Things are heating up, both inside and outside the Bella Centre here in Copenhagen.
Of course, there’s climate change, the greatest threat to our civilisation, that’s warming the planet and threatening everything humanity holds dear … well, we know that.
Then there is the worldwide climate movement that is increasingly making its voice heard around the world, from Sydney to Manila, Johannesburg to Beijing, and finally here in Copenhagen. People are standing up for climate justice and change the world over. Word is that, in the last 24 hours, the police in Copenhagen have made street arrests and some people have been deported. It is clear that security is increasing.
Then there are the negotiations – and the tension inside the Bella Centre is building, massively.
It’s been two days of drama here. Negotiators are making last minute attempts to reach some agreement and countries on all sides are staging walkouts. It’s hard not to think that the process is unravelling, but it’s difficult to tell.
To some degree this may all be diplomatic theatre, with countries and blocs making their points through symbols rather than words. We know that the African countries are deeply upset by the lack of ambitious targets from rich countries and the total absence of any firm commitment on money to help vulnerable countries adapt to climate change. AOSIS (small island states) have been holding a strong line on the need to agree a legally binding outcome that includes new commitments under the historic Kyoto Protocol, as well as a new climate treaty for developing countries.
On Tuesday and Wednesday the ministers took over negotiations, with one decision-maker from each country choosing between the numerous options in the negotiated text.
By Thursday, it will be prime ministers, presidents and environment minsters. The biggest meeting of world leaders, in one place, ever. We need to ensure that these leaders make a fair, ambitious and binding treaty. One that makes the real cuts in greenhouse emissions that will save the climate, and to ensure that enough financing is available from the wealthy countries to ensure a fair transition in the developing world.
The authorities are slowly culling the number of NGOs and advocacy groups from the conference centre itself, and an increasing number of people are working off-site, in hotels, internet cafes and community centres. By Friday, when the Heads of State are finishing their discussions, we hear that there will only be 90 NGO observers from the whole world allowed in the building, down from approximately 10,000 on Monday.
Keep up the pressure. Do everything that you can! We are fighting for our future here in Copenhagen and we need all the heat that you can bring (aside from the 0 degree temperature outside!!!).
