Yesterday, world leaders announced that they will not be seeking a politically binding climate change agreement at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December. The climate change treaty has been postponed until… some time next year.
To anyone who has been paying close attention to the climate change discussions, this announcement is not surprising. It has been clear for quite some time that the Copenhagen conference would most likely not result in a comprehensive climate agreement. In fact, it would have taken a political miracle.
Then What Does It Mean?
First, this announcement will most likely change the tone, and possibly the quantity, of mainstream media coverage of the Copenhagen conference. Without the drama-factor of a binding agreement, Copenhagen could become just another blip in the pre-holiday blur of consumerism and gingerbread flavored lattes.
Second, it was already uncertain if President Obama would be attending the Copenhagen summit. Obama stated that he would travel to Copenhagen if countries were “on the brink of a meaningful agreement.” For those in the know (see above), this meant he was unlikely to attend. And now? It is even more unlikely. This is extremely unfortunate, as his presence in Copenhagen would have gone a long way towards signaling (both at home and abroad) that the U.S. stands ready to move forward on this crucial issue. Obama’s attendance would be meaningful.
So, What Now?
Now, we keep moving forward. We keep drawing attention to the climate change issue in whatever way possible. Leave comments and write letters to the editor when you see mainstream media covering this issue constructively. Don’t stop talking about Copenhagen with each other. In fact, talk about Copenhagen even more.
And contact the White House. If you’re tired of hearing that (I know I am), too bad. Do it anyways. Tell the Administration that climate change is a priority and must be treated accordingly. Impress upon them that President Obama’s presence at the Copenhagen summit is vitally important to our future, environmentally and economically.
And finally, don’t give up hope. Yes, this is bad news. But it is bad news that we expected to hear. So brace yourselves and keep moving forward. 21 days to go.
Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheatfields/ / CC BY 2.0
