COP15 – A postscript

Two days since COP15 officially concluded and people are still in recovery mode. Clearly the outcome is not what many hoped for – or expected.  After two intense weeks of discussion, negotiations, parties, standing in line, snow, and very late nights both inside – and outside – of the Bella Center, the so-called “Copenhagen Accord” has been roundly criticized by political pundits and environmental activists alike.  Meanwhile the City has quickly shifted from saving the planet to preparing for Jul (aka Christmas) – which judging from the madness taking place as people prepare for the holiday around here is every bit as important for the Danes as is climate change and saving the planet for future generations. Maybe even more so.

In any event, there is a huge global summit to recap so I’ll share a few thoughts on the conference before returning to our “originally scheduled programming.” And while there is a ton of coverage of what has transpired in Copenhagen the last few weeks, I guess my viewpoint is as valid as any since I was here for the damn thing and have just a little experience in the world of politics, communications and mega events. I mean, I went out on the first Lollapalooza Tour back in 1991, so I know all about big events. I also spent a whole lot of time the past two weeks at the Bella Center working with and talking to people deeply involved in the event. So…

My take: I think the criticisms being leveled against the conference and its outcome are too strong.  Yes, the time was right in many ways for making significant movement on a global agreement to cut emissions, etc.  There is unprecedented global awareness on the dangers of climate change that has moved well beyond the scientific community and into politics and popular culture creating real opportunity for change.  And political and grass roots organizations like tck,tck,tck have been pointing for at least the last eighteen months to COP15 as the time and place where the world would finally come together to sign on to a major agreement.  But tremendous barriers to making a deal at the global level continue to exist, driven primarily by domestic politics and this continuing crapper of an economy.  So while most world leaders (well, maybe not the Saudis) do want to address this issue in a unified way they still have to deal with powerful interests at home and the demands being placed to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. So to me, it is not a huge surprise that the conference came up a bit short.

A few things that stood out though:

Obama: He is getting a ton of grief from the left and countries around the world for failing to close the deal.  I think generally the criticisms are unfair.  But for the world of me, I can’t understand why he would basically come in for twelve hours on the last day of the conference to try and make this thing happen.  It’s sort of like being in Game 7 of the NBA finals and bringing in Kobe for the last five minutes.

When you play, you play to win.

China: These guys talk big but don’t deliver.  The fact that they were unwilling to allow for any meaningful reporting of their efforts is a straight-out deal killer.  Anyone who has been involved in any kind of negotiations knows that without verification a deal ain’t worth the paper it’s printed on.

The Kids are Alright: I wrote in an earlier blog posting during the conference about how smart, passionate, and composed the young people at the conference were.  I have no doubt they will get things done from here.

Cities and States: I heard a lot of talk during the conference about the role of “sub-national governments” in making climate change happen.  I absolutely agree that the place where real change will occur is in state, regional and local government.  To use the U.S. as an example: California is seeing that its future is in a Green Economy and is mandating major changes in the way it does business.  If Texas, or some other oil-producing state, wants to depend on oil and gas production until they become irrelevant then I guess that’s the way it’ll have to be for now.   But I’ll put my money in the places that are embracing new technology anytime.

Communications: Cell phones, email, and iPhones are supposed to make our lives easier. Try having a Danish phone call a US phone# on an iPhone that isn’t charged because the plug doesn’t fit in a European socket.  Then try and remember if you are supposed to call 0-1-1 or 0-0-1 or a country code and a city code first…who the hell knows?  Then look at all the devices being charged, plugged in and turned on and think to yourself…isn’t that the problem all of these people are supposed to be here fixing? Maybe these guys have the right idea.

Denmark: Last but not least, little Denmark capably hosted the largest single gathering of world leaders in any place since the Treaty of Versailles.  Some people bitched and moaned about not getting into the Bella Center in the final days. Allowing all those people in while over 100 of the world’s leaders were under the same roof would have been an invitation to disaster.  Plus, Denmark gets huge points for not only “talking the talk” but “walking the walk.”  As I’ve written here before, this country really understands how transportation, technology, and lifestyle can all work together.

So that’s my take on the the events of the last two weeks.  I have posted a gallery of pictures you can view by clicking here that may some give additional feel on what it was like here over the past two weeks. But after all that went on over that time I’m perfectly content with sharing the observations of a guy from Los Angeles just trying to get through Jul. Stay tuned.

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