Blog Action Day 2009 - Climate Change

Blog Action Day

COP 15,
the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December, must
agree at least the outline of a binding framework for global emissions
reductions. It has been billed as our last chance to avoid climate
catastrophe within this century. In fact, it needs to be the first step
towards a global solution.

COP 15 must pave the way for binding
international commitments that will lead to stringent emissions
reductions worldwide, within the coming decade. Beyond that, these
agreements must become the foundation of the low-carbon economy, built
on real-cost pricing of greenhouse gas emissions and massive funding
for both low-carbon technologies and adaptation projects in the
developing world and small-island nations.

It will be
disappointing but unsurprising if America, just 10 months into
President Obama's administration, cannot change direction from the
denial decade under Bush in time for COP15. Anticipating this, the
other 180-something nations of the world need to create a post-Kyoto
framework that ostracises the USA (and any other recalcitrant states)
while it remains outside but welcomes the largest per-capita polluting
nation into the game when it is ready to play. Free trade cannot trump
climate chaos, if we are to have any chance of a sustainable future for
humanity and any remaining biodiversity!