Beyond Copenhagen
What happened? What next?
World leaders failed at Copenhagen. Instead of signing a fair, ambitious and binding treaty, they delivered more hot air.
After two weeks of UN negotiations, politicians breezed in, had dinner with the Queen, a three-hour lunch break, took some photos and then delivered what could only be described as the 24-hour Head of State tourist brochure of Copenhagen instead of a climate treaty.
During the year, a mumber of developing countries showed a willingness to accept their share of the burden to avert climate chaos. But, in the end, the blame for failure mostly lies with the rich, industrialised world. These are countries that have the largest historic responsibility for causing the problem. In particular, the United States failed to take any real leadership and dragged the talks down.
What next?
It's far from over.
The Copenhagen Accord recognises the need to limit global temperatures to a rise of no more than 2 degrees Celcius above pre-industrial levels.
By 1 February, countries need to spell out their pledges for curbing carbon emissions by 2020. We need strong targets on the table from developed countries. It's vital that we ramp up the pressure.
We need to act fast. Write to Kevin Rudd, Barack Obama and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso to demand action.
Our solutions
- Welcome to the Energy [R]evolution
- Green collar jobs and a renewed economy
- Protecting forests to save the climate
Climate change in your backyard
Government (in)action
- What’s wrong with the carbon pollution reduction scheme?
- Where is Australia’s global leadership?
- Coal dependence and the mining lobby