In closing hours of the Copenhagen climate summit, US President Barack Obama announced an alleged ‘meaningful’ climate deal – an agreement that was cooked up among a small group of countries. This deal was done behind the scenes and without any involvement of those countries most vulnerable to the early affects of climate change.
The Pacific island nations, whose survival is threatened by sea-level rise, and the African nations, whose people are dying from food shortages brought on by climate change, were not in the room when the deal was done. They were attempting to move the official and inclusive UN process forward towards a fair, ambitious and binding deal.
As I listened to Obama’s press statement online I could hear booing from the crowd outside at a concert for the end of the climate conference. There will be a lot of very disappointed people who are part of a global climate movement. I know that they will continue in their determination for a strong and fair climate treaty but, for tonight, it is bitter disappointment.
The Obama plan sets a target to limit warming to 2 degrees Celcius, but it is nothing more than aspirational. It doesn’t contain a plan to get there.
Listening to this in a room full of people who have worked their butts off this year trying to get a good climate agreement is very hard. Our team have spent long hours developing policy proposals, analysing draft treaty text, and arguing with negotiators and politicians. Missing time with families and loved ones while they worked towards a climate treaty.
Obama keeps describing this as a first step, but that is a lie. This is a desperate attempt by a President to not been seen to be going home empty handed. I am getting emails and skype messages from so many people whose last hope is that Rudd and the EU will reject this shoddy deal. I really hope so too.
