“Full of Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing”

To Draft a Binding Agreement or not to Draft a Binding Agreement - That is the Question

While studying British literature in high school, it never occurred to me that one of Shakespeare’s most famous lines might one day aptly describe the outcome of international climate negotiations – and certainly not the Copenhagen meeting in which so much hope was invested. Yet alas! For, to borrow Macbeth’s own words, the non-binding Copenhagen Accord was “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”.

But could a document signed by so many top government leaders and diplomats really be deserving of such a comparison? Well, let’s take a look. The Accord has 5 pages (the actual statement is only 3) to outline the agreement everyone reached. It impressively acknowledges that “climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time” and asserts that the Parties have “strong political will to urgently combat climate change” (p. 1). They also reaffirm the “ultimate goal of the Convention” to prevent dangerous interference with the climate system (a goal they set in the very first meeting way back in 1992!). Further, they stress “the need to establish a comprehensive adaptation program including international support” and they agree that “deep cuts in emissions are required” (p. 2). Wow, finally some incredible progress!

These words certainly do make an appealing political statement. They lack, however, any substance to back them up; hence the descriptor “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. Now I will admit that “nothing” is slightly too strong, as the Copenhagen Accord does have some potential – the question is if any future efforts will bother to follow through on it (so far they have not). Robert Stavins does make a fairly legitimate point that the emergence of the Accord saved the Copenhagen negotiations from “utter collapse”, but I think it is hardly flattering to describe an agreement as essentially better than complete failure (wouldn’t anything be?). The Accord – without any specific requirements or legally binding commitments – was basically a last-ditch effort to save face by producing something, anything to appease the attentive masses.

Many people around the world, particularly the youth with the quality of their futures at stake on the issue of climate change, expected a better outcome – and rightly so. If the world’s leaders can put political interests aside to actually enact the Accord’s key points with force and accountability, then it could manifest itself with the “sound and fury” to meaningfully combat climate change; otherwise, it will undoubtedly continue to “signify nothing”.