Today, the first day of the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen, began with a warning from the organizers to the diplomats from 192 countries that have come together.
“Copenhagan will only be a success if it delivers significant and immediate action” stated UN top climate official Yvo de Boer.
“If we miss it, it could take years before we got a new and better one. If we ever do” added President Connie Hedegaard of Denmark.
While the mood was upbeat at the conference, there are still major issues to resolve:
- how to wean the world away from fossil fuels and other pollutants for our needs.
- development of greener sources of energy.
And the biggest question: who will pay for it all?
- Who will pay the price for the global energy transformation required? The hundreds of billions of dollars needed each year to set the world on a new energy path and to adapt to the new climates?
- Where will the proposed fund of $10 billion each year for the next three years come from to help poor countries create climate change strategies?
The financing “may be an even bigger challenge” than the emissions cuts noted President Heregaard.
Scientists believe that without a resolution, the earth will continue to face the consequences:
- continuation of rising temperatures
- extinction of plant and animal species
- flooding in coastal cities
- more extreme weather condidtions
- drought
- spread of disease.
Many believe that the international negotiations have been dragging on for more than two years.
While several countries have announced new emissions goals in the days leading up to the conference, a UN environment program study released on Sunday stated that the pledges, made so far, fall short of the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that scientists say are needed to keep the average temperature from rising more than two degrees Celsius by the end of the century.
While many countries would like to see more from the United States; Jonathan Pershing, President Obama’s deputy special envoy for climate change stated “we are committed to acheiving the strongest possible outcome in the next two weeks . He later added, ” There is a deal to be done.”
One indication that there may be an opportunity for some further movement forward in US commitment, was the announcement from the EPA that they have concluded that greenhouse gases are endangering American’s health and should be regulated under the Clean Air Act.
The conference runs for two weeks, with the first week focused on the refinement of the complex text of the draft treaty. The major decisions will come next week, with the arrival of the environment ministers and the heads of state.
One thing for certain, negotiators nor politicians can do it alone. The ultimate responsibility of the health of our planet rest on our shoulders, the citizens of the world and the choices we make today and everyday. It is those choices that will impact the future results.
