Monday mornings

by Geena Berry

Happy Moments…eventually

On Mondays it’s often a little harder to get out of bed, and today was definitely one of those mornings.  I started out in a bad mood, got confused by our room situation and then changed three different times before actually figuring out what to wear.  All this on top of like five hours of sleep … which is a lame way to start the day.  I get to breakfast, eat by myself and head for the bus.  Not-so-good mood continues when I realize that the entrance to the conference center is a GIANT line … by line I mean giant blob with everyone waiting in it.  Which was okay at first, but actually got a little better.  Mostly the giant line and blob of people were just confused, but it is funny that in all that madness there is this joint hatred that:
1) the Bella Center is not correctly designed for mass entrance in the morning
2) observers cannot get into the conference center until 8 anyway
3) 20,000 more people have been accredited than the building can hold and
4) there is no good coffee anywhere!
I love it.  I love that the mass blob of people in the morning make me happier than anything else.  It’s amazing.  Hopefully any of the mad Monday vibes will not infest the delegates that have a lot of work to do. (NEIL that is directed at you!)

Reflections from the weekend
Actions are amazing.  Protests/marches with thousands of other people, even better.  I hope all of you have been following what has been going on in the sad amount of media coverage that is around.  (Just to clarify, the march on Saturday was peaceful except for a small number of people who were probably not in the march to bring attention to the climate change issue.)  It was amazing to walk though the streets of Copenhagen with all those people; so energized, so much energy! Although. Saturday really made me wonder if we should be doing much more in the way of real actions … existential question for the weekend … should we be working in the system, or just really draw lots of attention outside, where all of this talk needs to make a difference?

A few of the COA students and alumni working toward a strong climate change treaty in Copenhagen. Back row (standing): Nina Therkildsen '05, Michael Keller 09, Cory Whitney '03, Juan Hoffmaister '07; sitting: Andrew Louw '11, (on edge of couch) Taj Schottland '10 (directly in front of him), Richard van Kampen '12, Oliver Bruce '10, Mers, Noah Hodgetts '10, Matt McInnis '09; front row: Barry (a New Zealand friend), faculty member Doreen Stabinsky, Sarah Neilson '09, Emily Postman '12, Geena Berry '10, Lindsay Britton '11.

On a different note: College of the Atlantic is great!  Having multiple large dinners with our delegation, friends and alums was amazing this past weekend. I thought COA was pretty cool before – but actually seeing how we are involved, what alums are doing and how open and welcoming our community is, is such a nice feeling.

The week ahead
This week is really what matters. Yes, there have been painful and intense moments in the past week, but that is not where much of the work is done. Delegates will be joined by heads of state and other important people. The text will be torn apart, reformed and then changed according to what is happening in side discussions. Now is the time to draw attention to what we need in order to craft some sort of agreement, and what it will look like to individual countries.  In the end, we hopefully won’t let too many people drown, be displaced, or die of famine and/or disease.

RECAP
If you have a bad Monday mood, go stand in a long line with a bunch of people.
COA is totally cool.
Week two of COP15 will be a much scarier place.

The color orange is beautiful

Geena Berry '10 at the march in Copenhagen

By Geena Berry

Orange at work
I’m hiding in a plenary room. Mostly so I can have the mental and physical space to write this out, plus the computer lab is not conducive for  munching on the pack of trail mix I’m enjoying for lunch. It’s already been a long day, and it is not even noon.  I attended my first YOUNGO meeting this morning. The YOUth NGOs, is what the UNFCCC recognize. Anyway, I went to the meeting this morning to support an Australian youth who presented a draft of the youth declaration we have been working on since Sunday. I had some expectation there would be a couple of comments (comments meaning heated debate and argument) about the one pager we proposed, but we didn’t even get there. The process that is currently established does not allow for the spokes council to deal with such matters. For clarification, the spokes council is made of spokes that are representing all the groups or organizations. Generally, knowing that we only have an hour a day together, not reading through full documents would be appropriate. However, when you are presenting a document that represents all of YOUNGO, and in turn loosely the youth of the entire world, one would hope our declaration would be representative. Talking about it would have been nice. Instead the declaration got pushed to the side, and with the help of the policy group. Well, the work got done, but maybe without the best representation there could have been.

Orange in action
I sometimes get lost in the amount of actions that happen in one day among the youth. There are too many emails, some don’t send emails, they happen during 15 other events, there are 15 other actions going on, etc. Yet, either way I appreciate what seems like random noises echoing down the halls until you realize it is a scant, dance and important message that brings attention to the youth and all of our futures that are at stake.  It’s helpful to draw attention to ourselves and all the other important things we have written, our policies, statements and declarations; these documents give us credit, the actions give us weight. Our weight, drive and pushing the envelope is what makes us so effective.

