A Burson-Marsteller perspective on the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark:
Despite much optimism earlier this year that Copenhagen would produce a breakthrough deal on climate change, the odds are now equally on a breakdown. We are presently witnessing official and political efforts to lower expectations for a substantial deal, and to shift focus to the detailed negotiations that are expected to follow the conference.
However, climate change is now almost universally accepted as the key global challenge facing human civilisation. The upward trend in extreme weather events, changing patterns of rain and drought, melting polar ice caps and rising sea levels are seen as signs that we are already experiencing early impacts of climate change due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will take place at the Bella Centre in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 7- 18 December 2009, is a key milestone in global action against this problem. The conference is comprised of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Fifth Meeting of the Parties (COP/MOP 5) to the Kyoto Protocol. The meeting aims to agree a new framework for coordinated international responses to climate change beyond 2012 to supersede the Kyoto Protocol. The key political challenge will be to reach an agreement in which both the developed world and developing nations accept mutual obligations that are equitable, proportionate, measurable and accountable.
This Burson-Marsteller Insight looks at the main players and issues for these vital talks – and at the impact of the climate change conference on business.