COP15 - Copenhagen 2009

ACCENT - I DO

The ACCENT (Action on Climate Change through Engagement, Networks and Tools) consortium is made up of 15 partners from across Europe, including 13 science centres, museums and aquaria. The project is also open to European institutions who would like to get involved.

“I do” is the message of the ACCENT project, which coordinates a European action on climate change, engaging the public inside and outside of science centres and museums across Europe throughout 2010.

With the words “I do,” we make a lifelong commitment to tackle the causes of climate change. Throughout Europe, science centres and museums invite the public and scientists to come together and discuss the issues at stake. This campaign brings these institutions together, promoting and furthering the European debate on how to tackle this global issue.

Visit the website: click here.
Download the presentation document: click here.

A WON participant at COP16 - Day 11th: 10th December 2010, Friday

Notes by Mark Cheng, a World Ocean Network participant at COP16 (more info click here)

At 4 AM Cancun time, jubilation resounded at the hall at Moon Palace. The outcome though modest, brought faith back to the process and erased doubt over the future of multilateral negotiations.

The outcome:

1. Calls for “deep cuts” in emissions, enshrining that temperatures should be prevented from rising more than two degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels, and formalizes reduction targets pledged by developing and industrialised nations alike.

2. Establishment of a Green Climate Fund to help poor countries tackle global warming and a scheme for compensating countries that desist from felling their forests. (REDD+)

Status of YOUNGO- Youth Constituency

Notes by Mark Cheng, a World Ocean Network participant at COP16 (more info click here)

Current Status of the YOUNGO: APPROVED, with Provisional status to be confirmed at COP17.

Since September 2008, the UNFCCC secretariat has been working together with people to promote active youth participation in the climate change negotiation process through the Joint Framework Initiative on Children, Youth and Climate Change.

Up to 1.3 billion of the world population are youths, many of whom living in the developing world. Young people represent the future generation of decision makers, who will bear most the brunt of the negative impacts of climate change.

Obtaining the formal status would entail us to secure the following rights:

we will be invited to (some of) the workshop taking place in between sessions,
we will receive a speaking slot at the high level segment of the COPs,
we will receive an office space at the COPs (but probably not for COP15, the office space being already attributed),
we will have additional opportunities to make statements during the plenaries,
the secretariat will facilitate the logistics of our daily meetings (every day in same room, announced in the programme and on CCTVs),
we will have the opportunity to hold bilaterals with the chairs of each official bodies (COP, SBI, SBSTA, AWGs),
we will have an enhanced chance to hold bilaterals with the chair of other groups such as expert groups and contact groups,
our participation to the Secretary General NGOs briefings will improve (particular right to ask specific questions).

A WON participant at COP16 - Day 10th: 9th December 2010, Thursday

Klimaforum

Notes by Mark Cheng, a World Ocean Network participant at COP16 (more info click here)

For a change, I decided to check out the Klimaforum today. The Klimaforum10 known as the People’s Climate Summit was held on the sidelines of the COP16. Klimaforum 10 is an autonomous grassroots initiative parallel to the COP16 hosted by the United Nations, which was held from the 26th of November until the 11th of December 2010 at Puerto Morelos, just 20 Minutes from the COP16.

Klimaforum presents a diversity of climate related activities – debates, workshops and exhibitions – along with different performances – music, theatre and film – representing the whole world. The Klimaforum has also been a common place for the youths to campaign their cause.

The Youths did a video to spur negotiators into a legally-binding solution:

A WON participant at COP16 - Day 9th: 8th December 2010, Wednesday

The power of youths @ COP16

Notes by Mark Cheng, a World Ocean Network participant at COP16 (more info click here)

ARTICLE 6: EDUCATION, TRAINING AND PUBLIC AWARENESS

In carrying out their commitments under Article 4, paragraph 1(i), the Parties shall:

(a) Promote and facilitate at the national and, as appropriate, sub-regional and regional levels, and in accordance with national laws and regulations, and within their respective capacities:

(i) The development and implementation of educational and public awareness programmes on climate change and its effects;

(ii) Public access to information on climate change and its effects;

(iii) Public participation in addressing climate change and its effects and developing adequate responses; and

(iv) Training of scientific, technical and managerial personnel.

(b) Cooperate in and promote, at the international level, and, where appropriate, using existing bodies:

(i) The development and exchange of educational and public awareness material on climate change and its effects; and

(ii) The development and implementation of education and training programmes, including the strengthening of national institutions and the exchange or secondment of personnel to train experts in this field, in particular for developing countries.

A draft COP agreement has been reached on Article 6, largely attributing to the effort of the youths. In fact, all of the points raised by the youth constituency were included in the new agreement, particularly pertaining to non-formal education, youth participation in decision-making and funding for education programmes.

The Dominican Republic and G77+China group were the parties behind the quick decision and a landmark success, on the pretext of a large youth presence in the session. Youth were filling 2/3 of the room with many of them wearing a t-shirt saying: “You have been negotiating all my life, you cannot tell me you need more time.”

SBH Chair Robert Owen Jones remarked that this is the first contact group ever to achieve a COP decision in 90 minutes and awarded the Gold Star to the contact group.

However, all this work would be in vain should COP reject the draft SBI decision. Evaluating the circumstances, Parties have ample education and preparation to view Article 6 in their best interests. Decision will be approved by 10^th December.