Orange in number
Today is Youth Day at the UNFCCC. My title, The color orange is beautiful, is a reflection on the BRIGHT ORANGE shirts and scarves we are all wearing today (some creative COA kids also have head bands!). Our shirts say “How old will you be in 2050?” and “Don’t bracket our future”. Both messages draw attention to our future, which negotiators won’t be around for. Orange clothing makes us visible. Walking down the halls, sitting in plenary, the orange is everywhere. Most importantly, it is not just the youth that are seen with the color on, it is also the others in the conference center that support us; other NGOs and governments. Government representatives with orange on, it’s a beautiful sight.

It’s not just the Youth, it’s the Children too!

By Geena Berry

Similar to how Taj started his post, I am sitting. More specifically, I am sitting on very uncomfortable blue carpet in the overflow plenary room of the working group on long term cooperative action, writing on a small legal pad (my computer, which holds the first blog I had started to write, has died, all out of juice.)  So, I shall begin again, with more information from today than I had before.

Long-term cooperative action refers to actions dealing with the climate crisis that will have long-term, lasting effects up to and beyond 2012.  The year 2012 is when the Kyoto Protocol moves into its second phase. Anyway, we are thinking loooonnnnnnnnnggggg term. GOOD. Looking into the future is why our delegation is here. We are youth, and we don’t want any “adults” to mess up our future world.

One of the slogans or rallying points that have surfaced at these negotiations from youth have been “How old will you be in 2050?” Well, I will be 62. Not too far from retiring age… maybe. Point being, the negotiators will not be able to see the mess they have left by their inaction. The only problem with this question that we pose is that children of today will really be in charge, not the twenty-somethings. By all means I am not saying we are doing nothing while we are here. It is good that we are here, voicing our opinions, giving alternatives, showing how small local initiatives have an effect. But are we saying enough, are we being effective by playing the rules? We have our suits, fancy shoes, we know the science and policy, have our computers (unless we forget our plug adapters!), the newest iPhones, we write our own declarations and policy points. We even have our youthful age. Yet this morning in the opening ceremony, we were not the focus of a beautiful film that was screened calling our leaders to action. It was children.

Childrens voices.

I admit that perhaps I found it more powerful than some other people. Kids are a soft spot of mine and even recently I have had conversations about how children are much smarter than we give them credit for. In Copenhagen I have marveled at the children roaming the streets by themselves and the small babies completely bundled up as their parents push them in a stroller or have them somehow attached to a bike. It was these youngest members of society, our children, that reminded all the governments and observers what is at stake:

Our world is at stake, we are at stake.

Yes, we are watching you and we want real change to happen.

Children’s voices saying, “Please help.” We need that help, we need it now in a big way.

And we’re off!

By Lauren Nutter

About two weeks ago now, our COA group had our final get together, complete with apple cider and excited chatter about the change we want to see in the world.  There is no doubt in my mind that our ambitious, dedicated, and idealistic group is ready for this two week marathon of negotiations in Copenhagen.

(COA Road to Copenhagen group)

I will set off from Logan tomorrow night, and my bags are almost packed.  At least my granola bar, trail mix, and peanut butter supply to survive two weeks in an expensive European city, are all in my suitcase.  COA students were serious about fundraising to make this trip happen, and I know we are all thankful to those that made our plane tickets, hostel stay, and food supply possible.

So what does the next two weeks look like for the COA group at these negotiations?

-Most of us arrive this weekend. We will be meeting up with several hundred other youth from around the world who are coming together for the Conference of Youth (COY).  COY is the preparatory meeting for the youth NGOs who attend the negotiations.  COA students will be working closely with the youth constituency to follow the policy proceedings, help frame the global youth voice, and collaborate on a few plenary statements to the government delegates.  Some of us will also be doing direct action either inside the conference center or out on the street with other activists.

-During negotiations our days will begin early (6am) and end late (12pm or later).  It will be a flurry of running to youth meetings, official plenary sessions, and NGO briefings by the US state department. We will be sharing as much of it as we can with you through our blog.  We hope you join us through the journey, and please comment away on our blogs!

I also want to end this post by touching on some concerns about Copenhagen not yielding a treaty.  It does upset me that we aren’t able to address climate change as fast as we should.  But I think it’s important to stress that a lot will be decided in Copenhagen that will affect the final binding agreement hopefully a year from now.  The number of youth and other concerned global citizens will be record at this year’s negotiations; I believe that our many voices will have an impact that we’ve never seen before. And we will hold our governments accountable and demand strong actions now.

