Copenhagen Climate Conference

Background

The Copenhagen Climate Conference is the culmination of a series of intense negotiations among UNFCCC sub-agencies, countries, and a range of other stakeholders. In 2008 the UNFCCC hosted more than 40 working meetings, conferences, and other gatherings.¹   In 2007 at COP13, located in Bali, countries negotiated and agreed to the Bali Action Plan. The plan acknowledges that the signs of warming are unambiguous, and recommends that the speed of the work being carried out to limit the quantity of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is increased. It also adopts an ambitious plan to reach a global long-term agreement. The Bali Action Plan aims to reach this agreement at COP15.  In order to support this plan, the parties agreed to set up the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA) which immediately began to clarify the possibilities of a new long-term cooperation within the framework defined by the UNFCCC.  The working group presented its results at the COP15 conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.²

Policy

The meetings in the AWG-LCA working group show that the parties still have differing opinions as to what a future international agreement on climate change should contain. However, with the Bali Action Plan, all countries agreed that a future arrangement should be based on a long-term shared vision and four building blocks: increased mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to climate change, technology transfers, and financing. ⁴

• Increased Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions:  This involves any decrease in the current levels of GHG emissions and should aim for emissions targets that would allow for future sustainability.  It can include investments in the clean renewable energy market, decreases in current levels of production, and any other form of abatement.
• Adaptation to Climate Change:  This refers to the reaction strategies of an individual or a society when considering the social and environmental effects that climate change will impose. 
• Technology Transfers:  When introducing new clean technologies, a transparency and willingness to share new ideas must exist between countries.  If unrestricted global access to the clean technology market is not provided to all parties, innovation and emissions reductions will fall below efficient levels, making it harder for a global consensus on policy to exist. 
• Financing:  In order to achieve a sustainable level of GHG emissions, many of the activities that will promote this goal need better access to financial tools.  According to the UNFCCC, private finance, public finance, national policies, and the United Nations Convention can provide this access on a global level.⁵

Copenhagen Accord

In Copenhagen, policy makers considered scientific information presented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).⁶  COP15 did not result in a binding agreement on emissions targets which are needed to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.⁷ However, the conference did result in a non-binding agreement regarding climate change called the Copenhagen Accord. The Copenhagen Accord states that deep international emissions cuts are needed to hold the increase in global temperature to under two degrees Celsius. The Accord relies on industrialized nations to set their own economy wide emission reduction targets to take effect in 202o by January 31, 2010. The effectiveness of the Copenhagen Accord will be reassessed in 2015 to see if more urgent action needs to be taken on the issue of climate change.⁸ The 16th Conference of the Parties will be held in Mexico from November 29-December 10, 2010. ⁹

Footnotes

1. http://en.cop15.dk/climate+facts/pro...climate+battle

2. http://en.cop15.dk/climate+facts/pro...+to+copenhagen

3. http://www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/__da...tel_online.pdf

4. http://en.cop15.dk/climate+facts/pro...ations+in+2009

5. "Investment and Financial Flows to Address Climate Change: An Update." United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. November 26, 2008.

6. http://www.ipcc.ch/organization/organization.htm

7. "Kyoto Protocol," United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Website.  http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php

8. "Copenhagen Accord" Conference of the Parties 15 Session. Copenhagen December 7-18, 2009. http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009...15/eng/l07.pdf 

9. "Dates and Venues for Future Sessions," UNFCCC. http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/cop...p15_dv_auv.pdf

References

"Verifying Mitigation Efforts in a New Climate Agreement," (pdf, 8 pgs) Issue Brief, Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Pew Charitable Trusts, October 2009.  Accessed Dec 4, 2009. Outlines the key elements of a rigorous verification system for a global climate agreement, including emission inventories for major greenhouse gas emitters, regular implementation and verification reporting, and expert reviews of inventories and reports.

Copenhagen 2009: Copenhagen Climate Conference. Erantis.com. Description of COP15 conference. 

What is the Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming.  "What is the greenhouse effect and global warming?", Ministry of Climate and Energy of Denmark, 2009. 

A Copenhagen Climate Agreement , Pew Center on Global Climate Change, 2009. 

Copenhagen Climate Council Copenhagen Climate Council. Contains news brief articles and resource data relating to Copenhagen Convention.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.  Official website of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

Austrialia Science Media Center Australia Science Media Center.  Contains resource page with audio, video, images, and recommended links.

International Institute for Environment and Development  (IIED) Briefing (pdf, 4 pages),   "COP15 for journalists: a guide to the UN climate change summit", International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), November 2009.     

World Watch Institute resources for COP15 Resources for COP15, Worldwatch  Institute. Resources and data analysis for COP15.

Copenhagen Field Notes  United Nations.  Copenhagen field notes and images.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. List of pdf articles and briefings.

Welcome speech by Dr.RAJENDRA PACHAURI "Opening speech at welcoming ceremony at COP15", Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, December 2009. Opening speech at COP15 by DR.RAJENDRA PACHAURI.