The week that changed everything?

Posted on 27. Sep, 2009 by annac in United Kingdom

We sounded the wake up call and now it's a new day, but has anything changed?

This could have been the week that changed everything in the climate negotiations. With a UN High level summit on climate and a G20 the opportunity was there for the taking.

So was it?

Did we take it?

Well at the UN High Level summit we had a much anticipated speech from Obama. It was well crafted and high on narrative (in true Obama style) but frankly it was a little short on details. Come on Obama, lay it on the table! We know the US domestic position needs a lot of work and the task is hard, but you are the President, you have more power than you are wielding right now.

We know you’re a great speech writer, now show us you’re a great climate leader!

Obama’s speech was followed by a speech from Hu, the President of China. This was also a little short on details. But actually this was not such a bad thing. Though of course it would have been nice (if a little of a pipe dream) for China to announce emission reductions targets. What the actually said- that they would reduce carbon intensity- is a step in the right direction. That they are engaging at all with the idea that growth fuelled by carbon cannot continue forever is a definitely something we were waiting to hear.

Then (phew) we had the G20 which (yes you have probably guessed it) was also a little disappointing. The finance ministers completely failed to report back on climate finance even though this was their homework from last time! And they’ve now been given an extension. Given that all the leaders are now talking of the urgency of the situation this seems a little counter productive! We know without finance we will get no deal at Copenhagen, it’s time our finance ministers delivered!

Finally (as I already filled you in on) this week we also saw Gordon Brown committing to go to Copenhagen. All the other leaders were also issued with invitations from Denmark, so we shall have to wait to see who accepts.

But in short- in terms of the negotiations- no this was not the week that changed everything!

But it did change something!

People in New York were watching, all over the world people were watching, and people were reacting.

People were taking action.

Wake up calls were sounded in 2700 places, news stories covering climate were through the roof, thousands of people around the world saw the Age of Stupid global premier, thousands are now signed up to 10:10 in the UK.

In the world of negotiations this may not have been a week that changed much. But in the global consciousness it feels like, maybe, something has changed.

A subtle shift has began to take place. People all over the world are waking up to the importance of all of this, and people are starting to come together.

This may be the week that began to change everything….we shall see!

And this fact is pretty important! Because finally, of course I cannot ignore the fact, that this was also the week when the adopt-a-negotiator team was reunited!

I write this blog to you from Bangkok where we have just finished our weekend preparations and we will now spend the next two weeks tracking our negotiators at another round of UN climate talks.

These two weeks could be vital in the negotiating process. If it continues to grow this shift in consciousness could prove very important to the results we see. Pressure is mounting, lets keep it that way!

So please check back in, and follow the blogs over the next couple of weeks. Let’s make the UK team realise how many of us are out there now.

Let’s see together how much changes over the next two weeks.

Next on my list is an email to Jan!

Tags: China, Copenhagen, Global Wake Up Call, Gordon Brown, Hu, Obama, UNJ climate summit, USA