Day 2. December 8:
My group finally managed to register for COP 15 late in the afternoon, when the line had disappeared. There was still enough time that day (they say the events close down at 6 pm though the conference building stays open till midnight) to check out some of the NGO and other booths, and to chat with those eager to share information about their organization and its activities. Lots of pamphlets, booklets, CDs and many reports. Paper all over the place! People, myself included, were loading up on them to the extent that they had to find shopping bags to carry them. Some NGOs came prepared to hand out the bags with their logos or messages on them.
Day3. December 9:
I have been thinking about who is at the meeting and to some extent why. I came up with the following “COP 15 triangle” graphic, having drawn it on a napkin at a coffee break. I tried to add color later.
The apex of the triangle represents the participation of the heads of state: from the US, China, India and scores of other countries. They will mostly come to COP 15 at the end of the second week which is the end of the COP 15. They will say all the right words about wanting to arrest climate change, the need for alternative energies, the need to cooperate, the urgerncy to save the planet, among other plaititudes. How to tell the ideal from the real from the platiudes of leaders is not an easy task.
The next level down are the negotiators who are wordsmithing the various proposals put forth for a COP 15 agreement. There are lots of protests about the use of various words used in any agreement, once governments settle on a plan to discuss. The Danish government put up a new plan that was soundly rejected by theG-77 + China (developing) and other countries as offerring to little to them and giving to much benefit to the ‘rich’ countries. The Saudi government wants to hold off long enough to revisit the science of the Nobel winning IPCC report(s).
So, the negotiators have their plates full of contentious issues and are not really providing much to the speeches that are about to be made by their heads of state, the presidents and prime ministers. They are also not likely to be influenced by the side events, as far as i can tell.
The next layer in the triangle moving in the direction of its base are the side events. These are topically based sessions in which various views and perspectives on a very wide range of climate and water issues, from desciptions to policy presciptions. Most people have to do something in order to get support to attend the COP 15 and the side events provide not only a venue and a chance to share ideas, they expose a lot of information that already exists on the Internet or on paper or in PowerPoint. They are good for networking in one’s specific interest area. These are good forums for the younger students and newer NGOs to hear new and old ideas expressed by their creators.
The next layer in the triangle represents the booths and displays. To me this is the heart of the public side of the COP 15. This is where visitors can chat on a one to one personal basis to learn about any topic, program, report or scenario.this activity is where networking is at its best. cards are exchanged. notes are take and plans for further contacts are made. This is also where people pick up everything from booklets to flash drives to CDs on lots of topics and publications. I love this part of the COPs.
The base of the triangle is “civil society”. People are being informed about what is going on inside COP 15. there are exhibits in buildings, on the streets and posters everywhere. there are even posters telling the public that carbon dioxide is not a problem (Be happy. Don’t worry). Civil society refers to the public at large and it in a general way expects experts and policy people to do the right thing, whatever that thing happens to be. Many in civil society feel they do not have to get involved as others are hopefully represneting their views. Nevertheless, civil society is following COP 15 specifically and climate change in general through Danish newspapers, websites and TV. it is being informed passively. Also as part of civil society are groups of concerned people (young mostly) who enthusiastically act out on their views with demonstrations, plays, signs, painted faces, costumes and music. They are the reminders to others about the need for climate justice for their and future generations.
Comments
2 responses to “Mickey Glantz, “Bloggin’ from Copenhagen: Days 2+3 Overview””
Sadly, the reality is that real outcomes from the summit depend on the apex, the world leaders. And not just heads of countries, but the heads of the bigger countries. After all, the leaders of many Small Island Developing States are trying their best to achieve the radical action needed to save their land and people (see http://www.manystrongvoices.org ).
As usual, though, the leaders of the bigger countries seem set to avoid doing what needs to be done. As such, the triangle could be turned upside–resting on the “foundation” of the world leaders, especially of bigger countries, who are as unstable as a triangle resting on its apex, inevitably leading to a complete collapse.
Even if a legally binding agreement is reached (But covering what? Emissions reductions? Dealing with climate change? What about other sustainability topics?), that agreement will almost certainly not be enough. Consequently, the triangle (representing everyone and the world) will be severely damaged in the collapse–due to the lack of future sustainability around our planet.
Perhaps now is a good time to breathe deeply and celebrate.
President Barack Obama is in Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. This is a moment for rejoicing and listening to the words of a great person. He is deserving of a Nobel Prize because he is a beacon of light and hope in an awakening world that has suffered grievously through the past 8 long, dark years with leadership known mostly for its disasterous decisonmaking, disinformation, delay, denial, duplicity and dunderheadedness.
Steven Earl Salmony
AWAREness Campaign on The Human Population, established 2001