What’s the deal with COP15?

by Michal Yablong

If you are involved with one of Northwestern’s eco-initiatives, it’s likely that you know that there will be a big event occurring this December in Copenhagen. But if you are feeling fuzzy on the details of why the meeting in Copenhagen is so important, or where the controversy lies (because of course, there has to be controversy…), here is a condensed explanation:

COP15 does not stand for COPenhagen, rather, “Conference of the Parties; the 15^th meeting.” Every year, the UN’s Conference of the Parties discusses ways to reduce the world’s greenhouse emissions and discuss our current status. This year’s meeting, hosted by the Danish government, is of particular importance. In the words of Brian Merchant, a Discovery channel reporter, “This is where the biggest economies and smallest countries, the most-polluting nations and those threatened to be destroyed by climate change altogether will all meet in an attempt to find a way to halt global warming before it's too late. If you only watch one global climate event this year, make it this one.”

At least 192 countries will be in attendance, as COP15 is an especially big deal for two reasons:

1- 1- Earlier in the decade, it was recognized that CO2 output must be reduced…but now scientific evidence says drastic emissions-changes are necessary by 2020. Countries are realizing that it is not worth sacrificing the habitability of our planet for short-term economic gains.

2- 2- COP15 will establish a global climate change agreement to take over the Kyoto Protocol agreement that will expire in 2012. (The role of the Kyoto Protocol was to set binding targets for industrialized countries to lower their carbon emissions by 5% over several years.)

Science says that greenhouse emissions must not rise after 2020 to avoid disastrous climate changes. Think water shortages for half the world’s population, elimination of the coral reefs, rises in sea level around the globe of over 1 meter over the century, and extinction for about half the existing species of plants and animals. In order to avoid turning our watery blue planet a hospitable place, emissions reductions between 25-40% from 1990 levels must occur. The countries that are most capable of bringing about such a change are the rich counties of the world; America, India, and China are among those at the top of the list.

This is an attainable goal with current technology and other technology due to come out soon. The problem, however, is political. Aside from Norway and Japan, who promise 30% reductions, everyone falls way short of what is needed. India and China both have enormous carbon emissions (although not per capita), and say they cannot reach such a high goal at the same time as working toward alleviating poverty. This may not be true, but it makes a complex situation even more complex. On top of it all, everyone seems excited about what Obama is doing, but when it comes down to it, I couldn’t actually tell you what Obama is doing.

Before countries can commit, climate legislation must be passed—often a slow process. Governments such as the Australian parliament and the US Congress are grappling to accomplish this in the few weeks left before everyone assembles in Copenhagen. But amidst the turmoil and the rush against time, it’s good to know that the world is finally, unanimously ready to take action.