COP 15 – The political dimension

It is – and will be – really difficult to establish an accord that the members of UNFCCC can support. However, it is not for lack of good intentions from the world leaders – see for instance these examples:

 

This theme specifically discusses opinions relating to climate politics expressed by various interest groups at a given point in time. As the negotiations go forward expressed opinions might already be consideres outdated.

Even the media bringing the story might have an agenda on its own.

Good intentions
President Obama – a new chapter on climate change. USA as global leader.
Click here to watch this video on YouTube (opens a new window) 

Gordon Brown on climate change – it is immensely important.
Click here to watch Gordon Brown via YouTube (opens a new window)
 
 China's Foreign Minister calls for sustainable growth.
Click here to watch the China's Foreign Minister on YouTube (opens a new window)

 

Why are the negotiations going to be so tough?
Simply because there are really many things to be considered:  national considerations, multilateral and bilateral agreements etc., finances – and then of course, there are the voters … 
 

Who foots the bill?
However, first and foremost it is clear to everybody that an accord about the climate will be expensive to implement – it is going to cost. This should be viewed in the perspective that quite a lot of countries and governments around the globe have been fighting the effects of the financial crisis in the past year. The crisis has been so hard that many countries have learned to cooperate although previously, that was difficult. This article from COP15’s website draws up the problem quite clearly.
Click here to read the article on the COP15 website (opens a new window).

It is obvious that there are differences in the point of view on finances depending on from which country or which continent you come. Developed and underdeveloped countries are far away from a deal about a new accord.  The battle between developing and developed countries is not just a question of money – developed countries have acknowledged that, as the biggest polluters through decades, they must lead the way. On the other hand, however, they want the developing countries to take a greater (financial) responsibility.

 

The financial crisis, however, has made it clear to many that no single country or continent alone can remedy the problems of financial crisis or climate change. Cooperation is needed. The president of the European Parliament describes the problem in the article below.
Click here to read the article from the COP15 website (opens a new window).

 

 

Other proposals on prioritisation:
There is a broad agreement that climate change is a serious problem that should be dealt with now. However, there are big differences in the prioritisations from country to country – especially because all countries are different and need to address different problems. There are fundamental differences in the conditions in the world’s countries and on which problems they think are the most important.

 

In the past few years, the think tank, Copenhagen Consensus, has created much political commotion by listing and ranking all the challenges of the globe.
Click here to see the experts’ ranking from 2008 here (pdf)
Note that they prioritise global warming far down on the list (items 14, 29 and 30)

 

 

Teacher’s notes
To exemplify the problems the politicians face when they meet in Copenhagen, let us take a concrete example from Australia as the starting point.
 
In the last Australian election, one of the key issues in the election campaign was the question of climate change. Both sides fought fiercely to win the environmentally concerned voters:
Click here to watch the video via YouTube (opens a new window)

 

In the election campaign, the party leader, Kevin Rudd, published this election video about climate change:
Click here to watch the election video via YouTube (opens a new window)

 

In the video above, Kevin Rudd promises to:

1. Ratify the Kyoto Protocol
   (which he has done – click here to see the video on YouTube) 
   
2. Achieve substantial greenhouse gas goals.
   
3. Increase durable energy.

Kevin Rudd was elected prime minister of Australia. He – and many other politicians – therefore find themselves in the situation that the journalist draws up for Australian prime minister, Kevin Rudd, in this interview.
Click here to watch the interview via YouTube (opens a new window)

The journalist takes petrol, electricity, etc. as the starting point – fundamental necessities for all citizens (1.22 minutes into the video).  People should use less petrol, and it becomes more expensive for the consumers – but at the same time, the politicians should compensate them financially. The voters demand that the politicians take the big decisions, but they also demand that they don’t “hurt them” – that is take money or welfare away from them.
 
Thus, the journalist outlines some of the politicians’ basic problems:

• They must pay attention to the polls – maybe there is an election soon.
  
  But simultaneously
  
• They must take unpopular decisions – in this case, the politician must tell and make it clear to the population that they have to change their way of life.

Many politicians fear getting in a situation like the animated man in the video below
Click here to watch the video on YouTube (opens a new window)

 

The following news article on COP15 summarizes the problem nicely
Click here to read the article on the COP15 website (opens a new window)
Note especially the conclusion: In the six surveyed countries, very little has happened – even if the countries actually began making political strategies for climate protection around 1992.