A Final COP 16 Reflection

At 2:30 pm, December 13^th, 2010, I watched from my plane window as Cancun disappeared from view beneath layers of clouds. The buildings diminished in size as the plane ascended, getting smaller and smaller, until eventually they blended in with the dark green and shining blue of Mexico’s coast. COP16 was officially over.

Now, we’re all settling back into our daily routines. The hustle and bustle of the conference is over, replaced with the familiar routine of school. It was difficult for some of us to adjust. My mind is still fresh with faces, sights, information, and experience – all of the things we learned, people we met and places we’ve been to. I can’t help but wonder – will any of us see any of it again?

We each took different things away from the conference, but we all left with a greater sense of awareness. The world was larger and more vast than any of us had imagined, and thrust into our faces, it became more real. We weren’t reading text from an environmental magazine. We weren’t watching the President on a television screen giving a speech about emissions 2,000 miles away. We were there, in the heat of it all, soaking up as much of it as we could. Each and every day was exhausting, but fulfilling.

The key to saving this planet is information. With information, there comes understanding, empathy, and the drive to right universal wrongs. Our team of 14 has been informed. We know the problem, and we’ve heard the many voices of the world say their part. We have the facts and the figures, the methods, and the opinions. Now, it is up to us to use this information to change the world. As today’s youth, the fate of our future lies in our hands. Now is the time to empathize; now is the time to right a universal wrong. COP16 has changed all of us. We can use the change within us to change our world.

Final Thoughts from COP 16

The SESEF delegation talking with Lord Christopher Monckton.

When you look at the statistics the chance of an average citizen having the opportunity to attend a United Nation’s conference is very slim, but the chance of a group of high school students having the opportunity to attend as official observers is even less likely. Although we may have only been able to attend for a week, the experience is something I’ll remember forever and look back on as one of the most amazing experiences of my life. This feeling is shared by all the students who were lucky enough to be chosen as delegates to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change summit in Cancun, Mexico, otherwise known as COP16. It required an intimidating amount of preparation that included a class, for most of us, where we were taught the basics about the COP conference and were introduced to some of the main issues that would be discussed at the conference sessions. We were overwhelmed with the enormity of the event that we were about to attend, but at the same time we were all extremely excited for the amazing opportunity. The first group of students left a week before us, sent back news of what they had seen and reported on what was happening already at the conference. Hearing all their tales of the goings on only made our feelings of anxiousness and other mixed emotion grow; 5:30am on Friday, December 3rd could not come soon enough.

SES delegates conversing at the Cancunmesse.

            Sitting on the plane descending into Cancun is something I will never forget. Not because of the amazing view of the Caribbean outside of the plane window, but because in my head I knew that I was arriving into something much bigger than I had been imagining all those months prior. After landing our group of students along with our leader, Patrice Callahan, headed to the parking lot of the Cancun airport to find a man name Luis Felipe because he was going to be our transportation from the airport to our hotel. On our way to the Xbalamque hotel in downtown Cancun city, our new friend, Luis, told us all about the history and structure of our new surroundings. His stories made the drive from the airport to the hotel seem nothing more then a few minutes. Our hotel was the opposite of what comes to the majority of Americans' minds when they think “Cancun hotel”. It was beautiful, and a very nice hotel. But it was in the dead center of Cancun city, which means we were no where near the ocean and our surroundings weren’t as Americanized as the rest of Cancun. The placement of our hotel was one of the many things that contributed to the overall amazing experience we had while staying in Cancun, Mexico.

SES Delegation members

The Brazilian pavilion at the Cancunmesse

SES delegate interviewing a Belgian party member

         The conference was something indescribable. There were so many different cultures and types of people all brought together and they were all working with the same idea. People drawn from all corners of the world working towards a more sustainable earth for not only their descendents but many generations to come. Walking into the conference center for the first time was something I cannot begin to describe; we were so nervous but at the same time  trying to look as if we weren't mesmerized high school students but worldly, intellectual individuals. Seeing all the delegates and party members for the first time, and hearing all the debates about sessions that were occurring, was overwhelming and intimidating. It immediately had me questioning my ability to carry myself among such interesting people. Throughout the week we immersed ourselves into the community that had already built itself the first week of COP. We came to recognize faces, make friends, and interview quite a few of the people we had the privilege to meet. We heard perspectives on climate change from places like Kiribati all the way to Germany. We had the opportunity to attend very interesting sessions such as "Future Bearers of Responsibility" and "The Human Faces of Climate Change".  We also had the opportunity to participate in actions, which were like demonstrations allowed by the conference. The ones we were a part of were specifically led by youth organizations. Mainly Youngo (the constituency of Youth related NGOs) set up the actions, but members of 350.org and SustainUS also participated. Being a part of these actions and working with the organized youth delegations helped to make us feel more a part of the conference.

