Being an environmental studies major and politics minor, going to Copenhagen was probably the greatest opportunity I have ever had.  I went as part of the International Environmental Policy course with 19 other students from Ithaca College.

The Bella Center is said to hold about 15,000 people, and before the first day of the conference, it was said that 30,000 had been admitted. The majority of these 30,000 people were there to make a difference and try to make things better. Naturally, we were all very high-spirited and optimistic after feeling the ecstasy of the conference. Being at COP15 and sitting in on plenary sessions, we were really able to see how the international negotiating process works.  

Though a lot happens behind closed doors, a lot was also discussed during these plenary sessions. The sessions involved negotiations about amending the Kyoto Protocol, as well as the creation of a new agreement. It was extremely interesting to see the split between developing and developed nations, seeing who wanted a new legally binding agreement and who strayed. Ultimately, it came down to all countries looking out for themselves. Large developing countries such as India and China put the interest of their rising economies first, while smaller countries were fighting to get some sort of ruling so larger countries cannot continue to pollute. One thing that was very meaningful to me sitting in on these negotiations was seeing and listening to delegates from small island countries such as Tuvalu who knew that in 50 odd years their country would be under water.  

The negotiating process started to become frustrating with nothing being decided. But this is what I really got from this conference — it is a process. With the current process structure, these decisions will not happen overnight no matter how much they need to. I know that it is not as simple as just saying that the delegates can easily come to a conclusion. But if everyone makes a little sacrifice, or at least looks at the bigger picture, it can be that simple. After witnessing these circles of negotiations, I personally lost faith in the system.

There were still side events put on by different governments, renewable energy companies and advocacy groups presenting different programs, technologies and general education that were truly inspiring. Being at the conference really made me see how much work is going on to address the problem of climate change. Meeting people from different places around the world, hearing their viewpoints on climate change and being able to attend all of the event presentations was priceless.

The amount of youth that were at the conference was also something that was extremely inspiring, but they did not effect any concrete change. I realized that youth will not change the verdict of the conference. But if we put pressure on negotiations and make positive noise, we can still persuade things to happen. From what I have seen and experienced, the youth movement must happen for any negotiators to get anything done because the delegates definitely will not do it themselves.

By not really coming out of the conference with anything meaningful, besides some good investments for certain parts of the world, nothing will really change for now.  Even if a new legally binding agreement came out of the conference, it would not be put in effect immediately and would still mean the same fate for all those small island countries and coastal cities. The conference showed me that though it was a strong political negotiation, it was a process and will always be a process.  Right now, we need action, not process.  Otherwise, even more countries than those who are already going to be wiped out will be if we don’t keep trying to act.

Mihir Parikh is a senior environmental studies major. E-mail him at mparikh1@ithaca.edu.