It goes without saying that the outcome of Copenhagen is a massive let-down. How could so many people of so much importance commit to so little? If this is the response to the greatest threat and challenge this planet faces then what hope is there for the myriad of other challenges we face?

The biggest disappointment in all of this is that it is constantly perceived that taking action on climate change is in some way counteractive to economic growth. This is flawed on at least two counts; firstly, the Stern report has already indicated that actually dealing with climate change stacks up significantly better economically than ignoring the problems; secondly, and crucially,  it holds up economic growth as the the ultimate need! As I’ve expressed already, people around the world put far greater importance on quality of life – and consuming more and more is not at the core of that. Now clearly, developing countries have a need to develop to meet the needs of their people. But developed nations cannot continue growing indefinitely. When do we say ‘stop’? When do we finally decide we’re big enough?

When do we finally realise that we cannot eat money?

It’s up to absolutely everyone to keep the pressure on the leaders of their nations to commit to strong, leagally-binding cuts in emissions. There’s many ways to do this – write to your local MP/MSP, write to the newspapers, join environmental charities, organise events, blog, speak to people. Copenhagen was disappointing, but that is no reason to ease up. We have to stay positive and convince world leaders that this really does matter to us. Young people have a vital role to play in this – so get stuck in!

To start with the goods of human nature – I organised accomodation in Copenhagen through ‘New Life Copenhagen’, a scheme designed to pair up those coming to the negotiations that are low on cash and required a place to kip. I stayed with a complete stranger who showed, firstly, incredible trust to allow a random Scot into their home, and secondly went out of her way to welcome me. The New Life programme is a great idea not simply because I got somewhere to rest my bones for free, but also because it gives you an insight into Danish life – the best aspect being that in a number of flats in Copenhagen, the bathroom is only big enough for a toilet and a sink. Many have been adapted to house a shower, which you hook up from the tap and then get lathering! You could literally combine necessary bodily evacuations with a good wash!

Sadly, I also found Copenhagen to be a hugely frustrating experience. I heard some incredible stories from some amazing people – Ibnu Najib, from Indonesia, also does voluntary work for the British Council. He gave a presentation wearing a traditional batik – and explained that it is now very difficult for people to find a hand-made batik to buy, because local Javanese people no longer have the time to make them – because of deforestation they have to spend longer looking for fire wood; environmental damage and climate change is putting strains on their lives that mean a tradition is dying out.

Ex-Irish president and head of the UN Human Rights Commission Mary Robinson gave an inspirational speech late on Monday afternoon at the Scottish Government event I was attending. She talked of a female farmer from Uganda, whose crops are failing because of climate change. Other women farmers have been forced into prostitution because they can’t make ends meet; this wasn’t an option for her – her morals would not let her – not simply because she does not want to sell herself, but also because she is HIV positive. Where does this woman turn to?

These are just 2 small examples of some of the incredible, emotional stories being told in Copenhagen – a small sample of the sad human face on the front line of climate change impacts. Meanwhile, over at the Bella Centre, it seems that pontificating politicians are missing the point completely, and are more concerned about economic growth and fiddling while Rome burns, rather than saving the planet and the people upon it. I am not surprised, and indeed, completely support the delegates from Africa and Asia that walked out of the negotiations yesterday. Poor nations have done the least to contribute to climate change, and yet in a horrid twist, are those suffering the most. How can politicians not be compelled to act when stories like the two noted above are not terrible exceptions, but tragically par for the course?  The lack of leadership we are seeing here from so-called leaders disappoints me gravely.

I am an optimist. One day we will see leadership and foresight from our leaders.

But it seems today is not that day. I hope we see this leadership sooner rather than later.

Simon wraps up warm

Here is Simon Raeside and I this morning, setting off for Copenhagen. I’ve had a few hours sleep, it feels a bit like my brain is melting, but still raring to go! I’ve even managed to (almost) smile in this picture!

The rest of the journey looks like this:

London-Brussels on the Eurostar; Brussels-Cologne; then a sleeper from Cologne to Copenhagen – arriving Sunday morning about 10 o’clock, yikes!

There’s one week gone in Copenhagen, and disappointingly there hasn’t been much word of progress in the negotiations. I really hope it’s a different story at the end of next week…the thousands I marched with in Glasgow last week, as well as the ~60,000 in London and the masses in Belfast will accept nothing less than decisive action. Stand up leaders of the world!

…more when my brain has solidfied and is capable of stringing words together…

It’s hard to know how to feel before heading off to Copenhagen; a mixture of excitement, nervousness, an element of the unknown. What I believe the world needs are strong legally-binding targets for reducing emissions, and the important contribution that nature makes in supporting the human race in an already changing climate. A vital part of Scotland’s Climate Change Act is that it takes account of the importance of how we use our land. People don’t get very excited about looking across a peat moorland – to many it seems a bleak landscape. But the carbon-rich soils of Scotland are vital in the fight against climate change, and we should recognise their importance as carbon sinks, and incredibly important places for wildlife.

We also need to think seriously about how we measure the ‘success’ of our nations. Currently this is measured as GDP or Gross Domestic Product. This is simply a measure of how much we consume – and not all those things that really matter to people, like our health, nature, our interactions with others…it’s time we changed all that. Bhutan is an exception – here is a nation that measures it’s success in ‘Gross National Happiness’!

Robert Kennedy summed it up best when he said:

“Gross National Product counts air pollution and cigarette advertising…and the destruction of the redwood and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl. It does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education or the joy of their play…the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages. It measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.”

Whatever happens in Copenhagen, world leaders will be making history. They have a choice on how future generations look back on them: as those who made history for doing something exceptional, or as those that failed to act when the planet needed it most.