COP15 - the growth of the movement

Well it was arguably the most important meeting of world leaders in our history, discussing the most important challenge in human history. So it was no surprise that the climate change talks were set to be controversial and had many on the edge of their seats asking that all important question. Would the world leaders come up with an international legally binding agreement that would prevent climate catastrophe, irreversible damage to our environment and many millions displaced? Perhaps not. However, this is not cause to give up all hope. Seen as some as an important starting point, it has also raised the profile of climate change and shown that people all over the world were prepared to make the pilgrimage to Copenhagen to say that they want to see climate justice. As 7 students from Bristol found out, it is not just up to world leaders to make the necessary change, it is grassroots movements, the people, who can make it start right here, right now.

Back in 1997, leaders came together in Kyoto, Japan, to make the first legally binding agreement, the aptly named ‘kyoto protocol’, to reduce green house gas emissions. It has been seen as many as a failure, in part, due to America and Australia who refused to ratify the agreement until 2007, but also in its inability to seriously impact global emissions which have continued to rise. It has relied on market based mechanisms, such as the hotly contested ‘cap and trade’ system. It is seen as some as the only solution capable of ‘greening’ the capitalist system, and others as yet another business as usual solution which has so far only served to line the pockets of the industries it was meant to restrain in the first place. It was this agreement that COP15 was meant to replace in 2012.

Whilst world leaders had their talks in the Bella Centre, out on the streets, people from all over the world planned how they could make their contribution. It was the biggest coalition of groups and individuals marching to demand climate justice ever. It was the movement showing that change must come from the bottom up as well as the top down. However, new legislation rushed through the Danish right wing government just days before the start of the talks, meant much harsher treatment for those who chose to express themselves through peaceful protest. As a result, tension between the police and the protestors was inevitable.

7 students from Bristol (UWE), including myself, joined the march on Saturday 12th December, after travelling for 24 hours by coach. We witnessed a peaceful protest, one full of energy and excitement of people meeting from all over the world. It wasn't long until we heard reports of people detained for hours on end, in cages, on purely pre-emptive reasons. This did not dampen the spirits of protesters who later in the week staged a people’s conference, one that upheld the principles of inclusivity of all. It was planned to coincide with the walkout of many NGO’s, and even a couple of delegates from the conference, due to the unfair treatment and inclusion of the Global South who will suffer, unjustly, the worst effects of climate change.

The outcome of the talks did not reach the conclusions many had dared to hope for. We are left with no legally binding agreement, instead just a strongly worded agreement of intent, as well as no agreed timescales. However, this is an important step forward and we must not forget that this is the first time that almost all of the world’s leaders have come together to discuss how we can avoid runaway climate change. It was also an opportunity for people to come together from all over the world to build on the strength of the network. There is much that can be taken from this. We now know that leaving it up to world leaders is not enough, that change must come at all levels. I believe that COP15 has strengthened the movement’s determination and we can now move forward without waiting for the go ahead from world leaders.