Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 02/2010

Climate Shame: Get back to the table Initial analysis of the Copenhagen climate talks

Kate Raworth

December 2009

Oxfam Publishing

Abstract

Climate change is already devastating poor people’s lives on an appalling scale. Copenhagen was a unique opportunity to turn the world’s course away from climate disaster and towards a safe future. But leaders of the major powers negotiated for their national interests instead of safeguarding our shared destiny and the talks ended with little more than agreement to keep talking.