History will judge you.

By Lauren Nutter

The final day of Bangkok is now wrapping up.  It’s only morning here and now youth are sitting in the plenary for the Ad-hoc working group on the Kyoto Protocol.  It’s a bittersweet end to the talks… I want to be hopeful but I fail to muster much hope.  Really I guess my hope lies outside of these processes; it lies in knowing that youth all over the world, despite this pitiful display by our leaders, are taking leadership themselves.  We are not settling on the dimsal prospect– no we are rallying to continue our local work to fight climate change and support each other because it is afterall OUR future.  Below is the youth intervention for the KP session today, and more reflections to come later.

—-

My name is Rishikesh Ram Bhandary and I hope to be 64 In the year 2050.

Earlier this week, we declared “no confidence” on the road to Copenhagen.

The process has been hijacked by carbon cowboys looking to profit from this crisis; our future is being held hostage to the self-interested dirty delaying tactics of Annex 1 countries.

We have seen the arrogant betrayal of the Bali Action Plan, with the perverse idea that developing countries should or can somehow act first.

History will judge you.

We witness the US deliberately undermine the negotiations by introducing language to merge the Kyoto Protocol and convention processes, tearing out compliance and top-down target setting.

Other Annex 1 countries hide behind the US to avoid their responsibilities; setting disgracefully low targets; with deceptive offset measures that amount to no real emissions cuts at all.

We will not accept a dirty deal.

Our stand is clear. Let Norway’s commitment of 40% on 1990 levels by 2020 be the minimum benchmark for real emission cuts, but with no offsets, Indigenous rights based language secured before any discussion of REDD, recognition of climate debt, and targets of 350 ppm and 1.5 degrees Celsius.

History will judge you.

While governments are cautiously calculating their commitments based on what they believe is possible, the youth respectfully remind them that throughout history, political forces can shift rapidly when people rally together for change.

As one of the youngest people in this room, I will have to spend my life with the decisions you make today. We have an opportunity to make some of the most profound and positive changes in the history of mankind. Lets start acting like it.

Young people around the world are doing just that, organizing in our communities locally, nationally, and internationally, and we find our hope for the future in our movements.

We ask, will you join us? It is not too late to do your part.

The youth are leading..please follow.

History will judge this.

Why I shouldn’t date an Annex I guy?

The following is cross posted from adoptanegotiator.org by their negotiator tracker for India Leela Raina

To date or not to date and why?

Among the 12 of us tracking the delegations here at Bangkok , I’m really tempted to go out in the evenings after a hard day’s work in the negotiations. I think after running after 60 year old negotiators from my country I require some youthful energy to enthuse the atmosphere!

From the perspective of a Non Annex 1 girl ,I feel that it would be literally impossible for me to find love among my team of 12( keep in mind, there are no non annex 1 guys) due to the following very very STRONG reasons:

1. He is not willing to COMMIT I am thinking Leela, I will think about it, I have loads of domestic responsibilities ( read: girls back home) to undertake said the American Tracker. Whereas all the others supported him ,obviously ,collectively coming to a decision as the European Union , but nevertheless made their individual statements. Instead they all say: Lets start all over again, lets try and get to know each other( read: shift baseline from 1990 to 2005) What is keeping you from committing? Is it the reason that you feel I’ll dominate the relationship in the long run? ( read: I’ll develop more than you over the years).

2. He takes more SPACE in the relationship  read:( has a massively higher proportion of pollution than us) and still demands he needs more space! This is so totally NOT FAIR!

3. He refuses to FINANCE dinners Although they have so much more money considering the dollar to baht exchange rate is amazing , they fail to fund my dinners. So I end up paying for myself, but considering that I don’t have the capacity to buy special desserts and exotic cakes, it becomes difficult to try and eat my share! ( read: we can fund local missions like solar but in case we need to scale up activities we require your help!)

4. Hates my mother ( READ: tries to kill the KYOTO PROTOCOL) Does not agree to any principles and conditions my Indian mother puts before him as far as getting back earlier than midnight etc etc and definitely hates my mother for them ! ( read: doesn’t like the conditions imposed and will not ratify them at any cost) .  My mother is the most special and essential part of my life, how can you neglect her like this? ( read: i have signed onto the KP and my commitment period is coming to an end not the protocol!

