Copenhagen

I've been following the goings on in Copenhagen and coming into the final week of the Climate Conference I have a few words to say.

First and foremost, I love the bikes and the bike culture out in Copenhagen. Its as close to a bike utopia as I've ever seen and I am constantly checking up on Copenhagen for new bikes and bike policy. Copenhagen's bicycle infrastructure is a model for all medium- large cities everywhere.



Now onto the happenings at the Conference. Apparently China is refusing to allow the monitoring of its emissions levels by the U.N.... not much progress can happen if there are countries acting like that. Also, a group of poorer nations apparently "staged a brief walkout from the bargaining table."

Understandably, it has become difficult for the poorer nations to commit to policies when they are already having trouble feeding their population. Completely understandable, BUT, there should have been a plan on how to deal with this a LONG time ago. How do the powerhouses like France, Britain, and the US expect Tanzania to reduce 40% of carbon emissions...?? Bollucks! Now there are millions of people that are suffering and/or will be suffering due to the lack of action happening. Everyday citizens that are making steps towards living a more sustainable lifestyle are being disrespected and taken in vain. With the national world leaders (i.e. Obama, Sarkozy, Brown) joining the conference later in the week, it's safe to say that there will be some upset, outraged people. There should already be a good amount of progress made by the time that the world leaders arrive and, alas, this progress is yet to be seen. Though, there has been a bill passed which delegates punishment to difficult countries.

"The House bill allows for the imposition of tariffs on goods from countries that do not constrain their carbon output. A group of 10 Democratic senators wrote to Mr. Obama two weeks ago warning that the Senate would not ratify any treaty that did not protect American industry from foreign competitors who do not have to meet global warming emissions limits."

Hopefully this doesn't lead to negative reverberations in the near future...

Check out Copenhagen at Copenhagenize if you ride bikes then you'll dig it.

Thanks to Mr. Broder & Kanter at NY Times