Curbing waste at Cop-15

There are arguments, accusations, trickery, what not being reported from Copenhagen. Hope is beating a fast retreat. The hosts are not being seen in a posiitve light, at least not by the developing world. But they have taken some effort to lead by example in some things. Like what Denmark has done to make the conference energy efficient and less carbon intensive.

The Bella Center where the meet is happening is a low-lying Legoland of structures dominated by a single towering windmill. After all, Denmark is an alternative energy leader, deriving 20 percent of its energy from windmills. All of the energy used at the conference derives from renewable sources of electricity. The Bella Center underwent an efficiency overhaul before the conference, reducing its energy consumption by 20 percent.

To ensure the conference would be carbon-neutral or better, the Danish government estimated the amount of carbon likely to be expended, including the emissions incurred by the travel of visiting delegates and members of the press: 40,548 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents.

It offset those emissions by spending 700,000 euros to replace coal-burning kilns used to manufacture bricks in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Twenty new Danish-funded kilns will operate with higher efficiency and lower emissions. They will use half as much coal to produce just as many bricks, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 100,000 tons per year.

Regarding transport, besides 100 heads of state who are provided a sedan, a minivan, and a security detail, everybody else comes by bus, train, Metro, or bicycle. Private cars are not allowed near the center, including taxis.

Besides meat that has seen ravenous consumption at Cop-15, there is paper. Thousands of reams of paper have been consumed to produce and reproduce the documents of the conference. According to a report, delegates can rarely cross a hallway without being handed a brochure, a booklet, a packet, etc ‘expressing an outrage, a hope, or an agenda’.

Recycling is obligatory at Bella Centre. The Media Center is collecting reporters’ dead batteries. Because there are many recycling bins, few trash containers, compliance is high, though not all participants have been as careful as they could be about sorting.

Plenty scope to improvise and aim higher, but this is a beginning even if only symbolic.

Certainly would help if all conferences go the same way. Small steps that lead to giant strides if many join in?