Copenhagen Focus
This page is a resource for the sharing of information and knowledge relating to the preparations, build-up and occurrence of, organising and actions for sustainable and just alternatives to ‘Green’ Capitalism, timed to parallel the COP-15 summit in Denmark this winter.
(1) What is COP-15?
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was opened for signature at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) conference in Rio de Janeiro (the ‘Earth Summit’). 154 nations signed the UNFCCC, that upon ratification committed signatories’ governments to a voluntary “non-binding aim” to reduce atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases with the goal of “preventing dangerous anthropogenic interference with Earth’s climate system.” These actions were aimed primarily at industrialized countries, with the intention of stabilizing their emissions of greenhouse gases at 1990 levels by the year 2000.
Having received over 50 countries’ instruments of ratification, the UNFCCC entered into force March 21, 1994. Since then, the parties have been meeting annually in Conferences of the Parties (COP) to assess progress in dealing with climate change, and beginning in the mid-1990s, to negotiate the Kyoto Protocol to establish legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
COP15 will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark and will last from 7 December to 18 December 2009. The overall goal for the conference is to “establish an ambitious global climate agreement for the period from 2012 when the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol expires”.
(2) Eastside Region and the Cop15
Nottingham
In Nottingham, there have been various discussions about the COP-15, and some interest in travelling to Denmark to participate in the movement to resist and create alternatives to the government-led COP process.
- Cop15 discussion forum at Climate Action Network Notts
- Eastside mailing list – 50+ list members. Join here!
Transition Nottingham
The COP-15 summit was discussed at a recent event, ‘Future of Transition Nottingham’. Notes from this discussion can be viewed and added to on the forum.
http://forum.transitionnottingham.org.uk/
Resources:
A centre for local groups and individuals campaigning for human and animal rights, the environment, peace and co-operation world-wide. Campaigning resources including computer facilities, library and photocopier.
245 Gladstone Street, Nottingham, NG7 6HXA large accessible space for activities, alternative education and grassroots organising.
JB Spray Factory, Russell Street, Radford, Nottingham, NG7 4FLSee also:
Veggies’ Climate Campaigns page
(3) Travel
Special Trains
A train is being organised by Hanna Thomas (UK Youth Delegation, Cop14), and Jamie Andrews who runs a start-up low carbon travel company, loco2travel.com.
Around 400-500 people appear interested in getting the train. A Eurostar train would leave London on the morning of the 4th, 5th or 6th December depending on majority need. Passengers would change in Brussels and join another train for the onward journey to Copenhagen, arriving around 11pm. The train would be one-way only, though options will be explored to ensure that return journeys can be booked as cheaply as possible so the overall cost isn’t prohibitive.
However it’s not yet clear if there will be a booking system to ensure avoiding seats next to politicians:
“We want an inclusive group of people to travel from the UK to Copenhagen for the talks. It is not just an activists train – members of NGOs, businesses, students and academics have all expressed interest and we will be contacting UK Government delegates, including Ed Miliband, to encourage them to travel on it. We have no political agenda apart from sorting out climate change – we’re not anarchists out to burn cars in the streets of Copenhagen, nor are we big mates with Miliband.”
‘Eurotrain’
The Campaign Against Climate Change is involved in organising a UK contingent on a train leaving from Brussels around 11am on Friday 11th December, arriving Copenhagen that night in time for the International Day of Action on Saturday December 12th (the middle weekend of the conference). It will return the evening of Sunday 13th, leaving Copenhagen around 5pm and getting into London late Monday morning. The Eurotrain would include a mix of French, Belgian and possibly German travellers.
UK passengers may be able to get discounted Eurostar tickets to join the Eurotrain in Brussels, and the idea is that the return journey would be included in the price. Contact the Campaign Against Climate Change through their website.
(4) Cop15 Web Links
International
- People’s Protocol on Climate Change – Call issued mainly by southern movements (maoist movements among others of the Asian Peasant Coalition, Pesticide Action Network International and a range of other organisations).
- Climate Justice Action – Strategic goals include: To promote and strengthen the rights and voices of Indigenous and affected peoples (including workers) in confronting the climate crisis. To support reparations and the repayment of ecological debt to the Global South by industrialized rich countries.
“We believe in the necessity of global action for climate justice and a plan for one of the mass actions at the Summit in December has already started.” - Organising in Denmark – Danish activists have been networking and making preparations at home to host a large mobilisation for those taking action for political and social alternatives to the Cop15. “We are going to protest using Nonviolent Direct Action because we cannot allow some delegates to endanger the face of the planet anymore. It is time to take the power back.”
- Mobilization for Climate Justice – The US mobilising group
- German climate movement network
- Cop15 call from grassroots coalition
UK
- Climate action cafe – Discussion and analysis within the global climate movement.
- Rising Tide UK – Network of groups and individuals dedicated to taking local action and building a movement against climate change.
- Camp for Climate Action
- Global Indymedia
- Indymedia Climate Website