Your green promises:

Turn lights off when I leave a room, Mona Freidin, New York >> Recycle my household waste, Madeleine, Winchester >> Start growing my own herbs and vegetable, Johnny >> Take showers instead of baths. Nevet Basker, Bellevue, WA, USA >> Turn the tap off when I brush my teeth, Sharon Goldstein, Northwood >> Signed up to a renewable energy provider (Good Energy) and encouraging our visitors and members to do likewise, Moishe House London >> Reject opportunities to see the world, when that means taking a plane, Jeremy, London >> Dedicated to leading the way in environmental efforts through local & vegetarian catering, zero waste & reducing carbon emissions by 10% in 2010, Tzedek, London >> Re-use plastic bags when shopping, Lisa, London >> Find something to make with every item in my organic vegetable box, Penny Kustow, Rickmansworth >> Not use the car for short journeys, Jon, Damascus >> I will not leave the tap running while brushing my teeth, Lucy Freeman, 7 >> I will buy more vegetables from the farmers market, Ben, Stanmore >> I will join the 10:10 Campaign, Naomi, 28 >> I will turn off my laptop when I am not using it, Dave, 25, Golders Green >> I will recycle my paper and plastics, Jo, 46 >> I will reduce the temperature of my washing machine cycles, Evelyn, 35 >>

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COP 15: Copenhagen Climate Conference

At the December 2007 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, the participating nations adopted the Bali Roadmap, a two-year process to finalising a binding agreement in 2009 in Denmark. The agreement will be a successor for the Kyoto Protocol. From December 7th- December 18th 2009 the Council of Parties (COP) of the UNFCCC will meet for the 15th time in Copenhagen. COP 15, as the meeting is known, is seen to be the last chance to halt devastating climate change. As the Kyoto Protocol comes to an end, without an agreement which sets real and binding targets, that includes commitments from the USA and the major developing nations – Brazil, China and India, it is unlikely that what is agreed at Copenhagen will have enough impact to halt climate change.

The subjects that will be on the table for discussion include:

The baseline year that specified reduction targets will be measured against and the duration of the second commitment period.
The proposed greenhouse gas reduction targets for both the second commitment period and beyond.
Whether the agreement will be expanded to include greenhouse gases that are currently excluded from the Kyoto Protocol.
Whether a new agreement will be expanded to include Greenhouse gas emissions from the international maritime industry and Greenhouse gas emissions from the international aviation industry, both of which are currently omitted from the Kyoto Protocol.
Whether the rules governing the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) will be tightened to ensure the environmental integrity and avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions or whether they will be relaxed.
Whether the CDM will include the as yet unproved Carbon Capture and Storage technology being promoted as a way of allowing coal-fired power stations to continue operating and new ones to be built.
Whether the agreement will include measures to curb the rate of deforestation, especially of tropical rainforests in developing countries – otherwise known as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). Source: www.climate-leaders.org

All over the world, civil society organisations have launched campaigns to send messages to world leaders demanding a fair deal at Copenhagen. For more information about how to get involved click here.

For lesson plans and activities to be taught in the build up to Copenhagen click here

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