COP-15 is over with no Real Deal to present to the World. However, the battle of climate change theories is not over – it is just the beginning. NGOs, scientists and civil society start capitalizing on the event to maintain high volume of their voices.
While I was reluctant that COP15 will be closed with a substantial agreement even before my arrival in Copenhagen, I at least hoped to meet a few established people in the world of politics. With a keen eye and acute hearing, I managed to meet ministers, governors, members of press and a small handful of Heads of States, including Danish Prime Ministers Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Swedish Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.
On my first morning in Copenhagen, way back (it seems so long ago now) on the 8th December, with my new found couch surfing friends, we went to find the Bolsjefabrikken (wow, Danish words are hard!) otherwise known as the Candy Factory.
Here a group of activists from Bristol, UK were organising the Bike Bloc. After spending a week doing experimental workshops at Bristol’s Arnolfini art gallery in November, the team took their designs to the Candy Factory in Copenhagen, where, using waste bikes, they intended to mix and match parts …
I must admit, COP15 was a grave disappointment. I left Copenhagen mid-way in the negotiations feeling frustrated and incredibly angry with the lack of progress made with so many hitches and delays. I agree that an agreement will be difficult to make under pressure in 2 weeks by all the nation of the world, but why is it easier to send soldiers to their death at war then to save millions of lives now and in the future?
For many people, they may now be wondering what all the Copenhagen fuss was about. The politicians gave us plenty of words but were completely lacking in action. As the Greenpeace slogan says ‘Politicians Talk – Leaders Act’.
Sophia Liu is now back to Trieste, Italy. This COP-15 is really something like a dream for me.
It shows me more things about climate change, I met many people from different continents with their own story and experience about climate change. They helped me broaden my views and knowledge. Also this COP-15 urged me come up to a new concept about politics and political power, demonstration & march these weeks, limitation of NGOs, rumors in the Bella Center once frustrated me, but after a long time of consideration, I feel I have learnt what I should and what I deserved. Felt that: COP-15 is a dream trip which will change my dream in the future.
Greenhouse gas emission in metropolitan area could immediately drop by 10% if every citizen can
Keeps room temperature at maximum of 21 degrees Celsius, especially during the coldest days of the year - 3%
Reduces driving distances (in terms of kilometres) by 20 percent by walking, cycling and using public transport - 2%
Replaces regular light bulbs with energy efficient lamps - 1.5%
Uses power-saving settings on one’s computer at home and work - 1.5%
Shuts down all electrical equipment that is not in use, including equipment in standby mode, and switches off the lights in the rooms where no one is - 1%
Studies how to drive in an energy-economic way - 1%
The effect of these measures on the emissions would total
- 10%
This global belongs to every human beings, so all of us should ACT NOW. Just do them NOW :)
In Africa:
Floods and droughts can occur in the same area within months of each other. Those events can easily lead to famine and widespread disruption of socio-economic well-being. High temperature throughout the continent and in all seasons compared with global average. Decrease precipitation in much of Mediterranean African, Northern Sahara and Southern Africa (75-220 million people will face water shortage by 2020) But increase precipitation in East Africa. Meanwhile there comes more and more extreme events, like droughts floods…Also agriculture got hit as well, the production severely compromised due to loss of land, shorter growing seasons. The net revenues from crops could fall by 90% by 2100. Last but not the least, climate change caused health problems too! Alteration of spatial and temporal transmission of disease vectors, including malaria, dengue fever, meningitis, cholera, etc.
The world’s attention has been focused on the negotiations in Copenhagen for the last two weeks. But was it all worth it? Has the rebranding of the Danish capital as Hopenhagen been justified? What are the outcomes after endless hours of negotiations which ended in the early hours of Saturday morning? In the following article we translate the “legalise”, as well as analyse the pros and the cons of the Accord, which appears to be the main output of the COP15 negotiations.
