Planet too warm? Bury the CO2

Japan is the latest country to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and store it in deep geo logical formations, oceans or as mineral carbonates. There is good reason. The Land of the Rising Sun is the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases on the planet. It faces the weighty task of cutting them by 25% by 2020 against 1990 levels.

The Japanese project, at Mikawa power station near Fukuoka Prefecture, is a sign of the increasing credibility of CO2 capture and storage. It is the latest in a worldwide foursome: Sleipner field in the North Sea where the Norwegian oil and gas group Statoily captures CO2 and injects it beneath the seabed; The Weyburn-Midale project in Canada; and, Salah in Algeria.

Should India be taking heed? Particularly now, when our cities are reportedly producing less greenhouse gases than Washington, New York and London? Yes and no, says Prabhat Upadhayaya, research associate, climate change division of The Energy and Resources Institute. He says, “Developed countries are supportive of this relatively-new technology. But till concrete results are out, developing countries such as India won’t be comfortable adopting it.”

Cost is obviously a factor but there are safety issues too. What if CO2 deposits from developed countries are sent to the Third World for storage? What if CO2 stored below the surface leaks? Who will take responsibility?

Japan’s unique experiment, called carbon capture and storage (CCS) is being conducted by its Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth. It traps say, 10 tonne of CO2 from flue gas, which is a by-product of the coal that is burnt to produce electricity. Then the CO2 is injected into the ocean using nozzles, pipes and high-pressure chambers.

The Americans seem just as serious about using CO2 capture as a gloriously ‘green’ measure. In September American Electric Power and its French partner, Alstom, conducted an experiment similar to Japan’s in Mountaineer Plant, West Virginia, which is poised to become the world’s first coal-fired power plant to capture and bury some of its CO2. Here, smoke from the plant’s chimney is mixed with an ammonia-based chemical and heated to release CO2. This is compressed into a liquid-like state and injected into a layer of sandstone 7,800 feet below and then into a layer of dolomite 400 feet below that. The liquid will squeeze into the rock’s tiny pores. It is hoped the gas will stay there for millennia. Nearby monitoring wells will evaluate storage conditions. The project will operate for about five years and can store about 1.5 million metric tons of CO2 annually.

India’s independent power producers would prefer a wait-and-watch policy. Harry Dhaul, D-G, Independent Power Producers Association of India says it’s early days yet for CCS. “There are many questions that need to be answered: what kind of market structure will it have, how much carbon will you capture, who will finance it....Abroad, governments support such initiatives.”

But the developed world is serious about carbon capture. The US is investing $2.4 billion in the technology and hopes to establish it within a decade, its energy secretary Steven Chu recently said. Ten ‘demonstration’ plants will be up and running by 2016. Europe is also aiming for a similar number of coal-fired plants with this technology by 2015.

Time for India to give carbon capture another look?

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Google seeks to trade US power to go green

WASHINGTON: Google Inc has asked the main US energy regulator for authority to trade electricity in the wholesale market, which will make it easier for the Internet search giant to obtain renewable energy to power its huge data centers as part of its green initiative.

In its filing to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in late December, the company said its Google Energy LLC subsidiary wants the authority "to contain and manage the cost of energy for Google."

"We're interested in procuring more renewable energy as part of our carbon neutrality commitment, so we applied for the ability to buy and sell energy on the wholesale market to give us more flexibility," Google spokeswoman Niki Fenwick said on Friday.

The company in December pledged on its blog "Going green at Google" to make its operations carbon neutral and reduce greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.

Fenwick said Google does not have any plans to make the energy markets a new line of business, except that the company may sell any surplus renewable energy it does not use.

Other companies that consume a lot of electricity have been given similar authority by FERC to help control their energy costs.

"It's routine," an agency spokeswoman said of Google's application.

FERC lists on its website about 1,500 companies that have subsidiaries with the same market-based rate authority, including Alcoa, the Safeway grocery store chain and Walmart.

Information technology and telecommunications facilities account for approximately 120 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually -- or 3 percent of all U.S. electricity use, according to the Energy Department.

Rapid growth in the U.S. data center industry is projected to require two new large power plants per year just to keep pace with the expected demand growth, the department says.

