News from Copenhagen

Copenhagen, December 7, 2009 - The conference started this morning, and is incredibly
packed. More than 34.000 people applied for accreditation, and since capacity in the conference halls is 15.000, many observers are sitting on the floor, some on manifestations outside and others attending side events.

As a first impression, I see A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, on the international delegations of each country. People see it as a good sign, since it is THE YOUTH'S GREATEST INTEREST, that this conference is a success.

192 countries are taking part and 110 world leaders arrive until next week, when the conclusion of the negotiations take place.

As a starting point, there is lot of work to be done. Developed country emission reductions as a whole are currently projected to be 8-12% below 1990 levels by 2020 after accounting for forestry credits, rather than the 25-40% reductions described as necessary by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

"As the Climate Action Tracker Source (www.climateactiontracker.org)reveals, there are large differences between countries when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In the lead are the Maldives and Costa Rica, which have proposed to become climate-neutral in by around 2020. At the high end of the scale is Japan, Norway and Brazil who propose significant reductions. In the middle of the range are developing countries such as Mexico, Indonesia, which propose to reduce the growth of their emissions by the 2020s. The EU is a special case, in that its unconditional commitment is rated "inadequate", while the EU would enter the "medium"
range if its 30% reduction target were to be adopted. Between the middle and the bottom of the scale is the United States, whose proposed actions are "inadequate" to fall within the range that is needed to keep global warming within lower limits. At the very bottom end of the scale are countries that have yet to propose substantial action beyond "business as usual". These include Belarus, Russia and Ukraine."

It is important for all to be informed and to express opinion to political representatives. According to a Youth representative of Switzerland for the UN "The driving and binding forces of international agreements come from the will of World's Leaders and their parliament (that legislate on the matter), but both are very sensitive to the most important stakeholder, the public opinion expressed in their country".

More news soon!

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Those journalists not able to attend the meeting on site can follow all plenary discussions and press briefings live via web cast. Further information can be found at: http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/cop_15/application/pdf/cop15_note_corre...

My album with photos from here is on this public link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=349448&id=535550062&l=5c74f09a34

Mario Sebok, MBA, PMP
Master in Unity & Integration
IUS - Istituto Universitario Sophia
Cel +39 0346-5172-431
@ mariosebok@hotmail.com
www.iu-sophia.org