Posters displayed at the Cancunmesse

Interviewing a delegate from Bolivia

       As the conference progressed we kept up with what was going on with the main negotiations at the Moon Palace resort. The plenary sessions, which included presidents and heads of state, were something to see. The speeches given by these articulate people were inspiring and moving but unfortunately didn't lead to an ending that most at the conference would have liked to see. COP16 in Cancun, Mexico ended with the Cancun Accord, which left a great deal up to COP17 next year in Durban, South Africa. A few of things agreed upon in the Cancun Accord included a total $30 billion from developed countries to undeveloped countries to support climate action up to 2010 and a hope to raise $100 billion in long-term funds by 2020. Also the parties under the Kyoto Protocol agreed to carry on with their negotiations with the goal of making sure there was no space between the first and second commitment periods of the treaty. Overall the view of the Cancun Accord from the perspective of a majority of observers was a feeling of disappointment. "More could have been done" was the most common response when participants were asked how they felt about the negotiation results at COP16. 

As we packed our bags that following Sunday morning we couldn't believe it was over. The trip we had been anticipating for months prior had already come to a close and finished before we knew it. All the stress and preparation we had experienced was going to be over as soon as we stepped on the plane later that afternoon. COP16 is something I will take with me for the rest of my life, and the people I met and information I learned changed me forever. Coming back to Minnesota and spreading the information I learned when I was there and telling people about what is going on at these conferences is something that we all put on the top of our priority lists.

  The whole delegation on the last day of the conference in front of the Mexican pavilian inside the Cancunmesse.

Written by: Anna C.

YOUNGO at Moon Palace

Throughout the past two weeks, we have been participating with the YOUNGO group which consisted of youth from all over the world, including young people from 350.org and SustainUS. Of all the days at COP16, our last day was the most meaningful and certainly the one event that impacted us the most as youth delegates. We arrived at Moon Palace Friday morning expecting to participate in an event with the YOUNGO group. Little did we know how much attention we would attract... Around 2:30 pm we met with the group and discussed the two events that were to take place. Of course, they all depended on UNFCCC approval because without it we would risk losing our accreditation to the conference. It was very important to youth delegates and YOUNGO that these events be approved since all other events that we were expecting to perform had been cancelled. Eventually, we heard that we had one hour approved from 4 to 5 pm to do our events.

During the time we waited, Paul from 350.org, interviewed seven of us. He had us answer three questions: (1) What's your name? (2) What has impacted you most here at COP16? (3) What will you do once you get home? All of us had fairly similar answers which related to the overall culture, people, and environment that we were experiencing. We all wanted to share our experiences here at COP16 back at home and we are eager to do so.

Around four o'clock we huddled up and discussed the plan, passed out signs, and shared the two banners created for the events. The banners reflected the overall message of our event; to limit global atmospheric temperature increase to 1.5 degrees celsius and to send a warning that "Justice delayed is justice denied". As for the small signs held by numerous counters during the event, they read "21,000 climate related deaths in 2010", "Flooding in Colombia - 176 people", and "Landslide in Oaxaca - 500 people". These were just some examples of climate change related tragedies - and the major cause... humans. They are "crimes" committed indirectly by human kind against fellow humans. It was important that we had our voices heard.

 

Isabelle led the first event which included a massive thermometer. 

In a dramatic display, members of YOUNGO acted out how we survival is possible at a 1.5 degree celsius temperature increase and and below and anything above it will have lethal consequences. This display attracted a crowd of reporters and witnesses to our next event - counting to 21,000.

Counting to 21,000 was estimated to take approximately five hours, but SES delegates only stayed for the time approved by the UNFCCC. Standing up there among crowds of people gave me chills because every single number represented one person in the world that had died and every death has it's story. As we counted, members would speak up and tell a story, plead, or share a message that evoked emotion in them or in the audience. We were surrounded by so many people recording us and taking pictures which only caused our event to be even further extended to the world.

By the time one hour passed, we had reached around 1,500. Unfortunately the SES delegates had to leave, and many of us felt badly because of our desire to help convey the urgency of our message. Although we left, we contributed as best we could and I am sure we all feel somewhat accomplished that we had an influence on the people watching.

The counting continued on until security began to interrupt. YOUNGO members insisted on counting until they were forced onto shuttle buses and taken away from the scene. Hundreds and maybe even thousands of people witnessed the emotional event that took place. The youth are determined to push for real action and ask for only justice for humanity and our planet.