Google told FERC it does not own or control any facilities that generate electricity to sell in the wholesale markets and the extent of its electric generation ownership is to provide power solely to the company's facilities and for emergency backup power.

The company asked FERC to approve its request by Feb. 23. Google officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

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Elephant corridor, a New Year gift to Karnataka jumbos

NEW DELHI: It's a new year gift to nearly 1,000 elephants and other wild species who can now wander freely without any human interference through the Kollegal corridor in Karnataka. 

This has been made possible by an NGO, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) supported by its partner - the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) which has purchased nearly 25 acre-Kollegal (Edayarhalli-Doddasampige) elephant corridor from private ownership and transferred to the state government.

The corridor which connects Kollegal forests to Biligiri Ranganswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary would be soon notified to be made a part of a protected area as Karnataka Forest Department officials and WTI signed the land ownership transfer agreement last week.

"Purchasing corridor land for securement is a very good initiative to re-establish the habitat and remove impediments to elephant movement. Generally, these kind of initiatives are easier with involvement of NGOs rather than government doing it alone.

"More corridors need to be secured similarly to ensure long-term conservation of elephants," said Biswajit Misra, Karnataka deputy conservator of forests.

Simultaneously, people will be made aware of the status and significance of the corridor, he added.

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Maha Govt plans eco-villages for rural development

MUMBAI: Maharashtra government is planning an ambitious project for development of rural areas by introducing an eco-village concept, which would give incentives to the villages for preserving environment.

"We are planning the eco-village concept which would serve both the purposes - development and preservation of environment of the villages," Rural development minister Jayant Patil said.

Patil has been taking opinions and suggestions from experts in the rural sector and activists on the issue.

"I have been discussing the issue with experts and we will try to get the plan approved by the cabinet soon," he said.

In the concept, the rural areas would have a development plan like cities to avoid haphazard constructions in future.

"The rural areas are expanding but they have no proper development plan. We would design the plans too for these areas," an official from the rural development department said.

The concept would also ensure the basic minimum facilities for the villages like water and sanitation, power, schools and markets, the official said.

"Certain guidelines and rules would be set up for villages like using bio-gas, preserving forests, maintaining sanitation against which incentives would be given to them," the official said.

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Elephants to be banished from all zoos

NEW DELHI: Delhi Zoo will soon be bidding farewell to its three elephants. In fact, elephants will no longer be seen in any zoo or circus in the country after the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) issued a notice on Monday to the effect that all of these animals in zoos, numbering about 140, should be sent to national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves as soon as possible.

According to sources, the circular states that a zoo environment is not the best place for the large animals and they should be shifted to national parks with immediate effect. "CZA's order is binding on all zoos. Elephants are large animals and require a large area to move about freely. The environment of a zoo can be very restrictive. The animals have great use for departmental work, eco-tourism, patrolling etc and a decision has been taken to send them to national parks and tiger reserves where they can be under the supervision of mahauts," said A N Prasad, director, Project Elephant.

According to Dr B K Gupta, evaluation and monitoring officer of CZA, India had 140 elephants in 26 zoos and 16 circuses as on March 31 2009. "Of these, Mysore and Trivandrum have the largest number at 9 and 8 respectively.

Delhi and Mysore are the only two zoos that have African elephants. The decision was taken after evaluating conditions of elephants at various zoos and circuses. We found that circuses specially were not following standards set under the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992," he said.

Delhi Zoo director D N Singh confirmed that they had received the order though he restrained from elaborating on it. Sources said that Delhi Zoo's resident Asiatic pachyderms, Rajlakshmi and Hira, and its sole African member Shankar would be moved to Jim Corbett National Park sometime soon. Shankar had been gifted to former president Shankar Dayal Sharma by the Zimbabwian government.

Sources explained that the various zoos would carry out this order in consultation with the chief wildlife wardens of their specific states and the CZA.

Environmentalists saw this as a positive move though some had reservations on the shifting of all elephants as that would be contrary to the principal of ex-situ conservation."There is merit in this decision. It is best for them to be as close to their natural habitat as possible. Elephants needs a lot of space to exercise and move about in and they are being deprived that space in zoos and circuses," said Samir Sinha, head of traffic, WWF India.

