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What might just be the most important conference in history opened earlier today, with organisers warning diplomats from 192 nations that this could be the last best chance for a deal to protect the world from calamitous climate change.

The two-week COP15 conference, which is being held in the Danish city of Copenhagen, is the climax of two years of contentious negotiations. In spite of disagreements along the way the conference convened in an upbeat mood after a series of promises by rich and emerging economies (most notably and most recently, China and India) to curb their greenhouse gases.

At stake is a deal (the deal Hopenhagen wants to seal) that aims to wean the world away from fossil fuels and other pollutants to greener sources of energy, and to transfer hundreds of billions of dollars from rich to poor countries every year over decades to help them adapt to climate change.

COP 15 opened with video clips of children from around the globe urging delegates to help them grow up without facing catastrophic warming.

The impact on humanity of man-made drought, flood, storms and rising seas were spelt out at the start of the 12-day meeting, which will climax with a summit which should be attended by more than 190 heads of state or government.

Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen (pictured above) warned the world was looking to Copenhagen to safeguard a decent future for the generations to come.

“For the next two weeks, Copenhagen will be Hopenhagen,” he said, adopting the name of this campaign. “By the end, we must be able to deliver back to the world what was granted us here today: hope for a better future.”

Don’t let’s waste this opportunity - help seal the deal at the Hopenhagen website. Keep up with the latest news on the official COP15 site

Below: Copenhagen becomes Hopenhagen - quite literally!