Policy Research Media Morhamburn

If memory serves me correct climate change has been on the agenda for some time now, but again do correct me if I have misinterpreted this. Scientists are practically blue (though green does strike me as a more appropriate use of imagery) in the face telling us that the point of no return lies on the horizon. Every summit is heralded as the ‘one’ to sort out the environmental mess so excuse my cynicism if I don’t leap with joy at the prospect of what Copenhagen may bring.

Now that US President Obama will re-appear for the last day of the summit on 18 December observers seem to be unanimous in citing that this in itself increases the chances of reaching a deal. One man with so much power! I wonder if the same sentence will ever be said of our new EU President. Perhaps we should have created some ‘saving the planet award’ and presented this to Obama on the basis alone that he plans to attend on the last day; as the Nobel peace prize committee has shown, concrete achievements and successes are less of a guide these days. In the words of Obama himself, the prize could serve as another “call to action” and hey presto that would be climate change solved in a oner.  

What smacks of this summit is the focus on personalities, there will be nearly 34,000 people there yet the focus is on the few – the Obamas, Merkels, Sarkozys, and Browns. I do hope that the fate of the future of the world is not left to a few. Yes leaders do need to lead, show example and take difficult and challenging decisions but what about us –the normal folks, continuing largely in our own little bubbles? What if this summit once again leaves us all with the bitter taste of disappointment, whose fault is that? And what should be done? These are all questions we know the answers to but as every good EU directive illustrates, it is not finding the answer and devising the legislation that is the problem, it’s the implementation.                      

The UN climate negotiator Yvo de Boer has stated that, “never in 17 years of climate negotiations have so many different countries made so many pledges.” If only pledges could save the planet.

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