august 01, 2009

Arctic oriented climate information initiatives at COP15 in December 2009 in Copenhagen



Arctic Venue at COP 15
A communication action during the UN Climate Conference
in Copenhagen, December 2009
In December 2009 the nations of the world gather in Copenhagen to decide for a historic answer to one of the greatest challenges of our time,
climate change and its consequences
Knowledge and information about the Arctic climate are
important assets for this decision

The meeting in Copenhagen presents a unique option
for highlighting the Arctic messages
Highlighting the Arctic

The UN climate conference COP 15 will present a milestone for the international efforts of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and for international agreement on adaptation to global climate change.
The entire climate interested world will focus on Copenhagen, making the city an attractive arena for delivering important messages on climate change.

The Arctic presents a particular position in perceiving global climate change.
The consequences of global warming involves the Arctic and are experienced here first and most.
The Arctic and Nordic countries have consequently developed a comprehensive and unique knowledge base about climate change, as it already now is manifested clearly in the Arctic.
This knowledge will be an important message to deliver during COP 15.

The Danish Energy Agency is taking the initiative to a joint effort for institutions and organisations from the Arctic and Nordic countries to unify and coordinate dissemination, events, messages and other activities, during COP 15 to highlight Arctic climate change

The aim of the initiative is to create visibility and understanding of the Arctic climate change to the public and to the international media gathered in Copenhagen during COP 15.
The activities will be coordinated closely with other parallel events, presenting Arctic climate change messages (e.g. Greenland Home Rule, Danish Meteorological Institute, WWF).

’Arctic Venue’ on the North Atlantic Quay
A joint Arctic display and a powerful centre among parallel events
The communication of Arctic climate change during COP 15 will present new knowledge as well as findings from Arctic cooperation in Arctic Council, ACIA, IPCC, Nordic Council of Ministers etc.
It will be covering natural science, social science and cultural approaches to climate change and relate to local, regional and global perspectives. The presentation of the participating players will be organised thematically, illustrating for example
• Paleoclimate, atmosphere, ice and sea ice, sea currents and CO2-absorbation, climate models
• The impact of climate change on habitats
• Man and society in the Arctic, way of life, socioeconomic consequences, development options

The presentations inside and around the buildings may include exhibitions, stands, posters, lectures and debates or panel discussions, presentation of scientific equipment, sculptures, cultural items, television spots, experiments, technology solutions, interactive activities illustrating daily life in the Arctic, visits to research institutions, Arctic food, scientific equipment, excursions and more.