Bellona Foundation session/ COP 15 objectives

In the final hours of the first day here at COP15, I attended a meeting hosted by the Bellona Foundation. The basic question they addressed was, "What is COP 15 all about and goals they hope to achieve?". The panelists involved included Tom Brooks with the U.S. Energy Department and Jesse Tolkan, the head of the Energy Action Council in the United states (I apologize for the lack of specific titles I was in the back row and was unable to document it all well). The baseline objectives mapped out are: defining a global target, commitment from all countries on these targets, thorough financing (both for the immediate and long term) and a developed system to keep parties in check, more commonly known as MRV. Finally a low carbon growth plan must be created for developing countries (sort of like a "to do list") so that funding can begin.

The importance of business participation was strongly emphasized. The business world's transition into a low carbon economy was labeled as "possibly the largest transition we will experience in our life time". Capital flow and direction must be managed in the COP15 process. The problem with this transition in the past has simply been poor investment decisions and these will continue on in the future if it is not addressed now. Overall a price on carbon must be set, possibly during these two weeks.

Youth's involvement here in Copenhagen was also addressed by Jesse Tolka. With their flagship phrase "Survival is Not Negotiable", youth participation has never been stronger. In the United States, youth have taken their role in politics seriously and are doing something about it. They have been bold in communicating with their political leaders and the results are obvious. In a recent campaign founded by the organization (PowerShift '09), known as "Its Game Time Obama", youth throughout the U.S. are pleading with President Obama to work with youth environmental leaders to develop solutions to climate change. Just before Thanksgiving, in response to the recent increase in youth activism, President Obama conducted a meeting where the United States' top cabinet members discussed possible solutions with youth climate leaders. With defined, solid objectives, a plan for addressing climate change, both in the long and short term future of the world, will be created. If anything a substantial foundation will hopefully be laid for next year's Conference Of the Parties (COP).