Photos by UN Climate Talks, Net Efekt.

With an overwhelming amount of media attention concentrated around the upcoming climate change talks to be held in Copenhagen, it can be difficult to make head nor tail of the basics - what follows is your guide to the basics of the United Nations Climate Change conference, or COP15, which stands for the 15th Conference of the Parties (the official name of the summit).

What?

COP15 is a two week United Nations conference. It runs from the 7th December 2009 through until the 18th December 2009. The talks are being held to coordinate international action against climate action.

Who attends?

Environment ministers and officials from 192 countries.

Why?

• To negotiate ways to combat climate change. Climate change is now widely regarded as inevitable.
  
  
• For international officials to agree on targets and strategies to "...reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable" (source: UNFCCC).
  
  Quick climate change fact: A recent study by the British Met Office found that if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced, the global temperature could rise to the extent that we would see major climate climate change by 2060, a year that is within what most would fore-see as within our lifetimes!
  
  
• Essentially, the aim of COP15 is to sign onto an agreement, regarding climate change, to succeed the Kyoto Protocol and cover the period from the year 2012, going forward.


Kyoto 101: The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement that "set binding targets ... for reducing greenhouse gas emissions" (source: UNFCCC). The commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012 and so Copenhagen is a chance for the international leaders to come together and look beyond 2012.

How?

By creating a legally binding agreement that is signed by the attending 192 countries. By accepting a new agreement, a top down approach to tackling climate change is being put in place.

Your key to Copenhagen related jargon

Unlocking the lingo!

UN United Nations
COP15 15th conference of the parties (official name of the summit)
UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
GHG Greenhouse Gas
CO2 Carbon Dioxide

Learn more:

Copenhagen negotiating text: 200 pages to save the world?

Official COP15 Website

The essentials in Copenhagen

What do you want to come out of the Copenhagen Climate talks this December?