Choas in Copenhagen: The UN Climate Change Summit
December 6, 2009 | Krista Stryker
Copenhagen will focus on the environment this week
Headed to Copenhagen next week? Be prepared – it will be a completely different Copenhagen than you would normally encounter. Instead of Christmas bells and St. Nicolas, the focus of the city the next couple of weeks will be the future of the planet and its inhabitants. That’s right: the UN Climate Conference (COP-15) will be happening from December 7 – 18 in Denmark.
If you’ve somehow been in the dark this past year and have no idea what I’m talking about, the Copenhagen Summit is the final conference in a string of conferences this year where 192 nations will come together to try and negotiate a new climate treaty to deal with global warming.
World leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Gordon Brown will gather at the summit and more than 15,000 delegates and diplomats are expected to attend as well. But what does that mean for you, the student traveler?
Well first of all, security will be on high alert. In fact, it will probably be at the highest alert possible. The summit is supposed to be one of the largest international gatherings ever seen, so there will be plenty of police men and women lining the streets. Just to be clear, this is not the week to go to Copenhagen to try anything funny or commit any minor wrongdoings – you will more likely than not end up in jail. This is not a joke – the Danish government recently announced that they have turned several gyms and warehouses into temporary prisons, and a new law was just passed by parliament allowing the police to arrest anyone who they suspect might commit a breach of peace.
Yet aside from the crazy security protecting the thousands of leaders and politicians heading into town, there are plenty of reasons you might actually want to go to Copenhagen to participate – if you’re environmentally inclined, that is.
Numerous environmental groups will be holding events throughout the week, though the big stuff will be happening over the weekend. Here are some of the main events you might want to check out if you’re in the area and want to focus your attention on the environment and world affairs.
Klimaforum09
For those who want to discuss climate change and its possible solutions but weren’t invited to the main event, there’s Klimaforum09, organized by the People’s Climate Action. Comprised of environmental activists from around the world, the alternative “people’s summit” is expected to attract from 10,000 – 30,000 participants who will host advocates of the environment like activist Naomi Klein, climate campaigner George Monbiot and Indian environmentalist Vandana Shiva. Partakers of the summit will focus on discussion of the current problems and potential resolutions to climate change as well as put pressure on the world leaders to come up with a real solution for change.
Check out the Klimaforum09’s main events on their webpage.
Friends of the Earth International’s ‘The Flood’
Environmental non-governmental organization Friends of the Earth International has organized one of the major events of the weekend, known as The Flood. Around 3,000 – 4,000 members of the public and will be taking to the streets of Copenhagen dressed in blue, demanding action from the world’s leaders. The march will take place on Saturday, December 12th, and will end at the Bella Centre, where the UN climate conference is being held, after meeting up with other environmental groups.
Go to FoEI’s website for more information on how to join in on The Flood.
Earth Hour
On Wednesday, December 16th at 7pm, worldwide “Earth Hour” is set to take place and the entire city of Copenhagen will shut its lights off to show its commitment to the environment. So don’t be the jerk with your lights on!
December 16th is also the day when the high delegates are expected to arrive in Copenhagen, and environmental activists are planning on trying to enter the Bella Centre to show their solidarity with the environment. There will likely be plenty of police around, so stay away if you don’t want to get in any trouble.
But whatever you do, if you go, be safe, and have fun!
