First day at the COP!

Hello!!

For everyone who was at the COP-15 today...I am sure you are experiencing a bundle of mixed emotions from excitement to confusion and beyond...and no worries, because I felt exactly the same way!!

It was an incredible first day however!! The day started with the opening ceromony that included speeches from Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, COP-15 President Connie Hedegaard, Executive Secretary to the UNFCCC Yvo de Boer and many others! They outlined the ambitions and expectations for Copenhagen, stressing the importance of 'Sealing the Deal....NOW'

A bit later on members of the youth constituency YOUNGOS preformed a 'flash dance' for an extensive media crowd, sending the message that they do NOT want a delay in this agreement; that the time is here and now and we cannot afford to wait. It was very inspiring and certainly did send the right message.

ECDK also participated in a side-event that involved a presentation about 'Changing the Game' from Kai and Karsten, followed by some Q&A.

I also had the opportunity to sit in on 2 press briefings...one from the EU Presidency Minister of Environment to Sweden Andreas Carlgren, and one from the US Delegation lead by US Deputy Special Envoy to Climate Change Jonathan Pershing. The EU wants to set a 30% reduction target but feels the US and China desperately to step up the pace and step on board. The US has felt that it has put its best cards forward and will defend its position to reduce emissions by 17% of the 2005 levels. People questioned the basis for analysis as two different baseline years are being used.

TckTckTck also delivered a petition to Mrs. Hedegaard and PM Rassmusan in front of the UNFCCC Press Conference Room...urging for a fair and ambitious agreement here in Copenhagen!

That was all that I had a chance to see, however I know that MUCH much more went on!!!

Please keep checking back for updates...and remember....SURVIVAL IS NOT NEGOTIABLE!!!

Cheers,
Kira