Aiming For Success In Copenhagen
What would constitute success at the global climate summit this December in Copenhagen? Elliot Diringer, Pew's Vice President for International Strategies, delves into this question in a new post.
Whenever the UN climate change negotiations convene these days, as they will again later this month in Bangkok, an oversized digital timer glares at delegates from the front of the hall, methodically counting down the days, hours, minutes, even seconds until the upcoming climate conference in Copenhagen, writes Diringer. This staged countdown is a stark, if superfluous, reminder of the expectations looming for Copenhagen, arguably the most pivotal moment in climate diplomacy since Kyoto 12 years ago.
But with the days quickly ticking away, it is becoming clearer to all that the time is too short, and the odds of a final, ratifiable deal by the time the clock hits zero appear virtually nil. But this disappointment need not be seen as a disaster, particularly as the odds of a final deal were never strong. Indeed, Copenhagen still presents the best opportunity ever to advance the global climate effort. And we all have a stake in its success.