From Hopenhagen to Brokenhagen?From Hopenhagen to Brokenhagen?Reflections and ImagesReflections and Images

Bob PokrantBob PokrantProfessor of AnthropologyProfessor of Anthropology

SSALSSALCurtin University of TechnologyCurtin University of Technology

Perth, AustraliaPerth, Australia

• Copenhagen as official process-agreement to Copenhagen as official process-agreement to supersede Kyotosupersede Kyoto

• Copenhagen as meeting placeCopenhagen as meeting place

• Copenhagen as performance politics/alternative Copenhagen as performance politics/alternative public spacepublic space

• Copenhagen as microcosm of fluidity of global Copenhagen as microcosm of fluidity of global powerpower

• Copenhagen Accord and adaptationCopenhagen Accord and adaptation

Copenhagen as official processCopenhagen as official process• Bella Center- a convention center built in 70s-Bella Center- a convention center built in 70s-

retro-fitted to be greenretro-fitted to be green• Site of official businessSite of official business• Fenced off and policedFenced off and policed• Internally divided between side events and Internally divided between side events and

plenary sessions-variable access to Parties, plenary sessions-variable access to Parties, Observers and PressObservers and Press

• Many other official venues around Copenhagen-Many other official venues around Copenhagen-side eventsside events

Official OutcomeOfficial Outcome• Copenhagen Accord (2Copenhagen Accord (2½ pages long)½ pages long)– non-binding and – non-binding and

noted-full consensus not achievednoted-full consensus not achieved• Decided behind closed doors by small groupDecided behind closed doors by small group• Rise of BASIC group-some internationalisationRise of BASIC group-some internationalisation• long-term goal limiting climate change to no more than

2° C• systems of "pledge and review" for developed and

developing country mitigation commitments or actions (BUT no quantified emission reduction objectives)

• new financial resources (US$30 b; US$100 b)

Bella Center: site of the COP 15

Security at the Bella Center

Copenhagen as meeting placeCopenhagen as meeting place• Authorised space at the Bella CenterAuthorised space at the Bella Center• Over 40,000 delegates Over 40,000 delegates • Diminished accessDiminished access• Quota systemQuota system• Observers most affectedObservers most affected• Security, control of dissent?Security, control of dissent?

Alternative Public SpacesAlternative Public Spaces

• The Klimaforum: “promoting and debating The Klimaforum: “promoting and debating environmentally sustainable and socially just environmentally sustainable and socially just solutions to climate change,”solutions to climate change,”

• displayed 50 exhibit stalls; 190 panels and talks; 30 displayed 50 exhibit stalls; 190 panels and talks; 30 documentary films; workshops, debates, theatre, and documentary films; workshops, debates, theatre, and music. music.

• Cost Cost €1 m. (COP 15 €160 m.)€1 m. (COP 15 €160 m.)• Refuge for those excluded from Bella CenterRefuge for those excluded from Bella Center• Global movement soughtGlobal movement sought

Klimaforum ImagesKlimaforum Images

Climate Bottom MeetingClimate Bottom Meeting

• staged grass-roots counter-positioning to events at staged grass-roots counter-positioning to events at the Bella Center. Themes included conservation the Bella Center. Themes included conservation displacement; resistance to carbon markets; displacement; resistance to carbon markets; distribution of responsibility for greenhouse gas distribution of responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions; eco-city and village initiatives.emissions; eco-city and village initiatives.

Images from Climate BottomImages from Climate BottomWindows of HopeWindows of Hope

Performance Politics and ProtestPerformance Politics and Protest

Copenhagen Climate ChallengeCopenhagen Climate Challenge • Skeptics forum:Skeptics forum:• Danish group Climate Sense and the lobby group Danish group Climate Sense and the lobby group

Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) (CFACT)

• Low attendance-mainly middle aged men!Low attendance-mainly middle aged men!• ……the world should have the courage to “do the world should have the courage to “do

nothing until the science is clear”.nothing until the science is clear”.

Global warming skeptics from CFACT pulled off an international climate caper.Climate skeptivists

On the streetsOn the streets

Copenhagen Accord and adaptationCopenhagen Accord and adaptation• Non-binding and not adopted but notedNon-binding and not adopted but noted

• Mitigation-focused reflecting dominant state powerMitigation-focused reflecting dominant state power

• Adaptation commitments insufficient, unclearAdaptation commitments insufficient, unclear

• Concern among LDCs and SIDS over linking adaptation Concern among LDCs and SIDS over linking adaptation funding to mitigationfunding to mitigation

• Reciprocity versus historic debtReciprocity versus historic debt

• http://www.denmark.dk/NR/rdonlyres/C41B62AB-4688-4ACE-BB7B-F6D2C8AAEC20/0/http://www.denmark.dk/NR/rdonlyres/C41B62AB-4688-4ACE-BB7B-F6D2C8AAEC20/0/copenhagen_accord.pdfcopenhagen_accord.pdf

• No clear specification of most vulnerable and worthy of No clear specification of most vulnerable and worthy of supportsupport

• Concern over funding amounts and their administrationConcern over funding amounts and their administration

• Criticism by wealthy countries over redistribution politicsCriticism by wealthy countries over redistribution politics

• Possible fragmentation of UNFCC process-BUT!Possible fragmentation of UNFCC process-BUT!

• (Feb 4):(Feb 4): “…“…91 countries, including the 27-member EU,  91 countries, including the 27-member EU,  are likely to or have engaged with the accord, representing are likely to or have engaged with the accord, representing 80.5% of global emissions."80.5% of global emissions."

From Hopenhagen to Brokenhagen?From Hopenhagen to Brokenhagen?• Reactions range from a mess to hopefulReactions range from a mess to hopeful• Many developing countries stepping up emission Many developing countries stepping up emission

reductions actionsreductions actions• Official consensus: Development within industrial Official consensus: Development within industrial

capitalist parameters will continue-ecological capitalist parameters will continue-ecological modernisation. No alternatives contemplatedmodernisation. No alternatives contemplated

• Climate change only one global stressor among Climate change only one global stressor among many all of which are a product of a particular many all of which are a product of a particular way of thinking of our relationship to the non-way of thinking of our relationship to the non-human world.human world.