All Eyes On Copenhagen

The UN Climate Change Conference is in Copenhagen from December 7-18, 2009

For months, governments, lobbyists, and civil society have been gearing up for the “big one,” and now it’s finally here – the UN climate conference in wintry Copenhagen. Governments are meeting in the Danish capital to negotiate what is to follow the “first commitment period” of the Kyoto Protocol, which runs out at the end of 2012. 

Unfortunately, many industrialized country governments have been downplaying expectations for Copenhagen. International Rivers, along with other environmental and grassroots organizations worldwide, will be in Copenhagen to ensure that we get nothing less than an effective, equitable and legally binding agreement. Our planet is at stake, and we cannot afford to let governments greenwash our future. 

International Rivers is sending Payal Parekh, Climate Scientist, and Katy Yan, Climate Campaign Assistant. We will be focusing on discussions concerning the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and other offsetting mechanisms (i.e. climate deal loopholes) that governments are proposing.

We will be video-blogging and live-tweeting daily from Copenhagen to give you the latest developments:

Latest video blog

• Follow the news and share your views on our climate blog, “In Hot Water.”
• Check us out on for as-it-happens updates.

You can also participate by putting pressure on our governments at home during the Copenhagen negotiations, through actions organized by 350.org and Mobilization for Climate Justice.

More information

• “In Hot Water,” Climate blog
• World Rivers Review – Focus on Climate Change, December 2009 issue
• Video: “The Story of Cap and Trade”
• Find out more on offsets and the Clean Development Mechanism
• Glossary of climate change acronyms