Copen to Hopen - Climate Change and the digital world

I'm flummoxed.

I'm not against the idea of getting together to figure out how to stop the way we treat our planet, but I'm concerned at hope it is being done and the example that is being set.

In 2010 the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit is happening in December. The climate summit will bring together the leaders from around the world representing 192 countries.... wow that's a lot of flying and a lot SUVs and cars.....

At the summit they will discuss how to help solve the climate change problem happening right now and reduce greenhouse gases and emissions.... huh, i wonder how much will be added by the planes and cars their using?

A bunch of corporate giants including Coca-Cola and SAP and numerous agencies have united under Hopenhagen. A creative attempt to bring awareness to the summit. Their goal is to "To connect every person, every city, and every nation to Copenhagen. To give everyone hope, and a platform from which to act. To create a grassroots movement that’s powerful enough to influence change. " Hopenhagen.org

Here are some of the ads from hopenhagen:










There are rallies against the summit happening around the world and Greenpeace is also stepping in to make their demands heard. I doubt many are against WHY it is being held for BUT they are frustrated at HOW it is. With the wonders of technology, could a software giant not come up with the most advanced teleconferencing system to allow the summit to exist without the need to travel?

If you argue that most of the ideas, deals and agreements happen outside, during the networking sessions - then there MUST be a better system of sharing planes, cars and transportation. These are the leaders who are supposed to be setting up strategies and making promises - why don't they SET AN EXAMPLE instead?


From the Globe and Mail: the president of SAP, involved with Hopenhagen replied with this when asked if he would attend "““From a carbon perspective,” he said, flying from his base in Palo Alto, Calif., to bring attention to climate change might be a counterintuitive move."

Ummm, duh?