"You have been negotiating all our lives. You cannot tell us you need more time."

Sincerely,
The Youth, Future Leaders

The Faces of Climate Change

COP16 is an amazing event filled with many intriguing sessions and debates such as climate change impacts on health care and Kyoto Protocol discussions. These events really work to enlighten and spark multiple emotions in those who are observing, but the thing that impacts the individual attending COP16 the most, in my opinion, has to be the faces they see here. COP16 brings in people from all corners of our planet, and it is here that all the cultures can come and share their cultures, traditions, and make it clear to the world that they do exist and have voices to be heard. Myself along with two other SESEF delegates had the opportunity  on Thursday to attend a session entitled, "The Human Faces of Climate Change".  It was in this session that we learned about the nations of Kiribati and Tuvalo, Pacific Island nations that are experiencing, in a very dramatic way, the implications of climate change. Both Kiribati and Tuvalo are atoll islands, which means that they are a set or single island that encircles a lagoon. These atolls are commonly not very high above sea level, an example being Tuvalo's highest point which is just three meters above sea level.

The panel of Pacific nation islanders. From left to right: Claire Anterea, Peter Embassem, Luana Bosanquet-Heays,
Tony (the MC) and Maria Timon.

Peter Embassem came to the conference to speak about his home country of Tuvalo, and before he started his presentation he informed the audience that the majority of his powerpoint was going to be made up of pictures. At first the slides were of the beautiful island from which he came. It was picturesque; beautiful beaches, lush vegitation and blue ocean. But as his speech progressed he started to inform us of the ways that climate change is directly effecting Tuvalo. They are experiencing king tides and more common cyclones than ever before. When king tides hit Tuvalo they don't only come at the islands on both shores but they also bubble up from underneath the islands. When these tides hit they flood many parts of an island, which puts the majority of the population's houses at least halfway underwater. Along with the loss of their houses during the king tides these Pacific islanders have to deal with contaminated drinking water, because when the tides come up they contaminate the wells which makes the fresh water almost completely undrinkable. As for cyclones, when they hit the islands of Tuvalo, the impacts are devastating. Imagine the picturesque piece of dreamland I described earlier, with it's sandy beaches, beautiful vegetation and crystal clear ocean. Now take that wonderful island and remove everything but the rocks and sand. When a cyclone hits these small islands it destroys almost all vegetation, due to the poor soil and mass amounts of sand, so storms leave these islands with little more then rocks. Similar impacts affect the nearby island of Kiribati. A young woman from the island by the name of Claire Anterea brought this nation to our attention.

Claire Anterea performing a native dance from Karibati.

She was quick to tell us a most disturbing and unfortunate fact. The Pacific Islands have the highest infant mortality rate in the world. We were told that because of the droughts they are experiencing, the inconsistent supply of fresh water, and a variety of diseases, infant mortalities are becoming quite common. Claire even had her own personal story to tell related to this statistic. Her own brother had just recently lost not only one but two of his children. Yes, the Pacific Islanders' presentation was eye opening and crushing, yet the Islanders themselves were still able to smile, joke, and show their hope. They shared dances and songs from their homelands, showing us that they are willing to fight for their cultures and that their countries and their cultures are worth saving. One of the women from the Islanders performed a dance for the observers entitled "We Three", which represented the three main groups of Pacific Islanders (Micronesia, Polynesia and Malenasia).

Luana Bosanquet-Heays performing the "We Three" dance.

Hear the song for "We Three" here. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSl1iTHlQM4

When the session ended the group sang a song of farewell to the observers and then ended with big smiles full of hope. When they had finished the SESEF delegates and myself approached the podium and requested an interview with Claire Anterea from Kiribati. During the interview Claire passionately expressed her views on climate change and how it is affecting her home, as we had just seen in the presentation. 

Claire Anterea during her interview with Nikki.

As we left Claire kept thanking us for attending the session.  This gesture and the overall way the Islanders presented themselves and their information gave the session a sort of personal feel. The observers could actually connect and relate to the presenters even though the majority of us had never experienced problems as dramatic. Leaving a session like this one puts you in a sort of melancholy, abstract mood. You don't exactly know what to think, at least this is how Nikki, Kia and myself reacted to what we had just witnessed. We reconvened with the rest of the SESEF delegation, with rants of "the most amazing session at the conference" and tried to explain to them exactly what we had experienced. 

