The Climate Conversation

The atmosphere was thick with expectation on the last day of COP15. Everyone in and around the Bella Centre straining to catch a glimpse of the Heads of State and other diginitaries. The name on everyone’s lips was Obama…..he was the man everyone wanted to see.

This morning, Obama was barely ten metres away from the Hill & Knowlton stand and he acknowledged the delegates by waving. His speech held in the Plenary Tycho Brahe had an urgent feel as he stressed that time is running out to reach an agreement at COP15.

“This threat is real. Climate change affects our security, our economy – and our planet. The issue is not the size of our challenge, it is the size of our commitment to meeting the challenge.” he said.

“The three most important words of a contract are: reduction, transparency and funding.” stressing that we must act now. “The time for talking is over. Now we have reached the bottom line. Now is the time for the world’s nations and people to be united.” he said.

“No country is getting everything it wants. We want this finalised today. But it requires that there is movement on all sides.” He was joined minutes later by Hillary Clinton and Chaves and Baroso.

The U.S. and China together account for approximately 40 percent of the worlds emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, so it is vital to engage them today. After Barack Obama’s speech he will meet with the Chinese Minister Wen Jiabao, and negotiate the climate treaty in private. More on that later.

On the floor we heard, that on the busiest day of COP15, mobile traffic has been 778 percent higher compared to a normal weekday in November.