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Don't be superstitious, enjoy solar eclipse with care

As the world looks forward to the millennium's longest annular solar eclipse Friday, there are superstitions galore in India. But science

Don't be superstitious, enjoy solar eclipse with care (Getty Images)

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experts have urged people to shed "false beliefs" and watch the celestial spectacle the right way.

"People have various false beliefs regarding solar eclipse. Some think that during eclipse 'bad rays' come to earth and so they lock themselves up in their homes to avoid it. This is really rubbish and people should shed such superstitions," Nehru Planetarium director N. Rathnashree told IANS.

The solar eclipse, this time, falls on the second holy bathing day of the Maha Kumbh in Haridwar and a large number of people are expected to throng the holy city with a belief to cleanse themselves after the eclipse.

Some people avoid cooking and eating during the eclipse. There are others who believe that pregnant women should refrain from sewing during the eclipse as it can lead to deformities in the foetus.

Rathnashree stressed that there is no cause for fear during an eclipse, but people should take precautions while viewing the phenomenon.

"The annular solar eclipse is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a very interesting activity. It should be watched under the supervision of experts with proper gadgets. I am flooded with calls and e-mails from people who want to know the impact of solar eclipse on them," she said.

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the sun and the moon are exactly in line, but the apparent size of the moon's shadow is smaller than the visible disc of the sun. The covered sun, therefore, appears as a 'Ring of Fire', with its rays appearing spread out from the outline of the moon.

In India, the eclipse will start around 11 a.m. and end around 3.15 p.m. The eclipse will first be seen in the south of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and then move to Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi. It will also pass through Mizoram in the northeast.

Delhi will see a partial solar eclipse.

In the past few years, many people have overcome their fears and come out in large number to watch such celestial events. "Believe me people are so excited about the eclipse that they are ready to travel several kilometres from here to have a better view of the eclipse and we are taking people to different locations," Sachin Bhamba, astronomer with the Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE), told IANS.

SPACE, a Delhi-based organisation working to make science and astronomy popular among youngsters, is taking people to Varkala in Kerala and country's first eclipse cruise to Maldives to get a clear view of the eclipse.

"It is very important to emphasise that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye could be very dangerous, but viewing the sun through a telescope or a binoculars without a proper filter is many times more dangerous – it could destroy your eyesight," Rathnashree warned. People should also avoid watching solar eclipse using sunglasses, smoked glass, colour film, black-and-white film that contains no silver, or photographic negatives with images on them.

According to her, the safest way of viewing a total solar eclipse is through the method of projection. But another way is to use the kitchen sieve, Rathnashree explains – hold the sieve just above the ground, tilting its face towards the sun. Moving the sieve a little away from the ground, one can see an image of the sun forming, which will show the eclipse when it occurs.

Nehru Planetarium, in collaboration with the Amateur Astronomers Association Delhi, will be conducting a public sky-watch for the eclipse at the planetarium.



The last time India saw this Ring of Fire was Nov 22, 1965, and it will not be witnessed again before June 21, 2020. The maximum duration of the eclipse will be 11 minutes, 8 seconds over the Indian Ocean, thus making it the longest annular eclipse of the millennium.

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UN urges all countries to sign climate accord

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also urges richer nations to contribute to a multi-billion dollar fund to help poorer countries cope with global warming which will become operational in January

Associated Press 22/12/2009 14:30

The UN secretary-general urged all countries to formally sign on to the Copenhagen Accord to start tackling climate change and step up work toward a legally binding treaty in 2010.

Ban Ki-moon also urged richer nations to contribute to a multi-billion dollar fund to help poorer countries cope with global warming which will become operational in January.

Robert Orr, the UN policy coordination chief, said the document will shortly be opened for signatures from all countries.

"I urge all governments to formally sign on to the Copenhagen accord by registering their support" through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Ban said.

"The faster we have all the signatures, the more momentum we can give it," he said.

Ban said the UN will seek to streamline the negotiating process, which was strongly criticized, ahead of the next UN climate conference in Mexico City in 2010.