After sharing with our peers we broke up into two groups. Each group was equipped with some of SES's beautiful audio recording equipment and a person with a camera. Our mission: Get interviews. I was with a group of four, including Nicole, Brooke, Austin and myself. We set off through the booths in search of interesting individuals to interview. When we came to the 350 booth something strange was happening. Lord Christopher Monckton, one of the world's most prominent anthropogenic climate change skeptics, had started to be interviewed by a mob right next to where YOUNGO had been doing an action. 

YOUNGO members having people come vote against sea level rise.

One of the YOUNGO (Youth related NGOs) members, Reed Aronow, was proceeding to yell and invite passers by to come and vote against sea level rise in hopes of drowning out Monckton. Coming across all of this action definitely caught us off guard and left us in a bit of a shock, but as soon as I came to my senses I was quick to disregard Monckton and join Reed in a chant saying, "1.5 degrees in the text. Right here. Right now!" The two of us chanted and brought in people to vote against the rise of sea levels. Eventually we had drawn a crowd and the cameras left Monckton for us. It didn't take long for the rest of the youth to join in and turn our little chant into a song. People came from all over the center to hear us and record us. In the end we had drowned out Monckton, reducing his crowd to three, two of whom were debating him and the third person.  Seeing the faces of the people who came to watch us speak out about climate change and seeing the faces of the youth surrounding me is something I'll never forget. COP16 brings together people from all sorts of cultures and backgrounds, but they come together for one central reason: the changing climate of their earth. Peter Embassem,

 the man from Tuvalo, ended his presentation with a quote which really hit hard for me and it is how I am going to end this entry. "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."

Thank you for reading.



Written by: Anna C.

Climate Change Health Impacts

When thinking about COP 15 which took place in Copenhagen last year and COP 16 which is taking place here in Cancun this week I recently found out that within the past two years there have only been 3 sessions on health care and how it is negatively impacted by climate change. When finding this out I was surprised to learn people are dying from the air pollution, sea level rise, and many other causes all because we ignore what is happening around the world. I found out that a majority of delegates attending the conference believe that sufficient climate change action will not be achieved at the international level without public support and the well being of others in mind. Climate change and health are very closely linked together, so much so that the World Health Organization (WHO) selected climate change and health care as the focus of World Health Day in 2008. If the world starts acknowledging the impact of climate change on human health and takes action sooner rather than later, we can save lives now and limit negative effects on the environment.    

Maria Neira World Health Organization

I recently attended a session with many key speakers including Dr. Maria Neira who is charge of the World Health Organization and Dr. Jose Villalobos who is the Secretary of Health for Mexico. They spoke about how closely linked climate change human health really are and said that the effects from climate change represent the biggest global health threat in the 21^st century. Natural disasters, the rise of atmospheric temperatures, sea level rise, and air pollution are all effects of climate change and affect human health significantly. Areas of poverty are at the greatest health risk from these effects.

When natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, or even droughts caused by climate change hit high poverty areas people are highly susceptible to new diseases due to lack of resources and medical treatment.  Floods and droughts are also harmful to health. Floods create breeding grounds for insects like mosquitoes that transmit disease, while droughts increase malnutrition in countries. When temperature increases, the risk of infection is 3.4 times higher for malaria and other tropical waterborne diseases. Dr. Michael Wilkes from the HEAL organization believes that within the next 20 years doctors will be encountering diseases that they have never seen before because of climate change. He believes that we need to educate people because we all have a personal responsibility to our own health but also the health of the planet. With shortages in water from droughts families have to move from where they live and that can cause many health issues for women including infertility and sexual violence from men. 

Air pollution is something that affects the health of people everywhere but has the greatest impact on the poorest women and children. Indoor air pollution kills around two million women and children a year due to the particulate matter in the smoke given off by wood burning stoves which are used to cook meals in poor  areas. The pollution from these stoves can cause respiratory and cardiovascular disease, allergies,  and asthma in women and children. WHO is promoting physical exercise to help fight climate change. Instead of driving a car they say to walk because it decreases carbon emissions, depression, injuries, osteoporosis, and infrastructure cost.

All of these deaths are preventable if health protection is prioritized and if adaptation aid is given to poor and developing countries. With clean water, better sanitation, vector control, early warnings for disasters and more humanitarian aid we will limit the negative impacts of climate change on health. A new advocacy and public health movement is urgently needed to bring together governments, international agencies,  nongovernmental organizations, and communities to address the impacts on health related to climate change. Training and education are key in combating this problem.  Climate change related impact on human health  is an important issue and needs to be heard by world leaders so that something can be done to help humanity instead of debating it for another year.  

