Editor's note: Justin Winters of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation writes to us from the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen.
COP15 is an overwhelming experience; the conference space alone is boggling. The Bella Center is an enormous and rambling structure consisting of security corridors, exhibition halls, at least 10 cafes, a giant hall with a view of a wind turbine through the skylights, and a multitude of plenary halls and meeting rooms.
And that's not to mention the 15,000 people who can jam the space at one time: a mix of delegates, negotiators, NGO reps, media people, and security guards and staff people to keep it all running smoothly. The halls and spaces are constantly in flux. Once you join the stampede through the hallways, you better not stop or risk getting run over.
The Daily Programme is hot off the press every morning at 9am. This precious document is the only way to figure out what and where all UNFCCC delegation sessions, side events and interviews are occurring. Of course the schedule is always in flux and even if you figure out where to go, most of the time the event is running late, gets canceled, or the meeting is closed to anyone other than a negotiator.
Now I understand why most attendees come for the full 2 weeks--you spend the first four days just wrapping your brain around the logistics of the event (not to mention getting acclimated to a foreign country and a new time zone!). They ought to set up rescue stations where you can get an IV of espresso... seriously.
There are a few bright spots inside the Bella Center. The exhibit hall when you first walk into the conference is packed with hundreds of NGOs from around the world, all working hard to address climate change from every angle you can imagine...climate credits through programs like REDD (avoided deforestation), new energy solutions and policy revision, just to name a few. Many of these groups organize creative protests to raise attention to the days developments.
The Avaaz Foundation wins the prize for the most engaging events. Everyday at 6pm they stage The Fossil of the Day, where whichever country has done the most to delay and otherwise disrupt negotiations for an agreement on a global reduction in carbon emissions is awarded the top prize. The award is called out by an announcer with great gusto and a lady in a glitzy mermaid costume. It's a clever way to summarize the day's proceedings, hold countries accountable for their disingenuine actions, and create a memorable event.
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