GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES | KOMMUNIKATION GLOBAL - 01 | 2009

COUNTDOWN TO COPENHAGEN
Tosi often has to work from nine in the morning till 2 o’clock in the night. He can not attend all the meetings that are scheduled.
Industrialized countries have over 20 delegates present at the conference and have the advantage of dividing the work and
knowledge. Congo can not…
Less represented as these developing countries are, they are fighting for proposals on combating and adapting to climate
change, but unfortunately these are completely ignored by the developed countries. Let’s hope that during the week the negotiations
will lead to something more constructive.
Day 4, December 9: Politics in Warsaw
At the same time the climate conference in Poznan is taking place, the European Union is gathered in Brussels to negotiate on
their climate and energy package for the coming years. The results of this meeting will influence the outcomes of the UN conference
on climate change to a big extent. If the EU will not come forward as a leader in the climate negotiations because they
have not resolved their internal disputes, it will be unlikely that ambitious plans will be made in Poznan. That’s why today we
leave Poznan and take the train to Warsaw, where prime ministers Merkel (Germany) and Tusk (Poland) – who are blocking the
negotiations on the climate and energy package – are meeting to discuss climate change We join a demonstration in front of the
presidential building to show that we find it very important that agreement on climate action is reached in Brussels and Poznan.
Ben Wikler, who organized the demonstration, explains: “the negotiations in the EU affect the negotiations at the UN, and the
negotiations at the UN determine humanity’s response to climate change. The decisions they make today affect the entire
world”. He believes the world leaders have an opportunity to get the world cheering, by investing in clean solutions and the
creation of green jobs. If they don’t do it, they are destroying their international reputation for years to come.
ICCO'S FairClimate Ambassadors
Day 5, December 10: Meeting our minister
Jacqueline Cramer, the Dutch minister of the environment is also present in Poznan. Today we had the chance to meet her at
the exhibition hall of the conference. Together we get a tour of innovative projects and energy solutions for the future. We
even go for a dance with her to generate energy in the sustainable dance booth of Dutch danceclub Watt. We also interview her
about statements and expectations of the conference. She says her main points are “to convince industrialized countries to cut
in their emissions, and to assist developing countries that already experience the effects of climate change – such as droughts,
floods and sea level rise – by providing money and knowledge for adaptation”. When asking what advice she would give the
world on climate change, she states “the financial crisis is no excuse to put the climate crisis in the fridge!” We are glad she
takes this point of view and hope she is able to convince the other developed countries of the importance to act now.
Day 6, December 11: High level statements?
Today the environmental ministers of over 190 countries arrived in Poznan to make their statements at the high level segment
of the conference. Although some of the speeches are truly inspirational – such as the one by the minister of the environment of
Denmark, encouraging world leaders to get serious about the need for a fair and effective Kyoto Protocol follow-up in Copenhagen
next year – most of them are predictable or even boring. When listening to them, we get the feeling these speeches are
little more than empty statements and we sincerely hope they get some real work done, so that the conference in Poznań can
be reviewed as a successful milestone on the road to Copenhagen.
Day 7, December 12: Wrapping up
The impasse between developed and developing countries remains. Developed countries stress that they do not want to commit
themselves to high emission reductions unless the developing countries (including booming countries such as China and India)
agree on reductions as well. On the other hand, developing countries maintain their viewpoint that the industrialized world
should take leadership and make efforts, since they are the ones who are historically (and currently for the greatest part) responsible
for climate change. The EU does not take up its position as leader, but – after quarrelling internally on the energy and
climate package – comes forward with a weakened proposal. The main outcome of the climate conference in Poznan is that
more meetings are necessary. We are hugely disappointed and can only hope for and try to influence a more successful outcome
of the conference in Copenhagen next year. But, as an inhabitant of Tuvalu so strikingly put: “we may not be around then anymore…”
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