Actually, the sun set here in Copenhagen several hours ago, but it seems to have also set for the COP. A new accord appears to have been reached this evening, but it falls short of most expectations. This morning, President Obama flew in to deliver a disappointing speech in front of the UN and then ducked through a closed-door to spend the rest of the afternoon in private talks with a handful of world leaders. Shortly after, accusations flew from other countries that these secret talks violated the democratic process necessary for the UN to function.
After a long day of waiting on the edge of our seats, Obama held another brief press conference to say that his meetings had been “successful.” However, he had little substantive points to offer. Needless to say, our team feels let down that Copenhagen failed to be the shining moment in history when the world united to focus on our common future. Most of us leave here tomorrow feeling disappointed and exhausted, but we have a renewed sense of commitment to gain ground on the domestic front.
Even if the United States was unable to be the leader during these talks, the long road ahead of us is clear. We hope that our readers have enjoyed our thoughts and observations during our time at the COP-15. Even in disappointment, we each feel privileged to have been here to witness this historical process.
VLS in Copenhagen 