Delegates at Copenhagen meet to emit 40,500 tonnes of CO2

At least 40,500 tonnes of CO2 is estimated to be emitted by the 15,000 politicians, activists, civil servants and journalists who are expected to visit Copenhagen for the global climate talks slated from December 7.

The CO2 emission figure is based on the calculations from the Poznan Conference in December last year and extrapolated for 15,000 participants, according to the website of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (UNFCCC).

To make up for the emissions, the host country Denmark, in partnership with Bangladesh and the World Bank, has decided to invest around 0.7 million euro to replace outdated and heavily polluting brick kilns in Dhaka by 20 new energy-efficient ones.

As per the Danish Energy Agency calculations, it will cut more than 50,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year and improve air quality in one of the world's most polluted cities. At the conference site (The Bella Center), the organisers are taking a host of energy saving measures to reach a 20 per cent reduction in CO2 leading up to 15th Conference of Parties (CoP) which stretches for two weeks.

"Hotel owners have been encouraged to expand the number of environmental-friendly, certified hotel rooms, while delegates are being encouraged to use the public transport system to reach the Bella Center, drink tap water to avoid bottle waste, and minimise paper waste," the website says.

The main objective of the organisers is to minimise greenhouse gas emissions as far as possible. Whatever cannot be avoided, is to be offset by buying emission reductions under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

The delegates are also being encouraged to "make a difference" by, for instance, choosing the most sustainable form of international and local transport. No gifts or conference bags will be provided for delegates, the Danish government has decided.

"Instead, the money saved has been invested in 11 scholarships for students from around the world attending a fully-financed two year Master's course in Denmark," the website adds.