The Kyoto Treaty has set the world in the right direction to minimize one of the major problems we face this century, climate change. Established in 1999 in Japan, the plan looked to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions so that it would minimize interference with the world’s climate.
By 2009, 184 countries signed the treaty with plans to minimize the effects of global warming. However, with the treaty expiring in 2012, we could be left without a concrete international agenda to help prevent climate change. Concerned countries, like Denmark and the United Nations, realized this and created the Climate Change Conferences in Copenhagen, Denmark. For more background on the Kyoto Protocol, check out the Greeniacs Article on the subject: http://www.wordpress-837916-4114959.cloudwaysapps.com/GreeniacsArticles/Kyoto-Protocol-101.html.
From December 6th to the 14th, 2009, the Bell Center in Copenhagen will host about 170 countries that will be represented by government officials. NGOs, journalists, and other representatives will be in attendance, bringing the total to around 8,000 people.1
Hosting the grand event will be Denmark’s very own Minister of Climate and Energy, and Prime Minister Lars Locke Rasmussen. The conference is also referred to as COP15, marking the 15th official conference making an effort to stop global warming.2 The main goal of the conference is to create a Copenhagen Protocol much like the Kyoto Protocol previously created.
Given that thus far, the United States has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol, it will be interesting to see how President Obama and other government officials act. Obama has always made the environment important in his new political agenda and this conference is an important international event.
While most news reports state that President Obama will not attend the Conference in Copenhagen, it remains to be seen what will in fact take place. Obama will be in Oslo on the second day of the Conference, accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, and there has been speculation he would take that opportunity to address climate change.3 Going to Copenhagen in his place is Todd Stern, the administration’s special envoy on climate change. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton may also make a last minute appearance.
In light of President Obama’s strong stance on climate change, many question how he could not attend this major international event. Some Americans believe the man has the power to part a sea, or something to that extent; however, Obama may not be of any help in Copenhagen. Another reason why Obama will not make the conference is because it is not a “Head of State” event. Fox News explains why: “One big reason the Copenhagen conference is not a ‘head of state’ event is because of the slow progress of climate change legislation in the U.S. Senate.”4 Climate change legislation is not only slow in the United States, but countries like India and China disagree on ways to deal with climate change, which could complicate the process of enacting the treaty everyone hopes is created in Copenhagen.
The Copenhagen Climate Change Conference is a crucial international event for the progression of limiting fuel emissions. Support from the United States is vital because we are one of the world’s highest fuel emitting countries. As for now, we will simply have to wait until December to see what happens.
