COP 15

The climate is changing drastically and unpredictably – a trend that we cannot ignore. We need to act. And that is why the UN summit in 1992 passed a climate convention with the aim of stabilising the atmosphere’s content of greenhouse gases at a level which will prevent dangerous man-made climate change.
The countries who signed the agreement hold an annual conference, called the conference of parties (COP) at which they discuss how the convention can be put into practice. Tthe countries have just met for COP15 in Copenhagen and this is was most important climate conference since Kyoto 1997.

The outcome of the conference was perhaps not what was optimistically hoped for but now that the dust is settling we are beginning to see that tangible progress has been made.

The eventual outcome of the conference has been an agreement to “take note of” an accord drawn up by a core group of heads of state. Whilst this is far from the legally binding treaty some where hoping for this is certainly progress and leads the way for future talks.

The accord refers to a target of limiting global warming to 2C above pre-industrial temperatures as well as the need for quantified action by both developed and developing countries but it is uinclear at present how this target will be achieved.

Many had hoped that COP15 would lead to legally mandated co-ordinated international action but it appears the outcome will be intergovernmental policy co-ordination with a focus on national strategies.

Christophe André - Executive Vice President of Arjowiggins Graphic followed the conference discussions closely and during the conference was interviewed for Climate change TV on his belief that negotiators should demand strong commitments from parties, and this view should be passed on to the private sector. He talks about the successes of the paper industry in reducing emissions, but improving quality. He considers how paper will be used in the future, and how behaviours should change now.

Click below to watch his interview.

© Climate Change TV — Copenhagen 2009 Interviews