Time is up – the deadline is Copenhagen

7/12-2009 by Connie Hedegaard

The world is watching. In the last year, we have seen an unprecedented popular mobilization. Students and professors, union leaders and CEOs, politicians and grassroots, scientists and leaders of faith. People from all parts of the world, all walks of life have raised their voice demanding that we act now. One of the main-channels for the Danish Government’s outreach efforts has been the COP15.dk website, which has generated an unprecedented amount of discussions, news and a clear choice of where to get the latest news on climate change and the political process.

For the Danish government, a key priority has been to make sure that the peoples voice is heard. Over the last year, we have sought to engage the global public. And we will continue to do so until the very last minute. Why? Because we believe the climate issue is too important to be left to politicians and specialized negotiators alone. And because we believe that public pressure is necessary to make leaders understand they must deliver – and do so now. In other words: deliberately we have tried to make the price for not delivering in Copenhagen so high that no government can afford to pay that price.

Striking an ambitious deal in Copenhagen will definitely be not easy. In a setting where 193 parties need to agree, the list of things that can go wrong has no end. However: I believe it is still doable.

Over the last weeks, countries have come forward almost on a daily basis. Norway will cut emissions by 40 % in 2020. South Korea will deviate with 30 % from business as usual. Russia has stepped up its commitment and will now reduce by up to 25 %. And then there is Brazil, Japan, Indonesia, and Mexico.

President Obama has announced US targets, not only for 2020, but maybe more noticeable for 2025 and 2030. 4 percent below 1990 might not be what the world has been hoping for, but the US seems to know that the price for coming late is that the pathway for reductions after 2020 will be extra steep with 18 % below 1990-levels in 2025 and 32 percent in 2030.

It is also new and very encouraging that China comes forward internationally. We must analyse more carefully what the new Chinese announcement translates to when it comes to a percentage for deviation from business as usual.

To me, this shows that the deadline is working. Leaders across the world are realizing that the political price of not delivering is too high for them to pay. Realizing that to the poor farmers in Mali, who are suffering from droughts and sudden showers, and the pacific islanders whose homes are disappearing in the waves there is no plausible explanation for failure.

In 2007 the world decided to make Copenhagen 2009 the deadline. The questions that are now left are political: Will ministers and world leaders stick to their promise. Will they favour action over stalemate?

I say: Time is up! We have had enough wake-up calls. And we have hit the snooze button one time too many. We can make Copenhagen that turning point the world is expecting. Let's get it done!

Connie Hedegaard is Minister for the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen 2009