Optical emission spectroscopy was applied for investigation of copper plasma induced by a nanosecond transversely excited atmospheric CO2 laser, operating at 10.6 mu m. The effect of the background gas (air, Ar, He and N-2) and pressure (1-25 mbar) on plasma formation was examined. The plasma shielding effect was more pronounced for background gases with lower ionization potential than for He. The increase of He pressure from 1 to 25 mbar resulted in fivefold increase of Cu atomic line intensity.