Jill and Greg: Around the COP in 80 Minutes

10/12/2015

Ever wondered what it is like to walk through the Blue Zone (area not open to the general public) of the COP? Check out what some of the countries have on display this year.

United States

The United States Center, located conveniently near the entrance, is dominated with information from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) including the giant interactive globe pictured above. This globe represents the mission of NOAA by tracking and predicting climate change across the world. There are continuous panel discussions, presentations and speeches being given at the US Center.

Mexico

The bright colors of the Mexico Center, starkly contrasts with the subdued red, white and blue of the United States Center. Their most prominent display is a large video projector allowing visitors to see themselves in some of Mexico's most beautiful natural landscapes. This helps people to relate to the natural resources of Mexico that may be lost with the progression of Climate Change.

South Korea

The South Korea Center attracts visitors with a face-in-the-whole photo opportunity. Their main focus is on sustainable urban development, pointing out that 75% of global energy use is in cities. There were a lot of big name people giving presentations at the South Korea Center, including the new chair of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), Hoesung Lee, pictured on the bottom right and the Vice President of the Asian Development Bank, Bambang Susantono (top right fourth from the left).

The Gulf Cooperation Council

The Gulf Cooperation Council has one of the most elaborate displays, including a touch screen computer that allows you to click through their climate change plans. The Gulf Cooperation includes Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar. All of these countries are big oil exporters (maybe it is oil money funding this elaborate set up).

Ecuador

Ecuador has a small, colorful area, which boasts about their forests. Their most prominent display is a banner with black handprints on it (pictured above). Ask any Ecuadorian Party member and they will explain that Ecuador is still fighting against Chevron for an oil spill that devastated the Amazon three decades ago. The Ecuador Center also contains vast information on how Ecuador plans to protect the Amazon through REDD+.

India

It is hard to miss the India Center, as they have a giant water feature that spells out various words including India, COP21 and Paris. Similar to the display at the Gulf Cooperation, India has a touch screen computer that allows visitors to navigate through their plans to mitigate climate change, specifically about how they plan to reduce their emissions by 33 to 25 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels.

Morocco

Morocco, who will be hosting COP22 next year, has a small display entirely in red and green. They have a computer that visitors can navigate through to learn about their mitigation plans. Their display makes evident how proud the country is to be hosting COP next year.

The Nordic Cooperation

The Nordic Cooperation includes Greenland, Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Faroe Islands and Aland. In their pavilion you can sit on seats made out of fur and tree stumps and read up on their climate solutions. Nordic Carbon Dioxide emissions are 1/5 of the global average despite having the world's 12th largest economy.

Thanks for traveling the COP with us!

8 Comments

Celia Esber

10/12/2015 09:16:57 am

These pictures are amazing. It's great to see how on board these countries are to making a difference. Thanks for sharing.

Logan Aument

14/12/2015 01:26:06 pm

It is nice to see how different countries come and prepare for this event. All with their own unique options. The pictures help to understand what being at COP actually looks like. It is also very important how there is such a diversity at this event.

Kaitlyn Hopkins

14/12/2015 02:39:10 pm

Wow... It is amazing to see how many countries are involved in trying to reduce the effects of climate change and each one has a different perspective. A few years ago it seemed that climate change was just a little blip on the public's radar, but now it has completely engulfed the screen. Maybe it was my own naivety, but this is still truly amazing to me.

Stephen R

15/12/2015 08:09:05 am

All of these countries have fantastic displays. I love how they show what they want to achieve in terms of restoration of the climate. Goals like cutting emissions and reusable energy seems to be a common goal of all these countries which is the only way we can keep the global temperature from going above 2 degrees Celsius or less.

spk95

16/12/2015 08:47:26 pm

It is great to see that multiple countries from different regions of the planet are on-board with and accepting of the idea of Climate Change, evident in the fact that each country made an investment of time and money into creating displays and plans for how they would help to cut back their contribution to climate change as well as the overall fight against climate change. The one thing that I thought was interesting was The Gulf Cooperation Council, since these countries are practically the worlds largest producers of oil and other fossil fuels. I am curious as to what there plans are on fighting climate change, since the fight against climate change would be a direct negative impact on this regions largest money maker.

Thomas Aruta

17/12/2015 06:01:50 pm

I like how this article is able to sum everything up very well! They all do a great display. I hope it just gets better and better every year!

Brian Wilson

18/12/2015 01:29:14 pm

These displays look amazing!! I like how each country/cooperation gets to show what climate change looks like from their perspective. This allows individuals to see the big picture and realize climate change is a pivotal topic throughout the world.

William Lewis Jr link

19/12/2015 02:54:41 pm

Hello Jill and Greg,

Thank You for the tour, it was delighting.

My questions are: has anyone at the COP mentioned that, the amount of money spent on these organizations and conferences, could be spent, actually, assisting countries currently effected by Climate Change or by the wrongdoings of large corporations?

You stated, Ecuador is still fighting against Chevron, for a devastating oil spill that occurred a decade ago. The money spent on these organizations and conferences could be spent assisting them legally fight Chevron, while, simultaneously, investing back into the agriculture of that Amazonian landscape.

I know the decision may be out of your hand, but someone has the authority to make these type of decisions. Therefore, to your knowledge, was the question ever presented to the leaders of the COP? If the question was presented, what was the response?

Each year, they speak about plans, which are in motion. Conveniently, next year, those same plans are still in motion, and so on. Yet, each year the technologies involved within the conferences continue becoming more expensive, more advance. Even if its free to the public, the manufacturing, set up, and electricity needed to fuel these hi-tech machines, cost money. Money which could be utilized making an immediate difference.

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