Climate Change - December, 2009

Article by Patricia A. Koval, Dennis E. Mahony, Michael Pickersgill and Tyson Dyck

Recent Developments

International

Copenhagen climate conference has begun

From December 7 to 18, 2009, delegates from about 200 countries are meeting in Copenhagen for the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). As the conference approached, many countries signalled that the core elements of an international climate change treaty to succeed the Kyoto Protocol would be left on the table at least until 2010, when the UNFCCC parties reconvene in Mexico City. In particular, President Obama and other world leaders agreed in mid-November to make the mission of Copenhagen only to enter into a non-binding political agreement that would call for reductions in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the provision of aid to help developing countries adapt to climate change.