When COP15 — the United Nations-sponsored global summit on climate change that took place last month in Copenhagen — wrapped up, observers and even event participants were left feeling that the resulting agreement was less than the hoped-for result.
However, according to reports provided by the New York Times and Science News, hard work has been quietly conducted out of the view of the world media after the event wrapped up. And the work is providing new hope for moving forward in a meaningful way in guiding global efforts to address worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.
While the resulting agreement that COP15 produced did not include legally binding language to which nations agreed to guide targeted reductions, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in a statement quoted by Science News, expresses optimism regarding moving toward that goal as 2010 unfolds:
“We sealed the deal. And it is a real deal. And we will try to have legally binding [language] as soon as possible — in 2010.”
Even in the absence of an agreed-to legal framework, American negotiators participating in the talks are taking a broad view at what COP15 did achieve and are casting them in an optimistic light, according to the New York Times. The follow-through by participating nations on the principles and goals for greenhouse gas emission reduction will bring about real and positive change.
Foremost among the critical next steps is for participating nations to draft their plans for greenhouse gas reduction by the January 31 deadline. In addition, wealthy nations are expected to show progress on establishing the $30 billion fund earmarked for the support of developing nations.
Photo courtesy of WhiteHouse.gov, via Wikimedia Commons
