Yesterday it appeared a lot had happened in Copenhagen. World leaders arrived at the Bella Centre in a flurry of convoys, and addressed the Conference of Parties and the world with aims to move forward. No sooner had they arrived and delivered their speeches, than they had disappeared again. As the dust settles the ‘Copenhagen Accord’ appears and as I read the text with no targets I realise that our future is not in their hands, but in ours.
Today we will pick up the pieces our leaders couldn’t put together and tidy the mess they made and didn’t clean up. Today youth from around the world will begin the world of educating on climate change and greening the global environment. Today we will decrease carbon emissions by empowering individuals and communities around the world. Today we will educate people with logical solutions to decrease carbon emissions and dependency on fossil fuels.
Am I disappointed by what was put on the table? Yes, but I am not surprised. Nor am I disheartened by it. That’s because today we will go further and make sure, top-down and bottom-up, that we will address this global challenge. We will empower everyone and, together, secure everyone’s futures.
Yesterday, when a call went out to the leaders of the world to lead on tackling climate change, no-one put their hands up.
Today I put my hand up.
