When it comes to achievements in Copenhagen, the flowery rhetoric issued from (some) world leaders isn’t matched by the substance of accomplishments. And, from the other angle, physical reality and the necessity for serious action to mitigate (and, sadly, adapt to) climate change is unaddressed by the reality of what derived from Copenhagen.
this progress did not come easily, and we know that this progress alone is not enough. Going forward, we’re going to have to build on the momentum that we’ve established here in Copenhagen to ensure that international action to significantly reduce emissions is sustained and sufficient over time. We’ve come a long way, but we have much further to go.
And, in fact, the COP15 looks to have canceled without even having the inadequate Copenhagen Accord signed.
The Copenhagen Accord announced on December 18 by U.S. President Barack Obama was not adopted by delegates to the United Nations climate conference here. Instead, delegates merely ‘noted’ the agreement’s existence, giving it no force whatsoever.
Simply put, the “Accord” was inadequate. And, all involved know it … despite the flowery language that surrounded it … and the world community wasn’t ready to sign an “Accord” worked out in the backroom between just a few of the world’s nation.
The struggle for meaningful action must move from the nagotiators’ backroom deals, involving people who clearly don’t understand the gravity of the challenges before us, and into the realm of tangible action. It won’t matter what came (or didn’t come) out of COP15 if the world’s economies began an economic race for domination of the clean energy future. It won’t be significant that COP15 failed to have a serious agreement signed if the nations around the world turn their economic stimulus packages from giving Green to Wall Street (and its equivalents) to greening Main Street.
Those fighting for meaningful action on climate change are well beyond frustrated. Below is a shared statement from many leading organizations.
Not Done Yet
We do not have the fair, ambitious and legally binding agreement that millions around the world hoped the world leaders gathered here would deliver.
Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, and massive popular support from citizens in countries North and South, world leaders chose national political self-interest over the fate of future generations and failed to resolve the issues blocking the road towards a just outcome. While this deal cannot be judged as a success, it is impossible to be without hope.
This year, from a strong, but small seed of climate campaigning, a movement touching millions of people in hundreds of countries around the world has grown. Over the last two weeks while leaders were dithering an additional 5 million people joined the campaign, resulting in a total of 15 million voices calling for a fair, ambitious and legally binding deal.
More than 250 partner organisations have come together to form an unprecedented alliance under the TckTckTck banner – including development, human rights, environment, religious and youth groups, trade unions and scout groups. Over three days of global action, these partners have mobilized unprecedented numbers of people campaigning for urgent action on climate change. In Copenhagen on December 12, one hundred thousand people marched in a powerful manifestation of this unity.
And, when naysayers, fearmongers, and the business-as-usual-crowd try to usurp the issue, they will be met by a surging sea of people from all around the globe and all walks of life unified in their demand for a real deal.
The global climate movement – more diverse than ever before – stands united in the face of tonight’s disappointing news. This weekend we are mounting an unprecedented response, with joint messaging appearing on the global public websites of our partners, to ensure world leaders know we are unimpressed with their lack of real progress and failure to deliver a real deal.
We have come so far in a short space of time. Millions around the world look to the future and see hope, justice, and opportunity. It is up to each of us to make our voices heard and to get the real deal that the world needs.
The world’s leaders still have a chance to get it right. They must realize that we expect, and will not accept, anything less.
They’re not done yet. Neither are we.
The following organisations have taken the extraordinary step of adding this consistent response to take over the home pages of their global websites.