Copenhagen Climate Conference - COP 15

 

COP15 Copenhagen

Summary of the Copenhagen climate summit
December 7-18, 2009

A new political accord struck by world leaders at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen provides for explicit emission pledges by all the major economies – including, for the first time, China and other major developing countries – but charts no clear path toward a treaty with binding commitments.

The basic terms of the Copenhagen Accord were brokered directly by President Obama and a handful of key developing country leaders on the final day of the conference, capping two weeks of harsh rhetoric and pitched procedural battles that made the prospect of any agreement highly uncertain.  It then took nearly another full day of tense negotiations to arrive at a procedural compromise allowing the leaders’ deal to be formalized over the bitter objections of a few governments.

Click here to read the complete summary.

Our Statement on the Copenhagen Outcome

Our view on Copenhagen Climate Agreement

Targets & Actions Under the Copenhagen Accord

Adding Up The Numbers: Mitigation Pledges Under the Copenhagen Accord

The Center's Copenhagen Events

The UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen presents a critical opportunity to strengthen the international response to global climate change. The aim in Copenhagen should be a comprehensive political agreement that puts countries on a clear path to concluding a legally binding agreement in 2010. This interim agreement should deliver both immediate action and the broad architecture of a future treaty, including:

  • Ambitious political commitments for mid-term action by all major economies: economy-wide emission reduction targets for developed countries, and quantified mitigation actions by major developing countries;
  • A “prompt start” on adaptation, forestry, technology and capacity-building activities and support in developing countries;
  • The core elements of a legally binding agreement to be finalized over the coming year, including: a framework for verifiable mitigation commitments by all major economies; new arrangements for sustained mitigation and adaptation support to developing countries; and a system to verify countries’ actions and support; and,
  • A clear mandate to conclude negotiations on a legally binding agreement at COP 16 in December 2010.

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Additional Resources

The Center's Side Event - BUILDING ON COPENHAGEN: A High-Level Dialogue
Co-Hosted with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development
December 14, 2009

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS WEBCAST

A high-level panel of government and business leaders will examine critical issues from the perspectives of both the public and private sectors, and developed and developing countries. Partcipants include:

  • GOVERNOR CHRIS GREGOIRE
    Governor, Washington State, US
  • GINA MCCARTHY
    Assistant Administrator, US Environmental Protection Agency
  • MARTIN PARKINSON
    Secretary, Department of Climate Change, Australia
  • GRAEME SWEENEY
    Executive Vice President, Future Fuels and CO2, Shell
  • BILL TYNDALL
    Senior Vice President, Federal Government & Regulatory Affairs, Duke Energy

Moderated by:

  • BJORN STIGSON
    President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development
  • ELLIOT DIRINGER
    Vice President, International Strategies

Press Briefings

  • Our Copenhagen briefing assessing expectations for outcomes in Copenhagen and beyond, and addressing the path forward for U.S. climate legislation in Congress - December 16, 2009
    Watch the Webcast
  • Our Copenhagen Briefing with Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers - December 10, 2009
    Watch the Webcast
  • Pre-Copenhagen Briefing - December 1, 2009
    Eileen Claussen and Elliot Diringer discuss likely outcomes in Copenhagen and the outlook for reaching a final global climate deal in 2010.
    Listen to the Briefing
    Presentation

Copenhagen Conference Blog Posts

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