One area where progress is being made is on REDD, the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation program, which would provide developing countries with credits from developed countries in exchange for rain forest preservation. As David Gillette explains in the video below, this is among the least controversial in a series of topics that are sparking protests and debate in Denmark:

Youth Radio’s Caitlin Gray is on the scene in chilly Copenhagen this week, as well, and wrote a strong opinion piece based on her experiences as a youth representative.

“Sometimes it feels that no matter what we do here, no matter what anyone does anywhere, that the people in power will not listen. That no matter the bicycle critical mass happening in the streets of Copenhagen TODAY, or the 10,000 people that marched to the Bella Center in protest on the International Day of Climate Action on the 12th, the message is still not getting through to the people who decide.”

While there is controversy brewing over the larger accord, Denmark as a backdrop for the summit is setting an example for the world. Denmark has made strides to reduce its own carbon emissions, leading Europe by creating a cleaner economy with fewer cars, but the country uses high taxes to get results, Marketplace’s Sam Eaton reports.

For a glimpse on what’s happening inside the Bella Center in real time, follow the #cop15 tag on Twitter, and check out videos from the conference, like this one on Future Cities:

The newly relaunched PBS NewsHour has a fact sheet outlining possible outcomes and key players.

Oregon Public Broadcasting brings the climate debate to a local level — by taking a look at a different Denmark — Denmark, Oregon. The changes that community has seen go beyond the weather, one example being how the supply of fish to restaurants is working to be more sustainable.

Over the last decade, team members voluntarily put several square miles of their fishing grounds off limits, in a marine reserve.
And right now, the fishermen are trying to cut out the middlemen and sell directly to restaurants.

Back on the ground in Copenhagen, Twin Cities Public Television’s David Gillette is producing illustrated cartoon essays from the floor of the conference. Here’s his first installment:

But not everyone is optimistic about that Copenhagen will be a success. Tunku Varadarajan posted A Skeptic’s Guide to Copenhagen in The Daily Beast this morning, criticizing that the event has grown too large to have an impact.