Come to the Party

COP is the acronym for the United Nation’s Conference of Parties on climate change. This annual United Nations conference is where world leaders meet to assess progress in dealing with climate change and negotiate obligations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The last conference – COP 16 – was held in Mexico and the seventeenth United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 17) will take place in Durban from 28 November to 9 December 2011.
COP- 17 is seen as a crucially important conference, as it is thought that we are at a point now where humanity has a last opportunity to prevent runaway climate change. Government leaders need to write an international law that will force countries to curb their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions now before climate change escalates out of our control. Everyone must take a stand against climate change as it affects all of us, our country and our planet.

Don’t let it be a COP-out! Teachers, involve your class in the issue and find out how your school can play a part in influencing opinion. Visit the CAP website and the Durban host website as a start.