Copenhagen: The outcome

UN Climate Change Summit

One of the biggest obstacles facing the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen last month was the gulf that exists between the developed and developing world. The poorer countries, led by Africa, wanted the richer states, such as America, to accept more responsibility for global warming and insisted that cooperation could only be reached if compensation demands were met.

But what was the outcome of the much anticipated Copenhagen conference?

A lot was riding on America's attendance at the summit as its president, Barack Obama, was expected to carefully steer other leaders into agreeing to measures that would lead to legally binding agreements. But what was hoped to be achieved in the Danish capital was always going to be some distance from what was actually achieved.

Climate change adaption

It was hoped that developed nations would pledge to gather funds to pay for climate change adaptation and mitigation programs and arrange for transfer of affordable clean-energy technology to developing nations. On the flip-side, developing nations would agree to adopt "nationally appropriate" climate change mitigation actions which would boost use of renewable energy, carbon trading or energy efficiency. In return for this commitment they would get firm pledges of support both financially and technologically from the rich.

But sadly the conference itself descended into farce with constant hiccups, stalling and even the threat of a mass walk out from developing countries unsatisfied with the conference's progress.

On the last day, an interim political agreement called the "Copenhagen Accord", seemingly thrown together by Obama in the course of his diplomacy meetings the previous day, was the cause of serious conflict, as reported by AllAfrica.com.

Alarm bells are ringing

The passing of any type of accord needs unanimity within UN ruling, but a small group of countries, including Sudan and Venezuela, said they would not allow it to be adopted.

By the time the heated disputes had cooled the parties involved agreed they would "take note" of the accord rather than formally adopt it, a situation that left out Sudan et al.

This outcome came below even Barack Obama's slim hopes for the summit, having said repeatedly in the lead up to Copenhagen that he did not expect a comprehensive deal to be reached. Everyone, Obama included, now insists that this is "not enough" and alarm bells are ringing to the fact that we may have ruined our "final chance" to reverse the effects of climate change.

Remove the obstacles

As China refuses to be led along by Washington, a firm commitment to reducing global emissions 50 percent by 2050 has even been temporarily withdrawn. Add to this that not even short-term emissions targets were set for 2020 and the picture looks even more grim.

Whatever "accord" has been drawn up behind close doors, it will be a miracle if it becomes universally binding this year as promised by our world leaders.

Africa and the rest of the world must wait for world leaders, Obama in particular, to remove the obstacles in the way of a meaningful pact on climate change. China, India and other "new polluters" must be brought under agreement as soon as possible, and then perhaps the UN can work on convincing the developing world that the path laid out by America and its allies is a path worth taking.

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