Tipping point in Copenhagen?

By: Rina Saeed Khan on December 13th, 2009

For over a week, it has been cloudy and rainy in Copenhagen and then finally, on Saturday, the sun broke through as thousands of people took to the streets, calling on world leaders to deliver a fair, ambitious and binding global deal on climate change.

In the morning, more than five thousand people from around the world joined Friends of the Earth International’s “Flood for climate justice” and to demand  an end to offsetting carbon emissions.

Later on, the demonstrators grew in numbers as more people arrived in Copenhagen’s Parliament Square and then walked around four miles to the Bella Center, where the climate change conference is being held. The largely peaceful demonstrations, organized by over 500 civil society organizations, were marred by arrests, however.

The Danish police officers, who tower above you at heights of six feet and above,  arrested hundreds of activists indiscriminately, many observers said.

The estimated 100,000-strong crowd was part of a global day of action that brought together millions of people in over 130 countries, including candlelight vigils in places as diverse as Kabul and Jerusalem.

Outside the Bella Center a huge stage had been set up for speeches and a concert. Various groups carrying banners saying “Blah, blah, blah… Act Now!” and “There is no planet B” arrived in the cold winter evening and lit candles and small bonfires to keep warm.

Oxfam Ambassadors who had joined the marchers included Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, former super model Helena Christensen and the Indian actor Rahul Bose.

Mary Robinson said: “This global day of action is reminding governments that climate change is hurting people. This is a human rights issue – climate change is undermining people’s livelihoods and their access to health and education. Copenhagen must deliver deep emissions reductions and at least $200bn a year in new money to help the poorest countries tackle climate change. ”

Participants were overwhelmed. Dr Saleemul Huq, a climate change expert who has served on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said: “Now in Copenhagen in December 2009, I believe we have reached a tipping point.

“I truly believe that Copenhagen will be remembered in years to come, not for what happens on 18 December when world leaders meet here, but for what just happened… on 12 December…

“Yesterday marked the point when a large part of the world rose up as one to tackle a truly global challenge. Although there may be temporary setbacks (like a less-than-ambitious deal next week) the tide has already turned. It cannot be turned back”.