He said he had already discussed ways to improve negotiations with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and is willing to discuss the issue with other world leaders, opinion makers, and civic leaders.

Ban said he will encourage world leaders "to directly engage in achieving a global legally binding climate change treaty in 2010."

The UN chief also urged countries to contribute "to ensure that the Copenhagen Green Climate Fund becomes fully operational as soon as possible."

Under the accord, developed countries will finance a 10 billion-dollars-a-year, three-year program starting in 2010 to fund developing nations' projects to deal with drought, floods and other impacts of climate change, and to develop clean energy. It also set a "goal" of mobilizing 100 billion dollars a year by 2020 for the same purposes.

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France to reboost climate momentum

President Nicolas Sarkozy intends to invite the countries that signed the Copenhagen Accord to a meeting in spring 2010. One purpose will be to reinstall the goal of halving global emissions by 2050.

The 28 countries that signed the Copenhagen Accord will be invited to a meeting in Paris in April or May 2010.

This is according to Reuters, quoting a statement from President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office revealing “that Sarkozy had evoked the conditions of the mobilization that France intended to bring in the coming months” during a lunch with representatives from a number of environmental groups.

“The aim of the meeting would be to implement the 50 percent objective by 2050,” Arnaud Gossement, spokesman for France Nature Environment, who took part in the lunch, tells Reuters.

The 50 percent objective refers to the target of halving global emissions by 2050 – a target that has been repeated in many international sessions throughout the last year, including summits of the Group of 20 (G-20) and the Major Economies Forum, but was finally omitted in the accord agreed at the UN conference in Copenhagen, COP15.

Meanwhile, ministers for climate and environment from the European Union have met to evaluate the outcome of COP15.

“The feeling is that what has been agreed upon is not good enough. However, a step in the right direction was taken in Copenhagen. The issue now is to implement EU’s own policy. We have a clear understanding that we will not allow ourselves to be caught up in a state of climate depression but rather look ahead,” Lykke Friis, newly appointed climate minister for Denmark, tells Danish daily Berlingske.

The European initiatives will not stand alone. According to RTT News, Bolivian President Evo Morales will invite countries critical of the Copenhagen Accord to a summit on April 22.

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What consequences can we expect, and what can we do?

Many of the effects of global warming have been well-documented. It is the precise extent that is difficult to predict.

Ministry of Climate and Energy of Denmark

Predicting the consequences of global warming is one of the really difficult tasks for the world’s climate researchers. Firstly, because the natural processes that cause precipitation, storms, increases in sea level and other expected effects of global warming are dependent on many different factors. Secondly, because it is difficult to predict the size of the emissions of greenhouse gases in the coming decades, as this is determined to a great extent by political decisions and technological breakthroughs.

Many of the effects of global warming have been well-documented, and observations from real life are very much consistent with earlier predictions. It is the precise extent that is difficult to predict. Among the effects that can be predicted are:

More droughts and more flooding:

When the weather gets warmer, evaporation from both land and sea increases. This can cause drought in areas of the world where the increased evaporation is not compensated for by more precipitation. The extra water vapor in the atmosphere has to fall again as extra precipitation, which can cause flooding other places in the world.

Less ice and snow:

Glaciers are shrinking rapidly at present. The trend is for the ice to melt faster than estimated in the IPCC’s latest report. In areas that are dependent on melt water from mountain areas, this can cause drought and a lack of drinking water. According to the IPCC, up to a sixth of the world’s population lives in areas that will be affected by this.

More extreme weather incidents:

The warmer climate will most probably cause more heatwaves, more cases of heavy rainfall and also possibly an increase in the number and/or severity of storms.

Rising sea level:

The sea level rises for two reasons. Partly because of the melting ice and snow, and partly because of the thermal expansion of the sea. Thermal expansion takes a long time, but even an increase in temperature of two degrees Celsius is expected, in due time, to cause a rise in the water level of almost a metre.

In order to get an idea of the extent of the consequences, researchers typically work with scenarios that show various possible developments.

