Final Product of Copenhagen Conference is Informal, Non-Binding Agreement

Posted by Kristy Kershaw on December 21, 2009 at 12:54 pm

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon at the Copenhagen conference. (image: deccanherald.com)

After a long two weeks in Copenhagen, an uneasy accord was reached early Saturday morning, after the official end of the conference. According to the New York Times, the final agreement came in the way of a 12-paragraph statement of intent, not the legally binding pledge many hoped to walk away with. Almost every country was said to have approved the final agreement, even though it was largely seen as a flawed compromise that left many bitterly disappointed.

Among the details missing from the accord were firm targets for emissions reductions and any kind of deadline for enacting a binding treaty. President Obama himself said the accord was only a “modest step” towards real progress. The deal does call for major emitters to curb greenhouse gases and help developing nations with much-needed aid. However, since it is non-binding, there is no telling how effective the pledge will be.

The process of tackling global warming using the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, recently seen to be the best way of handling the problem, seems to be falling apart. As seen in Copenhagen, it is increasingly difficult to reach a global consensus when so much bad blood and hostility exists between rich and poor nations. As the world moves forward, it may be time to try a new tactic.

For much of the world, the outcome of the Copenhagen talks was disappointing. However, if and when a deal is reached in the future, it will largely be due to the hard work that was done in Denmark. Here’s hoping next time is more fruitful.