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 Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore 
Lumumba Di-Aping, chief negotiator for G77 at COP 15  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 
He Yafei, Senior Negotiator for China at COP 15 
Rajendra Pachauri, IPCC Chair 
Nancy Pelosi, US Speaker of the House  Yvo DeBoer, (Former) Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC  U.S. Climate Change Envoy Todd Stern |
Climate Change "This historic gathering is being attended by leaders from almost every nation in the world ...
but there is one important part of humankind not present and not formally represented at these negotiations. Even though I have no credentials entitling me to speak for them, I would nevertheless like to advocate their interests. They are the generations that will follow us."
~ Al Gore at the COP15 in Copenhagen, Dec 2009 Continued reliance on fossil fuels, industrial agriculture and forest destruction all contribute to increasing climate irregularity by releasing billions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Scientists predict that unless humans significantly reduce emissions, sea levels will rise, and weather patterns will shift dramatically and unpredictably. China's emergence as a global polluter and as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases concerns many, particularly in the West. But a careful analysis reveals the multi-faceted reality of this issue. Western investment encouraged China’s rapid industrialization and consumers worldwide have benefited directly from China’s increases in energy and resources. Scientists warn that our planet may be on the threshold of several climate tipping points, whereby the increases in global average temperatures could become irreversable due to self-reinforcing positive feedbacks. Projected warming threatens countless species with extinction, and our economic and cultural way of life, no matter who or where we are, will never be the same.
Amidst ongoing appeals for global unity in the face of this crisis, the uncomfortable truth remains that different populations face unequal risks, challenges, and arguably, responsibilities. Since the industrial revolution, the creation of wealth and infrastructure has been strongly linked to fossil fuel consumption and green house gas emissions.Thus those in poorer less developed regions have emitted the least, yet paradoxically are now facing the greatest risks from a changing and unstable environment. Negotiations around issues of inequity are proving to be a major obstacle, as was evidenced at the COP15 in Copenhagen. Despite the very real differences and disagreements, everyone does have a stake in reaching swift, sweeping, and lasting solutions to bring a stop to the worst practices driving global warming. Citizens and policymakers around the world recognize that cooperation is necessary, and bold, innovative policy approaches which integrate new analytical insights are in demand. This is precisely our focus at Action 2030. At the COP 15, Action 2030's Senior Scientist Dale Wen spoke at a panel on Food and Agriculture and Climate Change and participated in negotiations. Action 2030's James George was also inside the COP15 reporting throughout the event. Action 2030 organized and co-sponsored the International Workshop on Sustainable Food and Agriculture which took place in March 2010 in Beijing, were a special panel on climate change and agriculture explored these topics:
To receive information and updates on this event please join our Sustainable Food and Agriculture Mailing List. Related Briefs: Related Action 2030 Videos |
Video & Flash: Lord Stern at Copenhagen Climate Congress Global Warming and Globalization Op Ed: Websites: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Australian Government Department of Climate Change Mayors Climate Protection Center of the U.S. Conference of Mayors UNFCCC's Global CDM Interactive Map KyotoUSA: U.S. Cities and their Citizens Working together to Address Global Warming PEW Center:  Copenhagen Climate Rally, Dec 12, 2009 |
| ©2010, Action2030 Institute | ||