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A working laboratory for energy technologies

Energy efficiency in Denmark has been created by a range of new technologies, and today, this can serve as an example of how one can create a high level of growth without a corresponding increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

Ministry of Climate and Energy of Denmark

Maybe number eight does not sound like all that much, but there are reasons to look more closely at the Danish example. A top placement among the world’s most energy-efficient and climate-friendly economies has been achieved despite the fact that Denmark does not have any hydroelectric power resources worth mentioning, nor the large forest areas that typically form the basis for a large part of a country’s production of renewable energy. Neither does Denmark use nuclear power, which is a large source of CO2-free energy in other countries in the same group.

Energy efficiency in Denmark has been created by a range of new technologies and solutions, and this can today serve as an example of how one can create a high level of growth without a corresponding increase in energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions.

The means to achieve this has partly been a strong political focus on energy policy. Denmark was one of the first countries to set out detailed plans for developing the energy sector back in the 1970s. Added to this has been the strong commitment of the Danish business sector to developing – and using – energy-efficient solutions. The windmill industry is the best-known example of this, but there is much more. A common-sense approach to energy-efficient measures such as insulating houses and cost savings in production has gone hand in hand with high-tech solutions for the whole society. For example there is an electricity supply system that can handle the fact that windmills supply, in periods, more than 100 per cent of the energy required, and in other periods supply nothing at all. And it can do this in a competitive manner.

The last factor is the strong focus on energy saving and a secure energy supply, which has been the case since the oil crises in the 1970s. In 1985 the Danish parliament (Folketinget) rejected nuclear power and opted to focus on new, sustainable sources of energy. Denmark in 2009 is in many ways a dynamic, working laboratory for the meeting of new energy technologies and old common sense in its relationship with nature.

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Failure in Copenhagen is not an option

If the world fails to deliver a political agreement at the UN climate conference in December, it will be “the whole global democratic system not being able to deliver results in one of the defining challenges of our century”, says incoming COP15 president, Connie Hedegaard.

Will there be a global climate deal at the UN climate conference COP15 in Copenhagen in December? With the clock ticking and a host of major political issues yet to be solved, some people have voiced their doubt.

One hand that is not shaking, however, is the one belonging to Connie Hedegaard, Danish Minister for Climate and Energy. As incoming COP15 president, she faces the daunting task of swinging the baton in front of delegates from all over the globe, thereby making them play the same tune and hopefully, after a concerted effort, end with an accord.

And while thousands of negotiators are still struggling to narrow the score down to something playable, Hedegaard is adamant that Copenhagen will “seal the deal”.

“If the whole world comes to Copenhagen and leaves without making the needed political agreement, then I think it’s a failure that is not just about climate. Then it’s the whole global democratic system not being able to deliver results in one of the defining challenges of our century. And that is and should not be a possibility. It’s not an option,” Connie Hedegaard tells cop15.dk in an interview.

She calls Copenhagen a “window of opportunity” which should not be missed, arguing that it may take years to rebuild the momentum.

“If we don’t deliver in Copenhagen, then I cannot see when again you can build up a similar pressure on all the governments of this world to deliver. So I think we should be very, very cautious not to miss the opportunity,” says Hedegaard, adding that “it would be irresponsible not to use the momentum now”.

Connie Hedegaard is basing her optimism on the fact that nations, after months of political stalemate, began to come forward in September and show their positions. Japan, China, India and Indonesia are some of these “key players” who, according to Hedegaard, have brought new momentum to the climate negotiation process.

“In that sense,” she says, “Copenhagen has already delivered results. If we hadn’t had that deadline, these governments would not have come forward with their targets. They are doing so because they know the deadline is coming closer, and they must start to deliver.”

To effectively break the deadlock, however, two more requirements must be fulfilled. Politicians, including heads of state, need to become more actively involved. And developed countries need to come forward with specifics on finance.

“They cannot just continue to talk about finance. They must show – prove – to the developing world, we know that we are going to pay, or there will be no agreement. And the sooner the developed countries deliver on finance, the better.”

Hedegaard admits that the technicalities of the negotiation process are extremely complex, but that shouldn’t be an excuse for not striking a political, binding deal.

“We know what we ought to do on mitigation, on reductions, on adaptation, on technology and on finance. Well, yes, it’s difficult. But my bet is, it’s not going to get any easier by postponing decisions.”

