Just in time for Copenhagen… our new blog

WWF

I joined the WWF-Canada team recently, and have been continuously inspired by the level of optimism and energy these folks devote to their work. Even as headlines focus on the “Climategate” scandal and predict doom and gloom for the upcoming climate talks, our conservation and public outreach staff remain focused on building relationships and working towards real solutions.

That can-do attitude is one of the reasons I’m so excited to launch this blog. In a few short days, world leaders will meet for a historic international conference on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark. WWF experts in Canada and around the world will blog about their experiences and reactions to the unfolding events – guaranteed to be insightful, motivating stuff!

Our starting point is the following 10 steps for success in Copenhagen. Think of it as more than just a measuring stick for the conference – but something positive for us to strive towards together.

Sara Falconer
Social Media and Online Communities Specialist

  1. Governments at Copenhagen need to create a legally binding framework with an amended Kyoto Protocol and a new Copenhagen Protocol, which secures the survival of countries, cultures and ecosystems and clears the way to the low carbon economy.

  2. Global emissions peak before 2017 keeping overall warming well below the 2°C danger threshold, going down to below 1.5°C as soon as possible.

  3. Industrialized countries commit to reduce their emissions by 40% by 2020, compared to 1990 levels. As part of this, Canada commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to at least 25% below 1990 levels by 2020.

  4. Developing countries agree to undertake significant action making emissions at least 30% lower than Business-As-Usual by 2020.

  5. Emissions from forest destruction are reduced by three quarters (75%) by 2020, taking into account indigenous people’s and local communities’ rights. Canada supports robust, credible and effective rules for Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry in developed countries that provide adequate incentives for genuinely incremental actions and that support the overall integrity of the Climate Treaty.

  6. A framework for immediate adaptation action is set in place, especially for vulnerable countries and ecosystems, including the provision of insurance and compensation.

  7. Public finance in the order of US$160 billion per year is provided to developing countries for adaptation and mitigation through innovative sources of finance. Canada’s fair share is at least $5 billion/year.

  8. A mechanism is set up to strengthen technology cooperation on research, development and dissemination of low-carbon and climate-resilient technologies.

  9. A new institutional set-up under the UNFCCC allows for coordination, implementation and funding allocation, in a transparent and democratic way, and incentivizes compliance.

  10. Parties agree transparent and comparable standards for carbon markets, forests and land use, mitigation efforts and inventories, and ways to limit international aviation and shipping emissions.