Copenhagen, CO2penhagen, Kobenhavn, Hopenhagen…

We are proud to have Rachel Weil (CAS ’10) and Athena Laines (CAS ’10) as part of the Boston University contingent to the Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, this week. Rachel and Athena will be providing us daily reports while at the summit, and we will be featuring them on the Dean’s Blog! Check back Tuesday for more reports!

DAY ONE

We knew something was up as soon as we stepped off the plane. A multicultural throng of people greeted us in front of a banner reading: “Welcome to Hopenhagen.” After a layover in oh-so modern Rejkjavik airport at 6 am, many thing could seem surreal, so I went with it. Advertisement after advertisement tied companies and organizations to cutting carbon emissions or fighting climate change. Coca cola had its own Hopenhagen campaign with indie-looking graphics. A distressed, greying Barack Obama was pictured next to an older Angela Merckel in an Tcktcktck ad campaign for 2020: Reflecting on what they didn’t do at the COP15. The only publicity not conference related was a bunch of scantily clad Dolce & Gabbana models, but they were probably climate refugees, right?

As we traveled around the city, searching for our massive ship hotel, we saw a city already aligned with many of the principles being touted by climate activists: fervent bicycle use (with separate lanes and traffic lights, no less!), copious recycling bins in public and private establishments, and collective “people’s kitchens”, serving low cost organic and local food. Its the perfect place to set an example for the rest of the world. Especially at this time of year, when the Danes seem full of Christmas cheer and glogg (mulled wine).

The largest climate change protest unfolded this day, with a reported 100,000 in attendance, and 900 arrested. The “flood” of people, many dressed and painted in blue, marched to the Bella Center, where the COP15 is being held, and ended in a vigil being held around the world for the climate refugees in conjunction with the organization 350.org. The protest was all around the news, as many of you in the US probably saw. People coming together, peacefully for the most part, sending the message that its time to confront the growing emissions problem, for our generation and future generations.

Rachel Weil