There are several things I can say that COP-15 meant for me. First, and maybe foremost, it is motivating to have been a part of it all. Because even if things did not go as planned (or…well…it did for some people) it was really, truly, an amazing experience for me. Such a cliché maybe but oh, so true. I met people there that will inspire me forever. People who have done things I can only dream of, and people who are among the most brave I have ever met.
Moreover, it motivated me because it is clear to me now, to an extent that it was not before, that the climate change issue lives (and dies?) with the people. I saw a videoclip somewhere where a young participant of the COP-15 meeting said that the people who are negotiating the outcome of the meeting aren’t really the ones facing the true challenge. And troughout my stay in Copenhagen that was very obvious. People were fighting for their lives. Literally. Because no matter what happens behind closed doors, the consequences will inevitably be seen out in the open. And the ones who decided what (not) to do about it will not be able to look away.
Further, my trust in negotiators and politicians have been rocked to the core. And I am not yet clear where I stand on this. But maybe I dont need to be. Maybe it is enough that I know that it is up to me. The one thing I can truly do is make sure I do what I need to do. And that can be done in many different ways. I am far (faaaaaaaaar) from perfect. I mean…blogging…. drinking coffe from a paper cup… just had an orange from Greece. Far from perfect. But I am aware, I am trying, and I will keep on trying. I am clear on where I stand, what I do, and why I do it. I think that is a good start?
Yeah. I learned A LOT in Copenhagen. More than I thought as I was going in to the whole process. But I can tell you this much – it was not easy. So frustrating at times.
Demotivated. Sad. Tired. Hopeless. Devastated. Angry. Furious. Yep. I felt all those things. And I am damn proud of it too.
So for me, ultimately, Copenhagen will remain in my memory as a failure. A big failure that noone should try and spin into a success. But, bearing that in mind, I have to say that if nothing else, at least it motivated me to keep going.
