The Copenhagen Climate Conference ended sorrowfully on the afternoon of 19 December 2009 after a day’s extension. Although the Copenhagen Agreement that was passed at the conference was full of tentative “agreements”, it should be acknowledged that even an agreement such as this that does not have legal binding force did not come easily. For developing countries, the Copenhagen Climate Conference can be regarded as a case of what you lose on the swings you get back on the roundabout.
First, although the Copenhagen Climate Conference was full of twists and turns, with the joint efforts of developing countries such as China and India, the conference managed to stay on the right track. Global climate issues are highly complex. Settling these issues requires the correct direction, which is to address the problem of carbon emissions reduction according to the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” as determined in UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol. During the conference, the developed countries attempted to go against this direction and make a fresh start from zero to solve global climate issues in an attempt to reduce their own responsibilities and hold back developing countries such as China. Faced with such a situation, the developing countries represented by BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) argued strongly on just grounds and impelled the host country to withdraw the “regression proposal”.
Although the Copenhagen Agreement is an agreement without legal binding force, it maintains the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” determined in UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol and makes arrangements on compulsory emission reductions by developed countries and voluntary emissions reduction by developing countries. To a certain extent, this will avoid buck passing and disputes between countries at the next climate change conference, and will thus speed up the progress of negotiations.
Second, the influence of developing countries has increased with the Copenhagen Climate Conference. The global climate issue has been primarily caused by developed countries. The one that caused the problem should be the one to solve it. Only when developed countries bear the responsibilities that they should bear can the problem be solved. At the conference, developed countries and developing countries failed to find a balance between their respective demands, which led the result being far from ideal. One of the important reasons for this is that developed countries still have a tendency to overlook the power of developing.
Although no specific agreement on carbon emissions reduction was reached between the countries at the conference, the influence of developing countries has increased. The situation in which European and American countries were the leading actors in world issues has changed. The new emerging countries represented by the BASIC have spoken out, and even small island countries which used to attract little attention can express their views loudly. So, starting from now, developed countries will no longer have the moral high ground and, and are increasingly unable to avoid their own responsibilities and fool the world by seizing the initiative as they did in the past. This will to some extent guarantee that an effective result can be reached at a future climate conference.
Third, the Copenhagen Climate Conference has brought the issue of world climate change into the global limelight. This level of attention translates into a huge driving force that brings climate issues closer to politics, economics and communities in all nations. This in turn will urge political leaders to seek a practical and effective solution to climate issues. Before and after the Copenhagen Climate Conference, the Northern European city of Copenhagen has become the focus of the world. Though this, people have come to better realize urgency of reducing carbon emissions. Moreover, the twists and turns that took place throughout the conference showed us the enormous difficulties that exist in solving the world climate issue. 193 countries and regions and over one hundred state leaders participated in the conference. This demonstrates that the people of the world have come to realize the urgency of climate issues. This is a necessity if world nations are to hold more practical talks and push for a final solution.
Fourth, China presented itself a mature and responsible power at the Copenhagen Climate Conference. As the biggest developing country, China has built on the confidence it has gained from the three G20 Summits since 2008. Clear attitudes have shown that China attaches a great deal of importance to world climate issues. As the world’s most populous nation and the most committed nation to emissions reduction, China has played an important role in uniting developing countries. While engaged in a battle of wits with the US, China stood its ground without damaging the negotiations. The two countries finally urged the conclusion of Copenhagen Agreement. This has laid down the foundations for a specific carbon emissions reduction agreement with binding force the implementation of specific carbon emissions reduction targets in the future.
The Copenhagen Climate Conference was far from successful in the same way that it was far from being a failure. We may be disappointed, but we should not despair. The Copenhagen Climate Conference did not put an end to environmental efforts, but instead acted as a new start. After our expectations were dampened by bickering and other temporary difficulties, we will come to cherish the opportunities of the future more than before. So, although Copenhagen is a city of disappointment, it has also shown us hope. We believe that the people of the world will come together in the face of a common threat and make efforts to find a more reasonable, equitable and practical solution in accordance with the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”. (Source: China News Broadcasting)