COP15: The UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen Concludes

Date: December 18, 2009

The 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) concluded in Copenhagen, Denmark. This significant event, held from December 7 to December 18, 2009, aimed at establishing a new global climate agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol.

Context and Key Objectives

• Anticipation for a Robust Agreement: Hopes were high that COP15 would deliver a legally binding international treaty that would set ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This followed the Bali Road Map, established during COP13 in 2007, which set the direction for negotiations leading up to Copenhagen.

• Global Involvement: The conference gathered representatives from 192 countries, including heads of state and government, marking one of the most notable attendances for a climate summit at the time.

Major Developments

• The Copenhagen Accord: The conference resulted in the Copenhagen Accord, a non-binding political agreement brokered primarily by the United States, China, India, Brazil, and South Africa. It acknowledged the scientific case for maintaining temperature rises to below 2 degrees Celsius but did not contain specific emission reduction commitments or legally binding obligations.

• Key Features of the Accord:

  • Recognized the need for developed countries to finance the mitigation efforts and adaptation needs of developing countries. This included a pledge to mobilize $100 billion per year by 2020.
  • Emphasized the need for various national actions and international cooperation on technology development and transfer.
  • Established a framework for measurement, reporting, and verification to ensure transparency and accountability.

Challenges and Criticism

• Lack of Binding Commitments: The absence of enforceable commitments led to criticism that the Accord fell short of the comprehensive binding agreement initially sought. This led to widespread disappointment among environmental groups and several participating nations.

• Procedural Conflicts: The negotiations were marked by difficulties in reaching consensus, procedural disputes, and accusations of undemocratic practices, as smaller nations felt sidelined in the discussions.

Aftermath and Significance

• Paving the Way for Future Agreements: Despite its shortcomings, the Copenhagen Accord set the stage for subsequent climate negotiations and played a role in shaping future frameworks, including the eventual Paris Agreement in 2015, which sought more comprehensive global collaboration on emissions reductions.

• Increased Global Awareness: COP15 significantly raised public awareness and concern around climate change, mobilizing environmental activism and policy advocacy worldwide.

In conclusion, while COP15 ended without achieving a binding treaty, its outcomes and processes highlighted the complexities of international climate diplomacy and emphasized the ongoing need for concerted global efforts in climate action.