Today began with a bang, when the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) announced a proposed Copenhagen treaty “designed to safeguard the Earth’s climate system and to secure the future survival of its 43 members.” The proposal (.pdf) includes a strengthened second commitment period for the Kyoto protocol, which sunsets in 2012, as well as a new treaty with legally binding targets for emissions reductions for the U.S., which never ratified the Kyoto Protocol and is therefore not a party to it.

I quickly found a stand-up press conference held by Ambassador Dessima Williams, an AOSIS Chair from Grenada, alongside Mr. Mohamed Aslam, the Minister for the Environment from the Maldives and Mr. Selvin Hart, the Chief Negotiator for AOSIS. Ambassador Williams explained the chief goals of the proposal and Selvin Hart explained how it differs from the now-famous Tuvalu proposal.

I realize this must be dizzying -- I can assure you it isn’t any less so when you’re here in the middle of it! The bottom line is this: the small island states are standing up and demanding a legally binding treaty in Copenhagen. They have broad support inside the G77, and they don’t accept the notion advanced by the U.S. and other industrialized countries that we should leave here with only a “politically binding” agreement.

Meanwhile, there are major contested issues to resolve. Two of the biggest unresolved issues:

1. Money: Developed countries are proposing roughly $10 billion in short term financing (largely recycled money already committed elsewhere) for adaptation to warming temperatures and other needs. Developing countries are clear that the need is $150 billion or more. As Lumumba Di-Aping, the chief negotiator of the G77 bloc which consists of poor countries, the $10 billion offer is nothing less than a “colonization of the sky,” he said; “$10 billion is not enough to buy us coffins.” I attended a briefing he gave to the NGOs here which was pretty bone chilling:

Late last night, the European Union leaders met to discuss a finance package for the developing countries. Before the meeting, 13-15 countries were expected to put forward a figure on how much they would give, but there is no news of new pledges. Danish prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said: “Europe will live up to its responsibility.” Greenpeace (Belgium) staged an action in Brussels yesterday, driving a motorcade to the European Council building and unrolling "Save Copenhagen" banners in front of the press corps. The European Union eventually announced a $2.5 billion commitment, which earned them a Fossil of the Day of displeasure from the NGOs at the conference.

2) Targets for Reducing Global Warming Pollution: Today’s AOSIS proposal calls for “45 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 [for developed countries], while actions by developing countries should in aggregate aim to achieve significant deviations from baselines by 2020.” The United States delegation is here with a proposal of 17% percent below 2005 levels -- which is just a 3-4% below 1990 levels -- a long way from what the developing countries at Copenhagen expect. Selvin Hart, the chief negotiator for AOSIS said “our draft does not require developing countries to undertake the same quantified emission reductions as developed countries” but developing countries agree they must do their part, and in today’s press conference the Minister for the Environment from the Maldives announced their plan to go carbon neutral to light the way.

Finally, here’s a word for all of you in the United States from the head of the G77 (developing country) negotiating block about why the US is so critical. Take action now please!

I’ll close with a new song sent to me by KC Golden (MP3 player below), which was intended to inspire souls focused on Copenhagen -- which is amazingly, the #1 search term on Google worldwide right now. If nothing else, I believe this is the first time in history where we have a chance to come together as a global community, connected by the power of technology, around a threat and an opportunity staring us square in the eyes. Will we seize the day? Please…

Play the Copenhagen Mix Song

Click here to download the MP3 if the player does not load (.mp3)