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A WON participant at COP16 - Day 8th: 7th December 2010, Tuesday - Part 2

Taking action on ocean acidification: opportunities under UNFCCC

By Logaswari M (youth delegate for Singapore), notes by Mark Cheng, a World Ocean Network participant at COP16 (more info click here)

A simplified explanation for ocean acidification.

The Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere doesn’t all quite stay there. For what is covered in a school syllabus, we know that it can be taken in by trees, become sequestered within the soil and it can float about above us. But more interestingly, as I learnt from Dr Robert Monroe of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at COP 16, it can react with the water in the ocean and release hydrogen ions to cause the water to become acidic.

This occurs in the reaction

CO2 + H2O <=> H2CO3 <=> H⁺ + HCO3^- <=> H⁺ + H⁺ + CO3^2-

This has been happening for as long as there has been Water, Carbon dioxide and area for the 2 to come into contact with each other. But with an increased concentration of Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, more of it reacts with the water in the ocean and the ocean gets more acidic.

Another important reaction to note at this point would be the reaction between acids and carbonates. The process of calcification, which is employed by sea creatures to create limestone out of carbonate ions, is greatly disrupted by ocean acidification. The carbonate ions that are needed for the making of shells and other coverings are reacted with the hydrogen ions from the acid. Hence, these creatures have thinner and more brittle shells as the acidity increases.

While the decrease on the pH scale may be insufficient to corrode the human skin or directly poison the organisms that live within it, the impacts of ocean acidification are well observed in members near the bottom of the marine ecosystem. These creatures sustain a large proportion of the ecosystem above them and their decrease in numbers would affect many populations of animals above them in the food chain.

More than the concept of ocean acidification or its effects, I learnt that there is so much more at stake than just our lives, where climate change is concerned. Everything from the atmosphere, to the humans like us who live on the surface to the creatures who dwell in the sea, we are all affected. And this will be the one new reason to continue to protect our Earth.

A WON participant at COP16 - Day 8th: 7th December 2010, Tuesday - Part 1

Bearers of future responsibility: engaging children and youth in building climate change resilience.

Organized by International Save the Children Alliance, notes by Mark Cheng, a World Ocean Network participant at COP16 (more info click here)

An impactful event which draw from the work on child-led adaptation program, specifically how the voice of children is necessary to achieve community-led adaptation to bring about integrated and effective climate change resilience.

Presenters:

Yvo de Boer, Special Global Advisory, KPMG and former Executive Secretary, UNFCCC
Margareta Wahlstrom, Assistant Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction
Liana Bratasida, Assistant Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Indonesia and former Chair, SBI, UNFCCC
UNICEF Climate Ambassadors
Child delegate sponsored by Plan International

(Taken from uniteforclimate.org)

The world’s children can too play an important role in reducing disaster risk and ensuring effective climate adaptation and mitigation. A recent study commissioned by the Children in a Changing Climate Coalition found that children can make a number of positive contributions to adapting to risk posed by climate change.

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Below are the statements from UNICEF climate ambassadors:

Coralie Norris, 14, Haiti

My name is Coralie Norris. I’m 14 years old. I live in Haiti and I’m a survivor of the earthquake that struck the capital of Haiti where I live. The fear that the earthquake brought to me is indescribable. When the earthquake happened, I was watching a movie and I would never have thought that something like this could happen to me.

Thankfully I didn’t lose any member of my close family and the damages to our house are insignificant compared to other people. But other places are full of disaster victims who for two weeks have not had anything to drink or to eat, and have had to sleep under tents in this freezing cold.

These last 15 days were the most difficult of my life!!!

I spend most of my days counting the number of dead people or the number of destroyed districts or buildings which are announced each day. I understand that nature did not make a distinction between our nationalities, our skin colors, or our wealth, as all of us were affected.

At this moment Haiti is trying to restart. Some business are still going, but most schools are not operating. I still can’t go to school.

I really want to thank all of you who contributed in a way to help because your donations allowed the Haitian people to find a little hope. And thanks for thinking of us…we need all of the help we can get.

Read more: click here.

Walter Perriott, 12, Belize

Good morning everyone. My name is Walter Perriott, I am from Belize. Belize is an amazing country, it has the second longest barrier reef in the world and 95 beautiful protected areas. All these natural resources are threatened by climate change. Sea level rise, coral bleaching, hurricanes and floods will continue to jeopardize my future.

[…] I am the present and the future, a victim of climate change … I live in a region that is constantly being affected by disasters. Hurricanes and floods are my reality. My life is real and so am I.

Read more: click here.

Climate Change Is Expected to Cost Latin American Countries at Least 1% of Annual GDP

In Cancún, the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) presented a report on the potential economic costs of climate change in the region by the end of the century if global mitigation and adaptive actions are not taken.

Read the ECLA press release: click here.

UNEP’s conclusions on Cancún and ocean acidification

UN Climate Change Conference in Cancún delivers balanced package of decisions, restores faith in multilateral process:

Read the UNEP's declaration: click here.

The scientists note that ocean acidification is already detectable and is accelerating. They caution that its negative impacts can be avoided only by limiting future atmospheric CO2 levels.

Watch the UNEP's video: click here.

Are the oceans on the climate change agenda?

IUCN’s Dorothée Herr has been walking the halls pushing the ocean message. While highlighting such problems as ocean acidification, she’s also keen to point out the possibilities that oceans offer for carbon sequestration.