President Obama’s receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize was center stage at the COP–15 Conference. As the ceremony was broadcast on giant screens, attendees eagerly watched President Obama’s acceptance of the prestigious award with his commitment to the issues before the United Nations conference on climate change.
Meanwhile, negotiators faced tough sledding as solid language implementing confirmable climate change commitments remained elusive. Various working groups continue focusing on separate tracks in hopes of creating some solid building blocks for an overall agreement. In addition, diplomatic efforts are underway to craft concrete language "locking in" various countries’ promises in emissions reductions as "targets" which are verifiable.
The combination of the Nobel Prize ceremony and the anticipated arrival of over 100 world leaders including Nobel Laureate President Barack Obama has increased the pressure for reaching an accord. Most agree that the structure for an agreement must be reached before the leaders arrive in Copehagen next week. There are genuine fears that the massive increase in media attention and security may make it almost impossible to get much done at the conference next week.
Yet, there remains a cautious optimism that indeed some accord will be reached which reflects progress beyond the Kyoto Treaty and toward another treaty next year. President Obama’s commitments on climate change and the corresponding Nobel ceremony only fueled that optimism.