Week 1: Ups and Downs

Sam Parker ’12

The first week of COP 17 is quickly coming to a close and what a week it has been.  We arrived at the conference on day one and it was an overwhelming, impressive mass of people and knowledge and important people.  I have been impressed with the South African government though.  They have done a good job with being open with the negotiations and the organization of this event is well done.  Thumbs up from this guy. I’ve also been really impressed with the youth if you could tell from my last post.  They are a group of young people from all over the world, who have moved past differences in culture and beliefs to work together to fight climate change.  They get two huge thumbs up.

All the while, this conference is shaping up to be a depressing one.  All the governments around the world have gotten to the point where they have acknowledged that climate change it a major problem and it is something that must be address.  They don’t act that way some times.  As always, the U.S. is throwing a stick in the spokes of the bicycle of progress, Canada has just jumped on the U.S.’s band wagon, and all and all no one can get along.  Sometimes I feel like its easier to get oil and water to mix.  I would love to say that, I believe in the world governments to get something done, but then I would just be laying to myself.