There are so many people here at COP15, and the sense of urgency to deal with this historic challenge is palpable.  Kerry said that every single scientific prediction continues to show a world in greater and greater jeopardy. 

But on that third-to-the-last day when COP negotiation always look headed for disaster, as they now do, there is also a tremendous sense of optimism outside the Bella Center. 

The potentates who spoke tonight are also speaking to the presidents and key negotiators who are sequestered there, helping lay out the framework that will bring political success in the wee hours of Saturday morning, and more importantly, environmental success in the years to come.

They are convinced that we will have an international agreement and an American bill, both of which can lead to the innovations we need to change the chemistry of the atmosphere that we have tampered with so severely. 

As Steven Chu said a few nights ago, “If necessity is the mother of all inventions, then this is the mother of all necessities.”

Holly Kaufman is founder and president of Environment & Enterprise Strategies, a consultancy that specializes in the design and management of projects that integrate business, human and environmental needs. She was a Presidential appointee to represent the U.S. at United Nations climate change treaty negotiations for the Departments of State and Defense, among other government positions.

Click here for full coverage of COP15 from the GreenBiz.com and ClimateBiz.com teams, including posts from Copenhagen by Executive Editor Joel Makower, Gunther and dozens of guest contributors from the business world.

Image CC licensed by Flickr user UN Climate Change.