5. Doesn’t let me use the TV remote or the computer( read: no transfer of technology) I am deprived of using any sort of advanced technologies. Do you think that I don’t know how to use them? I come from India , we literally live with software and knwo the C to S of computers.

6. Wouldn’t save me If I fall off a cliff / Earthquakes hits us/flash floods take place READ: We are already losing lives and their inaction could push us over the cliff towards run away climate change….. He’s not going to come in a helicopter to save me like a Bollywood movie hero (read: countries are already feeling the effects and they are not reaching out enough with support for adaptation)

7.Doesn’t follow through and is indecisive READ:One second Obama is at the UN high level summit promising big things and yet here in Bangkok there is little to no action to meet those high remarks. Why do we hear different views all the time?

– Doesn’t share a blanket: Just don’t have any concept of sharing is it?? and then let you wrought outside in the cold at the middle of the night.

8.Possessive and wants daily reports READ : They want measurable , reportable and verifiable nationally appropriate mission reductions. Why do you keep tracking us , when you never has an answer to where you are ? 9. Have such a consumption oriented lifestyle Waste most of their money buying goods that they don’t use! We need to shift to a more sustainable lifestyle.

10. Would not make a good father Read: clearly doesn’t care about protecting the environment for future generations and has no concept of making a better world in general. So what say guys , are you willing to change or not?

Where are we at?

By Lauren Nutter

Exhaustion is the first word that comes to mind personally.  But in all seriousness, now fully in the second week of negotiations, I find myself asking where are we at?  I find myself in a bizarre and somewhat conflicted state. On one hand the 200 page text we started with here in Bangkok has been consolidated, and countries are being quite frank about outlining their deal breakers and what they need domestically to make this happen… all seem to be good signals right?

And yet in my exhaustion I can not tell is that enough to allow myself to celebrate or grasp as a glimmer of hope? We are still moving painfully slowly, and although there are fewer pages there are still probably as many controversial topics. And even more frustratingly I find myself being pulled back once again to the US domestic scene where it feels the fate is hanging at the moment… will we get numbers and a law from Congress that will allow us to stop holding up progress in these negotiations?

I’m not sure on any of these points. The best I can say is stay tuned and in the mean time here are some more anecdotes and comments from Friday’s stocktaking session in the Long-term Cooperative Action track (aka where shit has to get done for a global climate deal in Copenhagen).

AOSIS- a political decision is not enough in Copenhagen; we need a legal implementation that will bring us to 2012 and beyond.

Mauritius- referring to the recent natural disasters “This is not a wake up call; this is a final call”

Switzerland on behalf of the Environmental Integrity Group- held up a sign “Yes we can” and expressed concern that we need to pick up the pace of the negotiations.

Saudi Arabia- followed by holding up a sign “Yes, if fair and equitable”.

Women and Climate Justice

By Lauren Nutter

(for Geena Berry and the rest of the awesome folks fighting for gender equity)

I’ve been a supporter of stakeholder participation for a long time now, and I am realizing, now more then ever, the value of incorporating more then just sovereign states into global solutions. Simply, we can better combat climate change if we are involving actors on all levels and recognize the potential of those most impacted. For example, women are some of the most strongly affected by climate change, yet their special knowledge to deal with the impacts is rarely considered.

Yesterday at the climate talks in Bangkok, more then 100 women from Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other Asian countries, rallied in the streets to demand gender equity be included in the context of a just climate deal for Copenhagen.

image from gendercc.net

The ECO daily newsletter here in Bangkok included a few highlights of why gender equity is important in the context of climate change:

o Women are the key providers of food, water, and fuel in their communities. They provide up to 90% of food croups for the rural poor. They care for children, the sick, and elderly, and oversee the family’s assets. As a result, women have direct knowledge about effective and innovative solutions. They know how to address resources constraints and respond to erratic environmental changes.

o Women’s empowerment is crucial to sustainable development. Women lead some of the most progressive efforts in response to environmental degradation and climate change impacts, even as their voices are often marginalized. Wangari Maathai started the global Green Belt movement to plant trees in Kenya, and entered into an agreement with the World Bank to reforest regions of Kenya and secure significant emissions reductions—and that success is only one of many

o Women are disproportionally affected by climate change. Women make up an estimated 70% of those living below the poverty line; they have less access to resources; and they are more likely to die than men during natural disasters.

o Of all the legally binding agreements that resulted from the 1992 Earth Summit, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is the only one not to incorporate gender issues. In contrast, the Convention on Biological Diversity has incorporated a gender plan of action that recognizes women’s traditional knowledge and access to land assets.