From the briefings at the Tcktcktck Fresh air center, this ‘Hopenhagen’ is turning into a ‘Nopenhagen’. There were some NGOs whose access to the Bella Center (The center for climate change talks where world leaders etc are in) was revoked, and they planned a protest. BBC has some disturbing video of the Danish cops battling with protesters. It is a scary situation, and that is why I am not trying to go out there to find out what’s up. For now I will be holed up with the Global voices crew here and follow the events in safety. I know the smell of pepper spray (2007 Kenya elections melee…I am not getting reacquainted with it again)
There doesn’t seem to be a workable deal that would take into account the developing countries’ vulnerability to climate change (think Maldives and Madagascar) with money allocated for helping them deal with climate change. Without this it is unlikely that the poor countries will agree to any deal. It is a standoff, a mexican standoff with no one as a clear winner, but the climate ofcourse as a clear loser.
Just hearing that people pepper sprayed on the bridge near the Bella center. There is just too much drama here. That aside… as the plane circled in to approach the runway at Copenhagen airport, I saw a glimpse of the offshore wind power turbines. It is a magnificent sight.
cc licensed photo by Pastalane.
That Denmark generates 25-30% of their energy from renewable energy is commendable and is often an example to many countries, and probably the reason why COP15 is being held here. I spoke with a local Danish citizen and he expressed his dissatisfaction with the progress towards targets for increasing the %. I am not sure what % of energy generated in Kenya is from renewable energy, but I can tell you this… I am quite envious of the Danish 30%. With all the craziness happening now in CPH, It helps to refocus on the specific ways that we each can contribute positively to the environment. It is unlikely that some substantive agreement will be reached this week at COP15 talks, so its probably more useful to focus on what you and I can do and the technology that can help.
I am going to start with taking a ride in a hybrid bike by MIT, then continue planting trees during the christmas holidays in Kenya.
For COP15 updates, I am checking the Dot Earth blog, Tck Tck Tck and ofcourse Global Voices Online.
PS: I saw a christmas tree with lights connected to a bike, so when a child pedals, the christmas trees light up! A festive example of using human power! Sorry, no pic, its snowing a lot here.
Kenya’s use of renewable energy is about 75% renewable if I am not wrong, albeit we only produce 1,200 Megawatts a year while small Denmark does about 35,000MW a year.
However we as Africa are in a bit of a fix because we dont have Green technologies and the West will sell them to us expensively.
My view is that we use the resources we have say Sudan’s and Uganda’s oil and our Coal to develop our economy and capacity to innovate quickly(What China is doing) instead of waiting for the benevolence of the west which might no be forthcoming given the financial climate.
This i accept is a less popular view but i am afraid it is the only one that makes social economic sense to me.
We can only guarantee our own survival by developing rapidly using the energy sources are easily accessible to us.
This video shows the Christmas tree in the Town Hall Square of Copenhagen on the 30th November, when the star in the top of the tree is lit, marking the start of the Christmas season. In the end of the video you see the bulbs on the tree powered from people pedalling. No snow that day.
But we have a lot of snow now, it has hardly stopped snowing since it started mid December. I am glad to be leaving the cold vinter behind next Wednesday and head towards the warmer climate in Burkina Faso. 