In an effort to address climate change on a global scale and identify how to finance alternative energy options, the United Nations will host the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, from Dec. 7 to 18.

Chris Applegate, OUr Earth president, said the problem of climate change is one that affects people across all countries.

“This is a global problem that has to be addressed on a global scale,” Applegate said. “There are huge implications to how the world will handle these issues, and they must be addressed. And we need to understand how we can mitigate them the best we can.”

Applegate said he also hopes a new agreement can be reached to replace the current climate plan, the Kyoto Protocol, which the U.S. never ratified.

“More than ever, the evidence for climate change has never been so real, and the Kyoto Protocol is outdated with old scientific information,” he said. “This treaty will establish a baseline for our global goal of reducing our carbon emissions and switch to a clean energy economy. In doing so, this will effect every industry in the U.S. and worldwide.”

According to the Climate Change Conference Web site, the December meetings are the last chance to achieve an agreement before the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

Gary McManus, associate climatologist with the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, said he’s skeptical of any great impact of a new treaty.

“In reality, I haven’t seen [the Kyoto Protocol] make much of a difference as far as greenhouse gas emissions,” McManus said. “In fact, we’re burning greenhouse gases at a level higher than what we were ever before.”

But despite his doubts, McManus said any attempt to curtail gas emissions is a step in the right direction.

“Our future climate is dependent upon the societal response to the greenhouse gas emissions and the problems that ensue from those emissions,” he said. “It seems like this new administration is more open to discuss climate change and open to the idea that it’s a man-made problem.”

As far as a local impact, Applegate said he thinks the OU community, and Oklahoma in general, will benefit from a new treaty.

“We will see jobs created to create more wind farms, making our homes and business energy efficient,” Applegate said. “The pathway to a green economy has so many opportunities for the U.S. that it could be almost limitless to what we can do. I just hope that world leaders and the U.S. can understand this and create a global treaty that will be fairly written and push the world in a more sustainable direction.”