In order to reach an agreement in December, “as little as possible” should remain to be solved when negotiators arrive in Copenhagen. The high-level section of COP15 is only three days, four at the most. Therefore the negotiation text must be rid of “square brackets” – at this point there are still 2,500 remaining – and the political options must be made very clear before the politicians arrive on the stage, says Connie Hedegaard.

Her personal success criteria for Copenhagen?

“I think what matters is that we, when we depart from Copenhagen, with credibility can say we brought the world on the right track, on a track that makes it credible that we can stay below the two degrees average increase in temperature worldwide. That is basically the success criteria we must try to deliver on.”

During the actual conference, Connie Hedegaard sees her own role as that of one who will be trying to mediate, find solutions and look for possible compromises. And provide a push or a nudge where it’s needed.

“It’s not so that the COP president, the host country, can just tell China or the United States or India what they are going to do. They will decide for themselves. But of course we will argue as strong as we can, push as strong as we can and try to seek solutions as much as we can.”

All through the year, Connie Hedegaard has been working to grease the climate wheels by participating in bilateral talks and informal meetings, thereby making herself acquainted with the positions of as many players worldwide as possible. Her own Greenland Dialogue is one of several series of climate discussions running parallel to the main UN track.

It’s a round-the-clock job and the fervent dedication Hedegaard demonstrates as a minister and one of the world’s chief climate whips carries into her personal life as well.

“You can’t separate that. When you have a job like this, it’s a hundred percent. If you didn’t think that this is really, really important, then you couldn’t work as much, and I also think that your family wouldn’t let you work as much. I’m not only talking on my own behalf, but on behalf of the whole team behind me. People are doing this because they think it’s the most important issue in the world.”

José Manuel Barroso, re-elected President of the European Commission, has announced that he would appoint a climate commissioner under his new presidency. Connie Hedegaard, a 49-year-old conservative politician, mother of two and former journalist, has been mentioned as a possible candidate. Would she be interested, once COP15 is wrapped up?

“I’m really not thinking about what is going to happen after this. A lot of things will still have to be done, and Denmark will actually be president of the COP throughout 2010. These weeks and months are not suited for concentrating on anything else but how to land a deal in Copenhagen.”

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The essentials in Copenhagen

Rather than getting every small detail of a new global climate treaty done in Copenhagen, UN climate chief Yvo de Boer hopes the conference will reach agreements on four political essentials.

The UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December this year may not yield a new global climate treaty with every minor detail in place. But hopefully it will close with agreements on four political essentials, thereby creating a clarity the world – not least the financially struck business world – needs.

The wish for clarity is expressed by Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in an interview with Environment & Energy Publishing (E&E). According to Yvo de Boer, the four essentials calling for an international agreement in Copenhagen are:

1. How much are the industrialized countries willing to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases?

2. How much are major developing countries such as China and India willing to do to limit the growth of their emissions?

3. How is the help needed by developing countries to engage in reducing their emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change going to be financed?

4. How is that money going to be managed?

“If Copenhagen can deliver on those four points I’d be happy,” says Yvo de Boer.

He sees a need to get something signed and agreed in Copenhagen, but he thinks it will be very difficult to get every final, small detail of a whole new treaty done. The new climate treaty will be replacing the Kyoto Protocol which was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005.

The Kyoto Protocol which sets binding targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has been signed and ratified by 184 parties of the UN Climate Convention. One notable exception is the United States, and Yvo de Boer is “really happy” to see the US back in the international climate change process and that the US is also engaging domestically in the process.

“My big lesson from the Kyoto era is that it's really important that the government delegation that represents the United States is in close touch with the Senate, with the elected officials on what's acceptable and what's not,” says de Boer, and he adds:

“I think that a major shortcoming of Kyoto was that the official delegation came back with a treaty they knew was never going to make it through the Senate. And this time I have the feeling that the communication is much stronger, that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, through John Kerry, is really expressing strongly what they feel needs to be done in Copenhagen.”

Yvo de Boer thinks the Kyoto Protocol was rejected by the US for mainly two reasons. Firstly, because it did not involve action on the part of major developing countries. Secondly, because it was felt by the Bush administration that Kyoto would be harmful to the US economy.

