Today is the beginning of the last week of work. I cannot believe how quickly the time has flown by and wonder how delegations feel about the amount of work that has or has not yet been accomplished. Delegations are preparing their day around me right now. And it is kind of interesting to watch the volume of materials they are carting around and how they have it organized.
Myself, I lay awake and prayed all last night. It is clear that we need true leadership, and sadly from a nation larger than Tuvalu. We need the EU, China, Japan and the U.S. to step up to the plate and say this is a real problem and they are going to pave the way to fix it. I think back to a time when the world faced similar issues - recall how Silent Spring rocked middle class America out of its sleepy lethargy into action. And while DDT isn't completely gone, it is far less than it used to be and is not threatening entire species of birds. So what now if we have a Silent Spring due to the fact that there are no worms for the robins. No berries for the blue jays. Dang, won't be the first time I openly weep in a computer room....
As a fourth grade student, my class in Monterey, CA read Z for Zachariah. The book details the life of a young girl (16) who lives in a remote, sheltered valley after a nuclear blast. The book at the time depressed me for the finality and morbidity of it - end of life as we know it. I am reminded of that now. And I wonder if the Mayans have it right. The end of 2012 will be the end of life as we know it....
To say it simply - this conference has rocked my world and I have no idea what to do about it. And for those of you who know me well, it takes alot to make me speechless.
Becka and I talked about it last week to write an open letter to God. What would it say? It would say, "Dear God, please help our leaders have a backbone or send us to another wonderful planet like Spaceship Earth that has leaders that are willing to take a bold stand to save ourselves and the gifts you gave us." Maybe She will still hear us.
Young People
The majority of attendees I would easily say are under the age of 20. The youth delegations are huge but will be downsized as delegations are only permitted 15 entrants beginning tomorrow. What I also found interesting is that for some countries, they are represented by people around my age. For example: Marshall Islands and Papua New Guinea.
So Model UNers, know that you have a future in this stuff. Just be in the right place at the right time and you too can make history. Even better, you might even be able to pay for your student loans!
Activities of the Day
The tight security and just strange day lead to me not attending many of the sessions I planned to attend! In all, the Bella Center is going on lock down with only 7000 NGO members out of the 40,000 that asked to attend to be allowed in. Further, later in the week restrictions on plenaries will be placed to push people to overflow rooms.
In short. It is chaos.
But President of the COP Connie Hedegaard asked NGOs to keep up the pressure. She feels confident that we must do something here and that our role is to push for resolution. Of course, the audience reminded her that we won't be allowed into the building!
During the sessions I attended I learned about a regional convention called "oar-us" by the Brits in the room and the acronym AARHUS which is the United Nations Economic Commission on Europe's Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. Passed in 1998 (into force in 2001), this Convention compels governments to allow public access to documents and proceedings about environmental issues within the international context. Imagine this as the UN's Sunshine Law. What is interesting about it is the limitation on the number of signature countries (only 44). The document also lists the controlled chemical substances that governments should report on.
Discussion during the session focused on whether the volume of civil society leaders that are recognized and given status under the Convention have any power when we are in the numbers that we are.
I also attended a session on Vietnam where they talked about their REDD program that is being partially funded by UNEP and Sweden. The nation was rapidly being deforested but they now are working on reforestation. 19% of the country's landmass is forested according to satellite imagery; down from a recorded high at 38%. REDD will support their industry and promote the citizens to protect their forests.
On the other side, they have great risks due to sea level rise. They are piloting out solutions for adaptation in three cities. One city on the Mekong Delta, will be part of the area that will be submerged; up to 58% of the delta.
They are very concerned too about changes in seasons with the cycle now unstable, uncertain and dramatically swinging from flood to drought. Rice production will be significantly decreased in the area. They are a major producer for the Philippines.
Fossil of the Day
Third Place - Canada and Saudi Arabia for receiving second to last and last in a newly published Climate Change Performance Index released by Germanwatch and Climate Action Network Europe. Of note, Canada was able to not be last because Saudi Arabia received a zero rating for its climate policy. SHAMEFUL!
Second Place - The EU for continuing to permit use of a 1990 baseline that allows actually for significant INCREASES in emissions. Their credibility as a climate leader is pretty well lost.
First Place - The United States (about time) for making no commitment for long-term fnancing to support developing countries adaptation efforts and the largest emitter with a laughable 4% target left over from Kyoto. Its time to update Clinton's failed policy. Come on Hillary - show the Administration that Bill was really really lowballing his policy numbers. And yes, my pun is truly intended. I am caffinated.
