Several reports on the desired outcomes of the COP15 summit in Copenhagen mentioned disappointment, lack of success, and failure. In part, this was down to the lack of binding agreements. A newspaper headline following the conference spoke of ‘Lessons from the Copenhagen Climate Talks’, and it is important to think about what can we learn and what Copenhagen will mean for the future? Even if the negotiations did not go as far as some had hoped, important steps have been taken.
ISWA is accredited as an observer organisation with UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). This meant a number of ISWA members had access to the COP15 premises. Attending a major event such as this, and seeing the levels of engagement and involvement was very encouraging. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were involved in discussions from grassroots level right to the top, and will therefore be able to encourage change.
Another success is education. COP15 has created a wider global awareness of climate change and its implications. Seen in that perspective, the outcomes of the COP15 are positive. This major UN event has opened up a global dialogue and the establishment of a partnership for collaboration.
The subject of waste was brought up by a variety of attendees at COP15, including the international climate justice movement and a global alliance of waste pickers. The alliance is seeking to have the work of waste pickers recognized for curbing climate change within the UNFCCC. This level of attention to issue of waste was much higher than it has been at previous summits.
ISWA’s goal for COP15 was raise awareness of the role good waste management techniques can play in reducing climate change emissions. ISWA’s primary approach was to form an expert Task Force on Climate Change in 2008, assembling research data, opinions, and findings from a participating group of global practitioners. Task Force outputs included three workshops and recently (December 2009) a published ‘White Paper’ on this topic for public distribution. The White Paper was released the week prior to the COP15 conference during the ISWA/Dakofa Conference on Waste and Climate Change. (For reference, the ISWA White Paper can be downloaded at the ISWA webpage www.iswa.org ).
As a secondary step, ISWA, in partnership with UNEP, applied to run a technical side-event to demonstrate the effectiveness of the waste management sector in delivering carbon reductions. COP15 representatives, having had huge interest and hundreds of similar applications, did not make room for ISWA’s side event this year.
Third, ISWA sought to raise awareness about sustainable waste management practices to COP15 attendees, and to advocate continued improvements, particularly for developing countries.
As we reflect on what we have learnt, it is clear there is much work to do in terms of seeking emission reduction commitments and establishing the best approach to achieve such reductions. New measures will receive increased focus, and some of these will apply directly to the protection of waste management facilities and operating systems. The COP16 will take place in Mexico in late November 2010 and certainly, the waste sector will have a voice and a message to deliver.
