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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Saving The Earth: The Chief Rabbi Lord Sack delivers a message on the eve of the Copenhagen Climate talks.

The Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks giving a shiur at Jhub on Judaism and the Environment in the lead up to the Copenhagen Climate talks.

To view the sources from this shiur click here

To read an article on Carbon Footprint in Halacha click here

Copenhagen

It is no secret that the ambitious deal that was needed at Copenhagen to ensure that the world’s temperature stay below a maximum 2 degree rise did not come into fruition. There were many stumbling blocks on the way including a walk out at one point by the G77 nations - a group of 130 developing countries who felt their position was being undermined in draft agreements that were being circulated. In the last few days of the conference world leaders, including Obama and Brown, flew in to try and broker a deal.

At the final hour an agreement was announced by Obama. It was negotiated between China, South Africa, India, Brazil and the US without the involvement of all 192 countries represented at the talks, including the UK and the rest of Europe. Countries were given an hour to sign the text and agree to it which the EU did reluctantly. However many developing countries did not want to sign the text and therefore the conference ‘noted’ the text as opposed to ‘adopting’ it.

What does the agreement say?

The agreement acknowledges the two degree target and the need to keep temperatures below this level, but set no targets for emissions cuts either by 2020 or 2050. It asks each country to submit its emissions cuts to a list by the end of Jan 2010 but only for information purposes. The accord agreed a target of $30 billion a year between 2010-12 to finance adaptation but the current pledges are short by $2 billion and much of the money is re-pledged money as opposed to new financial commitments. There is no indication of how long term financial resources will be raised and therefore it is likely that money will be taken from existing aid pledges that are earmarked for poverty reduction. The Accord does establish the Copenhagen Green Climate Fund but there is no proposal for international insurance mechanism to protect countries from climate disasters. There was also recognition of the importance of measuring, reporting and verifying emissions cuts and finances. One of the most problematic aspects of the agreement is that it does not replace the legally binding Kyoto protocol which expires 2012. In theory, if a new legally binding agreement is not adopted post Kyoto countries would be able to emit however much CO2 they like.

What happens next?

COP 16 will take place in Mexico in November/December 2010. Between now and then one meeting is scheduled for May or June. There will need to be robust engagement throughout the year if the talks are to succeed with regular meetings between countries to ensure that by COP 16 there is something on the table that can be formally adopted. Businesses and civil society leaders will need to continue to keep the pressure up on governments and leaders to ensure that the world gets the deal it so urgently needs.

On 5th January 2010 Ed Miliband made a Statement to the British Parliament on the Copenhagen climate change conference. To read this click here.

27th January 2010: The UK government admits that their Climate fund is 'recycled' from existing aid budget. To read article click here.

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