Awakening on Boxing Day stricken by an alcohol induced mental fog no less stubborn than the moral one that afflicted the world leaders at COP15 I tried to make sense of what had happened. Confusion reigned at the conference which, after two weeks of filibuster produced little more than a Google doc, a Nation State Christmas list of what leader’s felt like cutting by whenever they felt like it. Through the subsequent blizzard of finger pointing, each country blaming the next one for the turd on the table, one thing remains abundantly clear; our leaders failed us. Strangely the overwhelming sensation I feel now is not fear or anger, but relief. Copenhagen certainly didn’t provide a solution, but it might well have provided a clean slate from which we can start really dealing with the problem of climate change. Our leaders produced nothing to hide behind; it is now our turn to act.
The day after the conference it is easy to picture the various countries waking up with an enormous COP-over and only embarrassing memories to remind them of their efforts. The US’s present was given to us all with ceremonial calls to action, but when unwrapped it became clear that there was nothing inside the box. The EU’s gift was of a reasonable size but it was wrapped with so many strings attached that no one could open it fully. China promised wondrous treasures of great beauty, but kept them under wraps refusing to show a sole. And, of course there was Canada, the grumpy, drunk uncle who busied himself moaning in the corner, occasionally kicking the dog.
What came out of all this was an ‘accord’ that is about as useful as a cracker toy. Looking back at this in the cold light of post-Christmas festivities I find myself strangely glad, for what took place in Copenhagen cannot be dressed up as anything other than an unmitigated failure. Putting a ribbon around a Google doc and calling it an ‘accord’? I hope they’ve kept the receipt.
What the accord provides us all with is honesty. Countries have filled out a document that details what they intend to do and it won’t take Saint Nick to tell us who is naughty and who’s nice. The problems of climate change are as real as your Christmas paunch and Copenhagen has provided us with a perfect New Year resolution. The ‘accord’ is a mandate to for people all around the world to act. The bloated, inefficiencies of the UN process were laid bare in Denmark and no nation will be able to use such a thin agreement as a veil for inaction. It is time for us all to get honest on climate change, own up to those extra pounds we’ve piled on and take action.
In failing so spectacularly our leaders have, whether they like it or not, given us the mandate we need to hold them to account. They can no longer say that they’ve got it under control; we know they haven’t. We must stand and take action on an issue that will define our generation and with a general election on the horizon we find the boot to be firmly on our foot. Take good aim.