Climate Change Conference Highlights

World leaders, climate experts, economists, climate justice advocates and other concerned citizens of the world have converged on Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

The conference convenes from December 7 – 18 for the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 5th Meeting of the Parties (COP/MOP 5) to the Kyoto Protocol.

Following are conference highlights.

COP15 – Day 4

Associated Press / Nanet Poulsen - Sweden pledges to give 800 million euro (1.2 billion US dollars) to European Union program for a so-called “fast-start” financing fund, to help developing nations fight climate change.

Rie Jerichow - Led by the Alliance of Small Island States, more than a hundred nations -many of whom are most impacted by climate change – are demanding tougher climate goals.

According to Gary Bailey, who is also reporting from Copenhagen:

All the developing countries are saying they need more financial and technological help from developed countries for greenhouse gas reductions, and for adaptation to climate change.

Small island states are saying a strong agreement is a matter of survival for them, and they won’t accept anything short of their survival. Some use the term “climate debt” in reference to the greenhouse gases developed countries have emitted over the years.

COP15 – Day 3

United States:

“We will work closely with our Congress to pass legislation to lower our greenhouse gases more than 80 percent by 2050.” – Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator

Associated Press / Nanet Poulsen – The United States outlined a dual path toward cutting greenhouse gases that would involve both President Barack Obama’s administration and the US Congress to reduce greenhouse emissions. This announcement came after the EPA’s announcement earlier this week that the agency has determined that scientific evidence clearly shows greenhouse gases are endangering Americans’ health. The EPA now has the ability to regulate greenhouse gases without the approval of the U.S. Congress.

International:

Marianne Bom – Several small island states and poor African states demanded a legally binding treaty, with the aim of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations at 350 parts per million (ppm) rather than the 450ppm favored by developed countries and some major developing nations.

They believe the existing agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, is not tough enough for countries most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change.

Video: Kiribati – “A Climate Change Reality”

COP15 – Day 2

International:

“In general, countries expect to manage environmental migration internally, with the exception of small island states that in some cases have already led to islands disappearing under water, forcing international migration.”
- International Organisation for Migration

Reuters – According to a new report by the International Organisation for Migration, the number of people affected by natural disasters has more than doubled in recent years. It is estimated that between 25 million and one billion people could be driven from their homes over the next four decades, but only few of these “climate refugees” would be able to leave their countries due to lacking the means and the ability to travel to wealthier places.

COP15 – Day 1

Diplomats from 192 nations gathered in Copenhagen for the start of the 11-day conference, during which the drafted treaty will be refined. Environment ministers and the heads of state will arrive during the final days of the conference, to make final decisions before the end of the conference,  which comes to a conclusion on Dec. 18