Delegates from 192 countries have descended upon the Danish city in the hope of reaching an agreement for a new treaty on climate change.
The two-week conference will focus on how countries can adapt to rising sea levels and higher temperatures.
Experts have warned the world is losing the race against global warming, and adapting to it will cost hundreds of billions of dollars, something that many countries cannot afford.
It is hoped the new treaty, which will replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, will be based on four essential agreements:
'If Copenhagen can deliver on those four points I’d be happy,' says Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Global average temperature has already risen by about 0.7C since pre-industrial times and impact of this increase has already been seen around the world.
Aside from rising sea levels, floods and droughts and volatile weather will become more and more frequent, climate change scientists warn.
China and the US have already shown signs of positive action after announcing plans ahead of the summit to reduce carbon emissions by 2020.
The two-week conference will focus on how countries can adapt to rising sea levels and higher temperatures.
Experts have warned the world is losing the race against global warming, and adapting to it will cost hundreds of billions of dollars, something that many countries cannot afford.
It is hoped the new treaty, which will replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, will be based on four essential agreements:
- 1 How much are the industrialised countries willing to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases?
- 2 How much are major developing countries such as China and India willing to do to limit the growth of their emissions?
- 3 How is the help needed by developing countries to engage in reducing their emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change going to be financed?
- 4 How is that money going to be managed?
'If Copenhagen can deliver on those four points I’d be happy,' says Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Global average temperature has already risen by about 0.7C since pre-industrial times and impact of this increase has already been seen around the world.
Aside from rising sea levels, floods and droughts and volatile weather will become more and more frequent, climate change scientists warn.
China and the US have already shown signs of positive action after announcing plans ahead of the summit to reduce carbon emissions by 2020.
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