What is the Copenhagen Accord and when was it agreed?
The Copenhagen Accord is a non-binding international document agreed at the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on the 18th of December 2009. Delegates agreed only to "take note of" the document rather than formally adopt it, which left its legal status unclear.
Which countries drafted the Copenhagen Accord?
The Copenhagen Accord was drafted by five countries: the United States and the BASIC bloc, which consisted of Brazil, South Africa, India, and China acting in a united position. The remaining nations attending COP 15 were not involved in drafting the text.
What temperature target did the Copenhagen Accord set?
The Copenhagen Accord recognized "the scientific view that the increase in global temperature should be below 2 degrees Celsius." The document also called for an assessment by 2015 that could include consideration of strengthening that goal to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
How much climate finance did the Copenhagen Accord promise to developing countries?
The Accord committed developed countries to provide $30 billion in new and additional resources between 2010 and 2012. It also set a goal of mobilizing $100 billion per year by 2020 from a wide variety of sources to help developing nations reduce their emissions.
Would the Copenhagen Accord pledges have been enough to limit warming to 2 degrees Celsius?
No, according to multiple independent assessments. Nicholas Stern projected that the voluntary pledges would result in roughly 50 gigatons of emissions in 2020, above the roughly 44 gigatons he estimated was needed for a reasonable chance of meeting the 2 degree target. A study in Environmental Research Letters found the pledges would likely produce a dangerous 4.2 degrees Celsius of warming over the next century.
What did the Copenhagen Green Climate Fund do?
The Copenhagen Green Climate Fund was established by the Accord as an operating entity of the financial mechanism, intended to support projects, programmes, policies, and other activities in developing countries related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Accord also created a High Level Panel to support its work.