High Level Opening Ceremony

Opportunity is one of the best things about the COP in my opinion; on the bus you are able to speak with party members from all parts of the world, you are able to hear a variety of opinions from speakers in the side events sessions, and once in a while you are able to witness something meant only for the press and diplomats. The opening ceremony of the high level segment for leaders of countries and organizations was held today at the Moon Palace in Cancun, and because of a lottery among the other NGO’s, I was able to attend as a Civil Observer.  

(UNFCCC website photo)

Moon Palace is seen as the setting for the more political aspect of the COP, it is where the majority of the  drafts are written and agreements are made, and most of the meetings that take place in the area are closed to the public. The main building, the Sunrise, was where the ceremony was held. After a brief security check I was in the plenary room fifteen minutes before the ceremony was supposed to begin and had a brief conversation with the Austrian filmmaker, Werner Boote, who is at the COP to promote his film “Plastic Planet”.  The ceremony began thirty minutes behind schedule because of the large influx of press and non authorized observers trying to get into the room. 

Keeping with the theme of Mexico’s rich history and diversity, the ceremony opened with an interpretive dance that including representations of mainstays in Mexican culture, a Conch shell representing the beach, Maize representing agriculture, a Mayan god representing the cultural and historical roots of the country, and a small Mexican boy who was being led around by the dancers as though he had never seen them before. It was a symbol of what the future of Mexico may be like if negotiations are not met by the end of the Kyoto Protocol. Youth will not longer be able to enjoy the rich culture of their home country because of implications caused by climate change.

The highlight of the event were speeches made by the UNFCCC President, Christina Figueres, UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon, and the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderon. Among the other speeches were those made by Presidents Alvaro Colom Caballeros of Guatemala, Marcus Stephen of Nauru, and  Johnson Toribiong of the Republic of Palau on behalf of the Association of Small Island States, the Minister of Water and Environment from Yemen  on behalf of the G77 group, the Prime Minister of Kenya, Connie Hedegaard on behalf of the European Union, and many more.

Although each speech was different, they were all trying to say the same thing. Last year in Copenhagen, when new decisions were not made and new agreements were not created, people all over the world were greatly disappointed in the way the UN handled the negotiation process. This year the speakers wanted the world to see that they realize the pressure is on them to complete a new agreement that will advance the commitments set forth by the Kyoto Protocol.  As President Calderon said in his speech, “the crucial countdown for the conference is beginning.”


Written by Nikki M.

US Action on Climate Change

When it comes to initiating national action, the best answer is not as one country but in fact, each of the states themselves. Today four representatives from the United States spoke on state and regional climate and energy policy leadership. These representatives included members from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Georgetown Climate Center (GCC), and the NY State of Environmental Conservation.

Their purpose was to discuss the important actions that are underway to combat climate change in the U.S. despite the absence of comprehensive federal legislation. One of the main focuses discussed by Vicki Arroya, executive director of GCC, was the ways in which individual states are combating against climate change. It was very intriguing because as delegates from the United States we see this happening on a local level personally in our own state. Minnesota is part of the 36 states that have renewable energy portfolio standards and have completed climate action plans. According to Arroya, the GCC goal/strategic role in implementing climate action plans is to inform the development of legislation, regulation, transportation, and adaptation policy as well as bring together academics and policymakers to improve climate policy. The purpose of these goals is to inform people that real reductions can be achieved at reasonable costs and that they are possible for everyone at state and regional levels.

The speakers mentioned a few times about the 3 regions dialogue - uniting the 3 regions of the US in combating climate change by sharing insights, exchanging information, supporting a federal program and its design, and considering opportunities for programs. The advantages of this type of collaboration, said Lauren Faber, the Assistant Secretary for Climate Change Programs, make accomplishing goals easier and gives us "sober optimism" because it is harder at a national level to agree on policies. Faber made California's standpoint on climate change clear saying that, "California is not an outlier in climate change policies". Doug Scott, director of Illinois EPA, also discussed efforts to address climate change in Illinois. Both states have provided essential programs in order to mitigate energy and GHGs (greenhouse gases). California has been a leader in renewable energy by following AB32: the Global Solutions Act inacted in 2006 which set the goal of reducing emission levels to those of 1990 by 2020. Not only do they follow AB32 but they are putting together a Cap & Trade program which is expected to be started in 2012. The plan for the program is to meet the goals of AB32 and provide carbon emission reductions. As for Illinois, they have created the Illinois Climate Action Group and have 23 recommendations for action plans within the group. Scott mentioned that if the 23 recommendations were put in place compared to doing nothing, the gross state product would increase, jobs would increase by 2020, and the total cost of energy would decrease. Obviously from this session, these two states are just an example of what is possible for policies and programs at a state level. Hopefully we can see more of what the United States has to offer involving policies implemented as a result of this conference.