The Copenhagen Accord of the December 2009 Conference on Climate Change

From December 7 to 19, 2009, the United Nations Climate Change Conference met in Copenhagen, in order to decide what to do after 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol on the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will expire. What had to be undertaken in Denmark was therefore a further step for the implementation of the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or Framework Convention), the multilateral treaty concluded in 1992 aiming at combating climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and in light of the respective capabilities of the Contracting Parties. During the last hours of the international negotiating meeting it was possible to reach the so called "Copenhagen Accord", a breakthrough that was possible thank to the diplomatic efforts of the United States, China, Brazil, India and South Africa. Our essay aims at presenting and evaluating the contribution of the Copenhagen Accord to the fight against global warming and pollution.