COP 15 – The political dimension

The road to an accord at COP15 in Copenhagen is difficult and has been long underway. After UNFCCC was established, the first major climate accord was entered at COP3 in Kyoto in 1997 – the so-called Kyoto Protocol. It is this accord that is up for renewal by the world leaders at COP15.

 

The 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 As the negotiations go forward expressed opinions might already be consideres outdated.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. See also the 'Climate in the media' theme.

Read more on the Kyoto Protocol and the individual countries.
Click here to see more about how the member countries are bound by the Kyoto Protocol on the COP15 website (opens a new window).

 

The Kyoto Protocol is reviewed critically on the following web page from The Earth Organisation
Click here to read the article (opens a new window).

 

On UNFCCC’s web page about the Kyoto Protocol, you may read more about the Kyoto Protocol, among other things CO₂ quotas, “The Carbon Market” (trade with CO₂).
Click here to read about the "Carbon Market" (opens a new window).

 

Furthermore, the Kyoto Protocol is explained here on the Hotonearth.co.uk website
Click here to open the Hotonearth website (opens a new window)

 

Read even more on the Kyoto Protocol on Wikipedia
Click here to read about the Kyoto Protocol on Wikipedia (opens a new window)

 

Debate about the Kyoto Protocol
This animation may start a debate about how we as citizens can achieve the goals of the Kyoto Protocol. The video takes the USA as the starting point.
Click here to see the animation from Spike.com (opens a new window).

 

Kevin Rudd, Australia's prime minister, formally hands over the papers for his country's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. The handover happened in Bali.
Click here to see the video from AlJazeera English of the handover on Youtube (opens a new window)
 
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
What is UNFCCC? A little history on the UNFCCC website.
Click here to read the history od UNFCCC (opens a new window).
 

UNFCCC – the convention about climate change is an overall framework for an international effort to tackle the climate change challenge.  With 192 countries having ratified, the convention has almost universal support. The convention entered into force on 21st march 1994.

According to the convention, countries and governments shall for instance: 

• Gather and exchange information about emission of greenhouse gasses
• Launch national strategies for the solution of emission of greenhouse gas emission
• Grant financial and technological support to developing countries.

The name of UN’s executive secretary for climate is Yvo de Boer.
 

 

What is a COP? Conference of the Parties 
COP is the top agency for the convention.  Meetings are held yearly to review the convention and the progress made.

 

 

Who participates in COP15?
UNFCCC has invited many participants. They may be divided into 3 main groups:  
 

• Negotiation parties:
  Governments and countries nominate their representatives to participate and negotiate on their behalf. This may include ministers, negotiators, and others that the state may need for the negotiations. These have negotiation rights at COP15.
  
• United Nations organisations:
  UN bodies (such as WMO, UNEP, IPCC, UNDP, the World Bank, GEF, secretariats, etc.) are allowed to observe the proceedings. Each organisation nominates a number of representatives to attend the meetings. 
  They have status as observers at COP15.
  
• NGOs:
  Intergovernmental organisations and civil society organisations (NGOs) may attend COP15. They have status as observers at COP15.
  
  Click here to read more on the different groups (opens a new window)
  

Furthermore:
All participants have the opportunity to organise side events and exhibits. This may be in the form of seminars, exhibitions, knowledge booths, etc.
(Source: UNFCCC)

 

UNFCCC’s web site has a lot of information about the background of UNFCCC, the organisation and the political challenges.
Click here to take a look at it.   (opens a new window). Click on “Essential Background”.
Click here to find media from the COPs (opens a new window)
 
See also the COP15 official web site for additional information - www.cop15.dk (opens a new window)

 

The COP15 weblog. On this blog, you may get a “look behind the scenes” of the conference:
Click here to read the COP15 weblog (opens a new window)

 

The goals of the negotiations at COP15 in Copenhagen
According to the UNFCCC executive secretary, Yvo de Boer, there are 4 essential requirements to an international accord in Copenhagen:

1. How much are the industrialised countries willing to reduce their emission of greenhouse gasses?  
2. How much will the big developing countries such as China and India do to limit the growth of their emissions?  
3. How should the developing countries be helped to engage themselves in the reduction of their emissions? 
4. How should the accord be financed?

“If Copenhagen can deliver on those four points I’d be very happy”, says Yvo de Boer.
(Source: UNFCCC)
 
The road to Copenhagen has been tough – and it will be no less tough to get an accord in the bag.

These videos on YouTube give a good idea of the difficult political negotiations ahead:
Click here to open the video playlist on YouTube (opens a new window).