Delegates at Copenhagen meet to emit 40,500 tonnes of CO2

New Delhi, Dec 2 (PTI) At least 40,500 tonnes of CO2
is estimated to be emitted by 15,000 politicians, activists,
civil servants and journalists who are expected to visit
Copenhagen for global climate talks slated from December 7.
The CO2 emission figure is based on the calculations
from the Poznan Conference in December last year and
extrapolated for 15,000 participants, according to the website
of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen
(UNFCCC).
To make up for the emissions, the host country
Denmark, in partnership with Bangladesh and the World Bank,
has decided to invest around 0.7 million euro to replace
outdated and heavily polluted brick kilns in Dhaka by 20 new
energy efficient ones.
As per the Danish Energy Agency calculations, it will
cut more than 50,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year and
improve air quality in one of the world's most polluted
cities.
At the Conference site (The Bella Center), the
organisers are taking a host of energy saving measures to
reach a 20 per cent reduction in CO2 leading up to 15th
Conference of Parties (CoP) which stretches for two weeks.
"Hotel owners have been encouraged to expand the
number of environmentally friendly, certified hotel rooms
while delegates are being encouraged to use the public
transport system to reach the Bella Center, drink tap water to
avoid bottle waste, and minimise paper waste," the website
says.
The main objective of the organisers is to minimise
greenhouse gas emissions as far as possible. Whatever cannot
be avoided, is to be offset by buying emission reductions
under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
The delegates are also being encouraged to "make a
difference" by, for instance, choosing the most sustainable
form of international and local transport. No gifts or
conference bags will be provided for delegates, the Danish
government has decided.
"Instead, money saved has been invested in 11
scholarships for students from around the world attending a
fully financed two years MA education in Denmark," the website
adds. PTI AJ
RDM