In 2009, leaders from around the world gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark for the United Nations Climate Change Conference. The goal of the conference was to reach a global agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting global temperature rise to no more than 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. The resulting document, known as the Copenhagen Agreement, was not legally binding but did set some important resolutions for the participating countries.
One of the key resolutions of the Copenhagen Agreement was the recognition that climate change is a serious threat to the planet and that immediate action is needed to address it. The participating countries agreed to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global temperature rise to no more than 2 degrees Celsius. This was seen as a major step forward in global efforts to combat climate change.
Another resolution of the Copenhagen Agreement was the commitment to providing funding to help developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate change and transition to low-carbon economies. The developed countries agreed to provide $100 billion per year in climate finance by 2020, although this target has not yet been met.
The Copenhagen Agreement also outlined the need for transparency and accountability in measuring and reporting on emissions reductions. Participating countries agreed to establish a system for measuring, reporting, and verifying emissions reductions, with a goal of ensuring that all countries take action to reduce their emissions.
Despite these resolutions, the Copenhagen Agreement was widely criticized for its lack of ambition and failure to establish legally binding emissions reduction targets. Many environmental advocates saw the agreement as a missed opportunity to take bold action on climate change.
In the years since the Copenhagen Agreement, global efforts to combat climate change have continued, with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change holding annual conferences to assess progress and set new targets. The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, brought renewed hope for global action on climate change, with nearly 200 countries committing to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Overall, while the resolutions of the Copenhagen Agreement fell short of what many had hoped for, the agreement did lay the groundwork for future global climate action and highlighted the urgent need for international cooperation on this critical issue.