Copenhagen will be a whole different scenario, and de Boer feels confident that President Barack Obama can successfully engage China and India and convince them to sign the next treaty.

“I think that Secretary of State Clinton's visit to Beijing was a really important and encouraging step to get us moving on that road,” says Yvo de Boer.

Asked about the global recession, de Boer thinks it will certainly have an impact on the negotiations in Copenhagen.

“You see already that investments in renewable energy projects are going down, partly because of the oil price going down and partly because of the economic activity going down,” he says.

But even though greenhouse gas emissions are expected to slow down as a result of shrinking industrial activities, de Boer does not believe it will lessen the pressure on countries to act and sign a new treaty.

“I get the impression talking to business people that they still want clarity from Copenhagen. If you're making investments now, for example in the energy sector, in power plants that are going to be around for the next 30 to 50 years, you can't really afford to keep waiting and waiting and waiting for governments to say where they're going to go on this issue.”

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Copenhagen was more than the accord

Many are disappointed with COP15’s main output. However, the summit did not only introduce the Copenhagen Accord but also a new kind of dynamics in global climate policy.

Looking across the world’s leading media, enthusiasm for the Copenhagen Accord is scarce. Yet, some analysts choose to focus beyond the new deal itself.

“The very struggle to reach agreement at Copenhagen (…) demonstrates that climate policy has finally come of age. The negotiations at Copenhagen were so contentious because of the very real impact the proposals will have, not only for the environment, but also on national economies. China and the US played hardball – and sent heads of government to do the talking – precisely because they had something to lose. The onset of a kind of climate realpolitik, which eschews hot air for real action, is a sign that global climate talks have moved beyond symbolic rhetoric,” writes TIME.

Interviewed by Danish daily Jyllands-Posten, the president of COP15 during its high-level stage, Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, says:

“The top leaders were taking Copenhagen seriously as their deadline and delivered beforehand. Had Obama not been due to attend, I doubt whether the US would have begun committing on long-term finance – which is historical. Had Lula not been due to attend, Brazil would hardly have raised its level of ambitions. Had Wen not been due to attend, China would probably not have opened to some level of international insight as to what it is doing – which actually is a globally politically significant admission.”

According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung the new political dynamics shown in Copenhagen is likely to change the way climate policy is addressed internationally:

“The format of the consultations at the UN level, in which every member state can exercise veto power, holds no promise for any success. The balancing of interests between those who want to preserve their standards of living and the emerging economies that want to soon reach such levels of prosperity appears to be impossible. Meanwhile, the global population is growing as well as its energy needs, which will lead to even greater carbon dioxide emissions. Only the most stubborn climate change deniers would say that this is not going to impact the lives of millions of people.”

A frequent media observation is that especially four emerging economies – Brazil, South Africa, India and China, constituting the informal BASIC group – unlike at earlier UN conferences played an absolute key role in Copenhagen.

“The BASIC group (…) has emerged as a powerful force in climate change negotiations, especially in the face of relentless pressure from richer countries,” Jairam Ramesh, India’s Environment Minister, notes according to BBC News, while adding that “all of India’s concerns had been safeguarded” and that yet “India’s approach had been recognized as constructive”.

In its analysis “Lessons from the Copenhagen climate talks” TIME comments:

“President Obama (…) plunged into seven hours of hard, direct bargaining (…) eventually cutting a deal with China, India, Brazil and South Africa (…) their agreement was presented on a take-it-or-leave-it basis to the other 180 plus nations. While Copenhagen won’t end the UN process for addressing climate change, it marks a shift to decision making by smaller groups of powerful nations working in more manageable numbers. As undemocratic as that may be, Copenhagen showed that it may also be the only way to get something done.”

Again according to TIME, “if Copenhagen was tough, Mexico City (COP16 in December 2010) will be a lot more so, because there, countries will be tasked with filling in details sketched in the Copenhagen Accord” – but, as the toughness of the negotiations only demonstrate that climate policy has moved beyond hot air into economic reality – “It’s going to get harder, and that’s a good thing”.

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