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AoC Blog
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Written by Therese Miranda
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Monday, 14 December 2009 13:17 |
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 On Friday I got to be part of a group of 6 American youth and 6 Chinese youth who had a chance to sit down with Gary Locke, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce (and a Chinese American) for a 20 minute closed meeting. It was a really cool experience, and one of the moments where I had to just stop afterwards and think about how amazing it is to be here.
As a group, we decided to focus on question that were uniquely youth focused, since the goal of the meeting was to build the beginning of an ongoing working relationship. Sec. Locke emphasized the importance of youth around the world continuing to be engaged on climate change issues and pressuring their governments to act in a way that ensures that we have the future that we want. He also talked about how the culture of conspicuous consumption in the US needs to change, and how important is that China and the US both take climate change seriously, because if either country fails to act, history won't remember all the amazing accomplishments each country has had in the past, or whether they were developed, but just that they failed to save the world. I was a little frustrated to hear a statement that I think is far from true coming from a member of the administration, but I didn't have a chance to push him about whether or not he does think China is taking it seriously, or more seriously than the US. (For more on this, check out my post about China's targets.)
He also said he was worried that the earth doesn't have enough time and that governments are moving too slowly. As far as economic concerns go, he believes that you have to care about climate change if you care about the economy, and that one of the big challenges for activists, particularly youth, is convincing the American public that these actions will create clean good-paying jobs. As he had during a general briefing earlier that day, he emphasized the value of sharing the best possible technology from around the world, regardless of where they're developed, and how important it is that capital and ideas flow freely around the globe. R&D cooperation is another area he sees as incredibly valuable.
Overall, he seemed to have some great ideas, but, as is to be expected, he didn't say anything that really surprised me. Regardless, it was a super cool opportunity, and one that really hit home just how awesome being here for these negotiations is. |
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Last Updated on Monday, 14 December 2009 13:19 |
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Written by Rachel Barge
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Saturday, 12 December 2009 20:45 |
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(Crossposted at the Business Council on Climate Change)
As Climate Vigils and Days of Action took place around the globe, no place was more exuberant and lively as Copenhagen, Denmark.
With 100,000 climate supporters marching in the streets, the home of COP15 is also now home to the largest climate demonstration in history! I'll note that Australia was a close second, with 90,000 citizens marching in the blazing summer heat. Amazing!
I unfortunately missed out on the action, as I have been bedridden with the flu for the past 3 days. I have still been contributing where I can over email, and sharing in the joy as media hits from the UK Guardian, New York Times, and other major newspapers roll in showing video footage and photos of my friends from the US Youth Delegation out in full swing.
The picture above was taken from a cell phone camera and tweeted across the globe. As this diverse crowd of 100,000 marchers flowed through the streets towards the Bella Center, where the climate talks are being held, Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu held a vigil inside. Tutu declared that the vigils are intended to ''inspire world leaders to remember the generations that will inherit a world forever shaped by the consequences of climate change.''
From the air, Copenhagen is a sea of light from the candles that visually represent the hopes of the more than 11 million people that told world leaders that they are ready for a fair, ambitious, and binding climate treaty in Copenhagen.
 The crowd was incredibly diverse as it was made up of both Danish supporters of climate action and the unprecedented number of civil society representatives from thousands of organizations that have come from all parts of the world for the United Nations climate negotiations. Civil society leaders and young people from developed and developing countries came together to ask their leaders to definitively action on climate change.
As supporters gathered outside the Bella Center, they were addressed by leading civil society leaders, such as Kumi Naidoo, the chair of the TckTckTck campaign, Deepa Gupta, director of the Indian youth climate network, and former UN human rights commissioner Mary Robinson.
At the mid-point of the Copenhagen climate talks, the hope is that world leaders recognize that this unprecedented outpouring of citizen support as the tipping point the need to lead and that the world is ready for a real deal.
