As the weeks to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference draw closer, leaders seem to be lowering their expectations as well. EU and American leaders have publicly stated the COP15 will likely not produce a legally binding document. Apparently this tactic is aimed at lowering the public’s expectations, so we’ll all be less disappointed when nothing significant comes of the conference. But lowering our expectations as well. Surely pre-announcing that no binding deal will come out of COP15 is the best way to ensure that no binding deal will emerge. While leaders are right to recognize the difficulties ahead, this should make them more determined and more adamant that every effort must be made to reach a successful conclusion of the conference. Observers can be forgiven for feeling that our leaders have already given up.

Photo: Flickr, United Nations Photo

In meetings on Tuesday 6 October, the EU and Brazil found allies in each other for the upcoming Copenhagen Climate Change conference. Although no formal alliance has been announced, the two actors supported each other’s commitments and have agreed to meet again before December’s conference.

Image: www.flickr.com/ Andrew Maceira

Climate change and energy concerns have been at the top of the agenda in 2008. The French presidency brought together the European Council for a summit on this topic on December 11th and 12th . After a long debate, France succeeded in reaching a compromise between the 27 heads of states on the combat against climate change. Three goals have been reiterated: The reduction of CO2 emissions by 20 percent, the reduction of energy use by 20 percent and the increase in the use of renewable energies by 20 percent by the year 2020. However, facing a severe economic crisis, most governments only agreed through diverging and opaque concessions regarding the technical details. One concern was to avoid further charges for the car industry. However if Europe wants to play its role as leader on climate change during the upcoming post-Kyoto conference in Copenhagen in 2009, it has to define its climate goals as narrowly as possible – especially in times of an economic downturn.

Photo: www.flickr.com/ Davipt

If you have not heard enough about climate change here is your chance. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the dreadfully long and clumsy name of the international juridical framework within which climate change is addressed. The Kyoto-protocol is the most visible product of this framework. On the homepage of the UNFCCC you can find statements, news, background info and webcast from the 14 long days on Bali. Besides that you can find background information, several publications and information on the Kyoto-protocol.

Official homepage of The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change