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Let's be friendsThe UN climate change talks in Copenhagen were seen by many as our best chance take concerted worldwide action to prevent climate crisis. The aim was to get fair and legally binding deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol which comes to an end in 2012: this did not happen.
The chaotic conference failed to get a real climate deal, but African countries did succeed in stopping the rich countries from ‘killing Kyoto’ which is the only existing instrument that exists as a framework to force rich nations to meet their commitments for emission reductions. Watch John Vidal explain why African bloc want to protect Kyoto
What happens next?
Several countries including the UK and charities such as Oxfam have said that getting a legally binding deal is not possible under the current consensus-based negotiating process (tricky to get every country in the world to agree on one thing). So, if leaders learn the lessons of Copenhagen, we could be in line for some big changes before they get back together for another attempt in Mexico in December 2010.
In the meantime, we have to focus on domestic action in big fossil-fuelled economies like the UK. The Government has made pledges about their intentions to act and we need to make sure they stick to them.
Calls for climate justice on the streets of Copenhagen
As a student-led network, People & Planet can have the biggest impact through our existing climate change campaigns. This year we’re focusing on the global financing of fossil fuels with our Ditch Dirty Development campaign, and on cutting the carbon across the education sector through our Go Green campaigns.
In addition, as a founding member of the Stop Climate Chaos coalition People & Planet is working with others to ensure we get the strongest possible deal in future UN climate talks.