Here's a small clip from the march, midday:
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Last Updated on Saturday, 12 December 2009 20:49 |
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Written by Dominic Frongillo
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Saturday, 12 December 2009 13:35 |
Greetings from the UN climate talks,
What a non-stop week! Copenhagen is a beautiful city with amazing rapid transit and high-efficiency district heating, but sunshine is not its strong suit. Combine this with my spending twelve-plus hours in the conference center and often staying up until 2am, and its no wonder I’ve only seen the sun once.
PUSHBACK FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
One of the most notable developments is the increasing outspokenness of countries which are being hardest-hit by deterioration of the climate. For example, Tuvalu is an island nation in the Pacific with a population of 11,000. It is four inches above sea level; rising seas are projected to sink the country in less than 50 years. Tuvalu called forcefully for immediate cuts in emissions -- saying “it immoral for the United Nations to permit one of its member states to be destroyed.”
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Tuvalu caused upheaval by proposing a new process under the Kyoto Protocol for increased transparency and reducing control of rich countries. Many developing nations rallied around Tuvalu’s move -- calling for a open and transparent process, rather than a process controlled by rich countries.
Other countries like China were against it, saying “we don’t have time for a new debate.” After back-and-forth disagreement, Tuvalu used its power to suspend the high-level negotiations, although numerous side negotiations continue to run simultaneously. Tuvalu’s strategy is to
raise the stakes early to force the richer countries to move as the negotiations enter the second week.
“SURVIVAL PACT OR SUICIDE PACT”
 On Thursday, the Association of Small Island States held a press conference, surrounded by young people from around the world, where they announced they were putting forward a bold new proposal for slowing accelerating climate change. Like Tuvalu, these countries will be the first to succumb to climate change, and are not sitting back or letting more powerful countries control the agenda; instead, they are actively putting forward alternatives.
They announced their support of the latest science-based targets: to bring carbon dioxide in the atmosphere back to 350 parts per million (ppm).
CO2 is like very hot chili pepper; tiny amounts of chili pepper in your soup can make it intensely spicy. CO2 is only 0.039% of the atmosphere, but drives major climatic changes. James Hansen has called 350 ppm the “redline” for human civilization; it’s the highest level where we avoid runaway feedbacks in the climate. Decades of burning of fossil fuels and deforestation has put us dangerously over this line – already over 387 ppm. Current “business as usual” will put carbon at
over 800 ppm, which scientists say will almost certainly devastate civilization. Here’s an excellent video animation explaining the feedback: http://wakeupfreakout.org/film/tipping.html
At their press conference, AOSIS said that even the current targets being discussed in Copenhagen will commit the world to overshooting safety of 350 ppm to 450, 550, or 650 ppm – far above what will trigger dangerous climatic feedbacks. Their lead negotiator said any agreement must "ensure the survival of all peoples and all nations." They said it’s not just about the destruction of small island nations; such conditions will likely lead to displacement or destruction of
most of the world’s nations. The president of Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, said “Our choice is between a survival pact or suicide pact. The difference is that stark.”
Walking their talk, the Maldives announced this year their goal to become the first carbon neutral country in the world – a 100% reduction in carbon emissions.
YOUTH ACTION
 The activity level inside the negotiation hall is incredible. I’ve been working heavily with US and international youth, hustling between negotiation sessions, media events, presentations, meetings,
briefings, and actions. The dedication of young people here is inspiring. Our message is clear: Our future is at stake. We need an ambitious, fair, and binding climate agreement in Copenhagen in line
with the science.
In addition to creative actions both inside and outside the Bella Center, youth are working with Avaaz.org to hold the daily “Fossil of the Day” awards, a mock award ceremony to shame the nations which did the most that day to block progress on a strong climate deal. With a backdrop of a huge fire-breathing dinosaur skeleton and set to the Jurassic Park theme song, it gathers a huge crowd of onlookers and media every day – and youth recipients from each “winning” country give hilarious speeches to accept the award of shame. It’s not all negative attention: on the day Tuvalu gave its proposal, it won the first-ever “Ray of the Day” award for setting itself apart as a climate champion. |
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