COP15 Post | News from the UN Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009

By Isabelle Tolhurst

In past years, Greenpeace vessels the Rainbow Warrior, Arctic Sunrise and the Beluga have been used to support daring and outlandish activities in the hope of preventing environmental destruction, and to promote awareness.

They have sidled up to huge whaling ships and cut through sheets of thick Arctic ice, amongst other things.

However, this time it appears that two of the Greenpeace boats, Arctic Sunrise and The Beluga will remain anchored at Nyhavn port in Copenhagen.

“The boat is here as part of the big Greenpeace family and we are here to help in pushing the delegates to really achieving a legally binding agreement that is really needed, ’ says Rosso Filippini, an environmental activist and crew member of the Arctic Sunrise for over ten years.

Greenpeace have been clear in their ambitions for the conference, and will insist through various initiatives on the need for binding legislation between governments and delegating bodies. According to their website, Greenpeace are in Copenhagen ‘to bear witness to the decisions being made about our future. We’ll also be on the front lines of the demonstrations in Copenhagen – taking action and bringing your voice directly to world leaders as they shape our future.’

However the boats will use their sheer presence as a protest, particularly the Beluga, decked out with a huge yellow banner bearing the words ‘Stop Climate Change Here’.

‘We will open the boat to the public, talk with them, and really make them feel our presence … but sometimes our presence really does achieve something. A month ago in France, we stopped the transport of nuclear waste to Siberia – just by being there. We didn’t lift a finger … everything just stopped,’ continued Filippini.

But Greenpeace continues to work actively around the city in a number of different capacities.

“There are shows and exhibitions run by Greenpeace, and together with a good amount of organizations we are meeting regularly, trying to reach delegates. In this way we are already telling them not to lose time. I’ve already seen the glaciers – they are half the size they were 20 years ago.”

Despite the boats remaining docked for the duration of the conference, and returning to the Netherlands for repairs when talks conclude on the 18th, Greenpeace still believes it’s all hands on deck with regards to action on climate change.

“We all have responsibilities, me too … I’m not an angel! Climate change is a global problem, and needs support from all global citizens,’ says Filippini.

‘At the moment we are waiting in hope. Of course there are already people speaking out loud and we have good strong declarations, but we’ll see. With so many countries involved and with so many voices and so many interests it can seem contradictory, but it is the outcome that is important. But we are a stubborn yet positive people,’ he concluded.