Let the games begin!

At 10 o' clock this morning the climate conference in Copenhagen was officially opened. Unfortunately I was still standing outside in the early morning Copenhagen cold, waiting in line to get registered. Luckily, there was enough liveliness outside as well: early morning demonstrations with drumband, having your picture taken with climate activists, and scoring some free coffee at the Greenpeace stand.

While I spent most of my morning waiting, one of the African youth, Margaret from Kenya, had a much more eventful start of the conference. She took part in a press conference by UNEP (UN Environment Programme) on the FIFA World Cup in South-Africa and the environment. You might wonder what they have to do with each other? Well, having 32 football teams flying in from all over the world will lead to a lot of carbon emissions. Therefore, UNEP proposed the idea of offsetting the carbon emissions of these famous football players by investing in mitigation and adaptation projects in Africa. A true win-win situation. And already 17 ministers of the environment from the participating countries signed an intention to do so! In the case of the climate negotiations in Copenhagen, we will still have to see if they are just as eager on signing. But, let the games begin!

Suzanne Maas

The Project Survival people already in Copenhagen: (from left to right) Mangaliso, Suzanne M., Ezilon, Suzanne de la F., Ebrima, Matildah, Jacomien, Margaret and Roy!