forum. Whereas a week ago talk of CO2 emissions, warming, and even hoax e-mails dominated headlines, the topic has now been relegated to the sidelines.

It's no longer newsworthy.

Apparently the anti-climax of Copenhagen had taken the wind out of everyone's sails.

It's not surprising really. After all, COP15 was our "last chance" to save the planet wasn't it? Now that the boat has sailed we may as well get on with enjoying our last days on this planet before we're subjected to a deluge of floods, plague and starvation. 

But it's not that simple is it?

Sure, Copenhagen offered an opportunity to put in place a meaningful strategy for reducing warming, but the world didn't turn into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight just because our leaders couldn’t come to an agreement.

Our chances of averting serious problems are declining - but just as the success of the conference wouldn’t have guaranteed our survival, its failure didn’t automatically sign our death sentence.

The real problem isn’t that we didn’t achieve an agreement, but rather that the conference was depicted as our last, best hope.

The sudden disinterest in the topic is the price we pay for speaking in finalities.

Yet Copenhagen was never going to offer the entire solution. No agreement could have resolved all issues, concerns and questions. COP15 was only ever going to be a stepping stone - and that is exactly what it was.

The fact that world leaders sat down to discuss the issue and agree targets is meaningful in itself. Ten years ago it was hard enough persuading country delegates to attend a meeting on climate change.

This year Obama, Brown, Wen and Singh came to the table because of the widespread pressure for action, but they failed to meet expectations because popular support didn't go far enough. The mandate from the general population simply didn't exist.

While there was enough support to get the issue on the agenda, there was not enough to get a signed and sealed deal.

So rather than sulking, and retreating into sullen despair over lost chances what we need now is more talk, more action, more buzz… the juggernaut must refuel and continue forwards.

Everyone who was involved in the lead up to COP15 needs to keep the buzz alive and rally even greater support.

Otherwise we really will be speaking in finalities.

Category: Climate Politics, | Tags: media, media, cop15, media and climate change,

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Jodi Bush

PhD Student



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