Good evening and welcome back to the site. Running the risk of being repetitive I have more news about the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen which has been under the spotlight for many environmentalists the last ten days. Important speeches, collective bargaining, knowledge sharing and of course trying to make critical decisions about how to best slow the climate change that has enveloped the world. What I want to tackle tonight might seem unfair, but of all the events that take place in full view of the global media I thought the Climate Summit would anticipate that their eco-awareness and efficiency would be scrutinised. Here’s the bad news, the performance is miserable - lessons learned I hope.

Limousines: I understand that heads of state and numerous VIPs descended on the Danish capital during these two weeks. I also understand that security (and being warm) is important in a city teeming with snow, media, local citizens, protesters and activists. However isn’t the summit about climate change? Buses can be warm, hotel vans can be safe, car pooling anyone? The sad facts are these; the conference exhausted every available limousine in the whole nation of Denmark! What does a conference about carbon emissions then choose to do? They order additional limos to be driven in from Sweden and Germany in many cases round trips of 500+ miles. In all over 1,200 limos are in use for our climate crusaders. Of course there are hybrid/electric vehicles in use though correct? Yes…five in total, this due to the high tax rates in Denmark that have resulted in alternative fuel vehicles making no progress.

Transportation by Plane: Copenhagen is a major European city with a large modern airport, naturally scheduled airlines operate regular services from throughout the world into the city. In fact over 60 different airlines have scheduled service into the airport. Essentially with perhaps one connection you can get into the city from almost anywhere in the world, this isn’t Sevastopol. So why are the delegates using in excess of 200 private planes to travel to the conference? The airport is so over capacity that the jets can’t even wait for the return leg but after dropping off the VIPs are needing to fly to other regional airports and wait to come back for the flight home. The wastage here is beyond reasonable.

Naturally the 15,000 delegates and officials have filled the very best hotels in and around the city and in many cases ‘commuting’ over 75 miles daily to reach the events. Probably not much room sharing or ride sharing going on I’ll hazard a guess. Copenhagen has also reported that many of its finest restaurants have had to triple normal food orders for the month and with it being the dead of winter very little of that is local.

However there are some signs of efficiency and cost cutting with sustainable being a key concern (or so I thought). For example protesters who get arrested by the police will be placed into cages inside a disused brewery. The temporary jail has 360 cages which reportedly can house 4,000 if needed. I can see why they’d be angry hopefully that’s before reading this blog. As if the specifics above aren’t frustrating enough perhaps this final fact is. The eleven day conference is anticipated to result in the release of 41,000 tonnes of “carbon dioxide equivalent”, that would (over the same period of time) be the equivalent of a city of 150,000 people.

I’m not saying the conference could have been carbon neutral, nor am I suggesting it is much worse than any of the thousands of conferences that take place every year throughout the planet. What am I saying is “Who plans these events - and aren’t they aware that the conference is about climate change?” The informed world are watching Copenhagen to see what is agreed upon, we’re looking to our leadership to make considered decisions that will impact the well being of future generations. Speaking for myself I also feel that some sort of example could be set by the conference itself. If that is too much to ask then I nearly understand those who feel that global warming is not their problem….but it’s everyone’s problem including the VIPs who swan around the champagne soaked clubs of Denmark tonight asking “Where’s my limo?”

Set a green example….do what they will not.

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Tags: carbon emissions, carbon neutral, Climate Change, climate summit copenhagen, copenhagen conference, global conference, green example, limousines, planet forward, private jets, sustainable practices

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