Why Paris will be different to Copenhagen

The document contrasts the 2009 Copenhagen climate conference with the 2015 Paris negotiations, highlighting a transition from top-down mandates to a framework where individual countries determine their own emission reductions. The author notes that a recovering global economy, scientific consensus, and significant private sector commitments—such as Goldman Sachs' $150 billion green energy investment—have created a more favorable environment for a robust deal. The author also emphasizes the importance of mobilizing $100 billion annually for developing countries and phasing out fossil-fuel subsidies to support the global transition to a green economy.

• The political and economic landscape has shifted since 2009, with the global economy recovering, scientific doubt regarding human-caused climate change dismissed, and the business community actively supporting environmental efforts.
• Private sector investment in green energy has increased significantly, exemplified by Goldman Sachs' announcement in November to invest $150 billion in green energy by 2025.
• Negotiation dynamics have moved away from dictating mandatory emission cuts toward a framework that allows governments to decide their own contributions, leading to broader participation of over 180 countries covering at least 90% of global CO2 emissions.
• A bilateral agreement between the United States and China serves as a sign of progress, with the US targeting a 26-28% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2025 and China aiming to peak emissions around 2030.
• Achieving the goal of $100 billion annual climate financing for developing countries by 2020 requires leveraging public funds to attract private investment and phasing out fossil-fuel subsidies.

APA

Lilleholt, L. C. (2015). Why Paris will be different to Copenhagen. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/why-paris-will-be-different-to-copenhagen/

Chicago

Lilleholt, Lars Christian. Why Paris will be different to Copenhagen. World Economic Forum, 2015. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/why-paris-will-be-different-to-copenhagen/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Lilleholt |first1=Lars Christian |title=Why Paris will be different to Copenhagen |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=3 December 2015 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/why-paris-will-be-different-to-copenhagen/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{lilleholt2015why, author = {Lilleholt, Lars Christian}, title = {{Why Paris will be different to Copenhagen}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2015}, month = dec, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/why-paris-will-be-different-to-copenhagen/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }