The general objective of COP 15 is to create an agreement that will control the increase in the emission of greenhouse gases and keep them within a limit in order to lighten the severity of climate change. In June, G8 countries along with many large developing countries, reached a consensus that the average temperature rise should be limited to 2°C; the agreement that will be formed during the conference will therefore most likely constitute this as an objective. During the conference it is also aimed to form new goals for industrialized countries to reduce their carbon emissions. Adapting to climate change through securing fresh water and crop stocks and building sea defenses will also be central to the COP15. Another key objective of the summit is to help finance developing countries in order to both reduce their emissions and adapt to climate change. Limiting deforestation will also be a part of the agreement. The crucial date for these commitments is likely to be 2020, although some countries are looking at later dates.

So far, considerable public awareness has been generated through the United Nations’ Seal the Deal Campaign that encourages users to sign an online, global petition in order to galvanize political will and public support for reaching a comprehensive global climate agreement in Copenhagen. The online petition has already been signed by over 390 000 people worldwide serving as a reminder that leaders must negotiate a fair, balanced and effective agreement in Copenhagen, and that they must seal a deal to power green growth, protect the planet and build a more sustainable, prosperous global economy that will benefit all nations and people.

As part of Seal the Deal, a new website, www.VolunteeringForOurPlanet.org has drawn thousands of visitors to register the time they have spent as environmental volunteers since World Environment Day, 5 June, and the time they will spend until International Volunteer Day, 5 December. People around the world are volunteering thousands of hours to tackle climate change and send a message to world leaders that everyone is part of the solution. Since the website started on November 5th, people have registered more than 500,000 hours of volunteer effort.

The website is part of a campaign by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme to promote a successful outcome at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. “Our climate is changing and everybody needs to get involved to help us cope,” said Flavia Pansieri, UNV Executive Coordinator. “Volunteers started the global environmental movement and we are an essential part of the solution to climate change. So our theme for International Volunteer Day is ‘Volunteering for our Planet’ and we would like you to join us. We can send a strong signal to the Copenhagen conference that people want to help and can be involved as volunteers.”

Volunteers are taking action across many areas, including environmental education in Egypt, agriculture in Kenya, energy in China, waste and pollution in Germany, water and sanitation in Brazil and biodiversity in the United States.

The Copenhagen Climate Change Conference is seen as a milestone in the controlling of emissions and climate change, and is hoped to generate long term global strategies to control the worsening situation of global warming.