The big news is two specific stories:
- Although many are not surprised, the Guardian leaked "Danish papers" are highly flavoring the discussions and mistrust is ruling the day. According to unnamed sources quoted in ECO, "I'm aware of four different initiatives." And of course the biggest issue, "And the last thing we want is a beautify contest over competing texts."
- A breakdown of process in the COP meeting over next steps to address whether to proceed with the Kyoto Protocol or a separate process. A contact group would be established to consider 5 proposals and determine next steps. The conflict was between AOSIS and African least develop countries and Saudi Arabia/China/India and other Arab states. They suspended the meeting until the issue was resolved (reconvened at 3 pm).
Tuvalu set the stage for being a leader and changing the tone of the conference. The fourth smallest country in the world, this small Polynesian island nation of no more than 12,000 people made an incredible splash at the conference. They sit 15 feet above sea level on a coral atoll and during this historic speech noted, "We are here to seal the deal. To sign a legally binding document for the survival of Tuvalu."
Now dubbed the Copenhagen Protocol by Tuvalu, the supplemental accord reached here would augment updates to the Kyoto protocol. Under the proposal by the nation, both legally binding documents would hold countries accountable for actions to reduce emissions to levels for a 1.5 degree C temperature increase.
After this historic speech given by Tuvalu's longtime climate adviser Ian Fry, negotiations broke down over next steps for discussion of the treaty. Specifically the recommendation supported by Tuvalu and Grenada was to establish a contact group to allow for transparent negotiations. Much of this posturing precipitated from the leak of the Danish papers that I noted earlier (4 pm post).
Fifteen countries blocked discussion of the proposal in support of legally binding documents. Instead these countries including China, India, Saudi Arabia and South Africa, are seeking a political document out of these talks, delaying any legal discussion until Mexico City's meeting next year or beyond. Further, the G77 and African nations began to fracture under the political pressure with the island nations (AOSIS) standing firm. Without consensus, President of the COP, Dane Minister Connie Hedegaard, suspended the COP plenary at the request of Tuvalu and an agreement was not reached during the day. NGOs protested the suspension of plenary in a great showing of force supporting Tuvalu with signs "Tuvalu is the real deal." Plenary is scheduled to begin again at 10 am; it is unclear what accords were reached over night.
Two other notable speakers presented during the plenary. CAN International was represented by Aditi Kapoor and ECO Singapore-an, Amira Karim represented the Youth Delegation spoke before the COP Plenary on the importance of this meeting. I have to note that the Youth speaker was poised and delivered a very strong message. I am honestly proud of the number of young people here.
Ms. Kapoor, an Indian national, noted that "the safety of our planet is not negotiable." She concluded her statement by saying, "When the story of the struggle to save the world from climate change is written, how will you be judged? Will you be the ones with good intentions but who sadly lacked the strength and willpower to live their dreams? Will your children and grandchildren look back in shame that you missed this opportunity? OR will you emerge as the hero who saved the day and agreed a fair, ambitious and binding agreement from Copenhagen?" Ms. Karim dubbed the developed country activities (Danish papers) as "tantamount to carbon colonialism" and really put an exclamation mark on her remarks by concluding, "We face an unprecedented challenge that calls for unity and responsibility. It is not enough to say “yes we can” but rather “yes we can, yes we must, yes we will.”"
In other news, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson spoke to a packed room here in Copenhagen. I was able to stand outside and watch on the monitors while others in our delegation made it into the room. Administrator Jackson observed, "We owe it to ourselves, our fellow nations, and future generations to rise to this moment of challenge – and set a course towards sustainability, peace, prosperity and opportunity. For President Obama and the United States, that global effort starts at home. We have been hard at work on confronting climate change, through a wide range of initiatives – some you may have heard about, and others you may not have. We have been fighting to make up for lost time. In less than 11 months since taking office, we have done more to promote clean energy and prevent climate change than happened in the last 8 years."
A new development - a RAY OF THE DAY award!
Second place was awarded to Russian Federation for proposing that their announced reductions of 20-25% were "an important political statement" hedging on any legally binding target. First place was a tie between Canada and Croatia opposing the 1990 base year for basing emission levels.
But after the actions of the day, the first time ever awards "Ray of Day" award to recognize countries that "substantially advance progress in climate change talks" was given to Tuvalu. The actual, true member of the Tuvaluvian delegation was given a white feather halo to wear to signify the award during the ceremonies. He was slightly mortified. And we were given a new song to sing, although not as catchy as the Fossil of the Day theme.
Other coverage
And because I am still just trying to swallow Sarah's commentary in the Washington Post on climate change, here is a further opinion piece saying not only is she a credible critic but she's right. I wonder how she can be either when she doesn't read the newspaper that she is printed in? Thank goodness America is open to all opinions; just wish some day we can have a rational debate. Gore's response on MSNBC.
