In December 1997, representatives from 160 nations gathered in Kyoto, Japan, for COP3, the third ‘conference of the parties’ to sign what was described as “a historic agreement in an unprecedented moment of international consensus making.” The Kyoto Protocol aimed to address global warming by cutting greenhouse gas emissions in 38 industrialised countries by 5.2 per cent between 2008 and 2012, compared to the levels registered in 1990.
For the first time ever, legally binding targets and commitments were set and key economic players such as Japan, the US and the EU pledged to cut their emissions by 7, 8 and 9 per cent respectively.
Climate change
Today, at the impressive Soho Place theatre – two years old and the first new-build West End theatre in 50 years – Kyoto, a new political thriller, transferred from Stratford-upon-Avon, is bringing the story of the dramatic conference that led to what is hopefully now significant progress in the response to climate change to a wider public.
The stage and the tone are set as delegate passes are issued to audience members as they make their way to their seats in a brilliantly designed space representing the conference venue. A young Angela Merkel, then an environment minister in the German government, a seasoned John Prescott, a spokesman for the EU, and US vice-president Al Gore play their parts. The main drama though lies in the combative but ultimately effective (for a period at least) relationship between conference chair Raúl Estrada-Oyuela and American lawyer and oil lobbyist Don Pearlman.
Threat
It makes for a fascinating two and a half hours of entertainment and information, depressing in the lack of attention to the big picture of the environmental threat, but strangely hopeful too.
Kyoto runs at Soho Place until 3 May
www.sohoplace.org
