Let’s get it Done!
Yesterday was the welcoming ceremony for the COP15. I did not get a chance to actually be in the room for the opening ceremony. Apparently it was by invitation only and entrance was only allowed for those with tickets but that did not stop me from viewing it on a projector screen in the Karen Blixen Room at Bella Center. The welcoming ceremony began with a short video about a little girl who has a nightmare where climate change takes toll and sea level rises to the point where she needs to climb a tree to save her from getting drowned. She wakes up scared and tells her dad what she dreamt. They both then go online and find out about the UNFCC and learn more about climate change. One of the web pages she comes across sends the message “Document what you see today so that our children and grandchildren can see how the world looked like” She then goes outside her home with a video camera and records herself saying “Please help save the world.” The video was a bit over dramatic. It reminded me of the 2012 movie everyone was freaking out on. Of course, climate change is scary but when you are in a COP15 opening ceremony you expect for more policy talk and climate justice action than to make a video that probably costed lots of money to begin with. Yes, we all know climate change is here. Otherwise, all these high-level officials wouldn’t be here. Let’s not waste time and move forward with the negotiations shall we?
One of the speakers at the welcoming ceremony included Connie Hedegaard, Danish Minister for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. The phrase “Let’s get it Done!” is what most resonated during her speech. She really meant “Let’s get our act together and sign a deal!”. However, with little time and not much action on behalf of the U.S., I think it may not be wise to sign on to a legally binding treaty at the moment. At least not at COP15. Such ideology matches with Ritt Bjerregaard, mayor of Copenhagen who clearly stated last night at a concert at the downtown square that we need a legally binding treaty within the next year and we need one well done.
So…this really cool band called Nephew performed at the concert. All the Danish folks went gaga crazy over them and with good reason because they really sound good! I’m already a fan. Check them out.
