![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/copenhagen\/files\/2010\/03\/cop152.png\" "\\"cop15\\"")
<\/a>How Would YOU Describe This?<\/p><\/div>\n
But with this experience in particular I find it even more troublesome to negotiate. On the surface, my answer serves to both satisfy those who feel obligated to ask as well as describe what actually transpired during the two weeks of negotiations. But on another level, my response reflects how I view the problem of climate change, itself.<\/p>\n
As for what actually occurred, no legally binding climate treaty was produced. Rather, the Copenhagen Accord<\/a> put some fundamental steps in place for a more thorough climate pact to be produced in Mexico City next year. This may not come as a surprise since the media was calling the conference a failure even before it commenced. Prior to my arrival I was aware of some of the obstacles standing in the way. What I came to truly understand, however, is the actual scope and complexity of the problem as well as what it\u2019s going to take in order to address it.<\/p>\n Climate change is not merely an environmental issue; nor is it a political or economic one. Climate change is an everything <\/em>issue. Trying to coordinate a response that both prioritizes and balances areas of funding, capacity building, trade, mitigation, adaptation, as well as environmental, ecological and social justice is certainly a daunting task. Unfortunately, it takes time in order to develop these policies\u2014especially at the international level. Realizing this while hearing some of the most vulnerable peoples of the changing climate beseech for urgent action was especially heartbreaking. \u00a0I\u2019ll never forget the looks of desperation from the Presidents of the Maldives and Kiribati, two island countries where its citizens will eventually become environmental refugees if significant (and I mean significant) emission reductions are not made<\/a>. To this end\u2014knowing the urgency of the issue and observing how slow progress is made\u2014I\u2019m rather disheartened by the outcome of the conference.<\/p>\n But I\u2019ve also forced myself to draw some sort of encouragement from this experience.\u00a0 After all, it was amazing being surrounded with people from every country of the world and hearing groups of individuals speak out to have their voices heard. \u00a0My representation at the conference extended beyond my official observer status as a part of Dickinson\u2019s research delegation. I was also there are as a part of the international youth constituency, advocating for climate justice because it will be our generations problem to inherit.<\/p>\n