http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/462865
Check out our reporting on the latest UNFCCC talks unfolding in Accra, Ghana this week: www.tigblog.org/group/accessaccra

Access Accra collects and digests all the latest developments from the negotiations for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!



]]> Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:37:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/462865 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/455237
We talk to Eugenio Del Valle from the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (a member of the International Trade Union Confederation) to find out!!

Check it out! You can also learn more about ITUC here: http://www.ituc-csi.org/

Many thanks to the indefatigable, inimitable Rhiya Trivedi for editing!!!]]> Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:50:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/455237 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/436017
For an introduction to the GDRs concept, check out our previous post.

Want to share your thoughts? Join the discussion at: http://en.discuss.takingitglobal.org/thread/31963

Thanks again to Rhiya Trivedi for editing!

]]> Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:47:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/436017 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/433465
Sivan Kartha of the Stockholm Environment Institute provides an introduction to the Greenhouse Development Rights framework.

For more information check out www.ecoequity.org/gdrs

Edited by Rhiya Trivedi.]]> Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:21:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/433465 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/388513
In the interim there will be a key meeting of the AWGs in Accra, Ghana this August. They have pushed a lot of work there from this session, so it will be a veeeeery long week! We hope to be there in some capacity to be able to share with you the struggles and stories and hopefully successes on the road to Poznan and (eventually) Copenhagen

Poznan will be momentously important. In a few weeks, the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, in partnership with TakingITGlobal will be formally launching applications to join the Canadian Youth Delegation to this meeting. For more information stay tuned, and don't hesitate to contact us. We will be working very closely with other youth delegations and hope to make a very big impact.

For now, thank you VERY MUCH for reading. It has truly been a pleasure, and I hope this has been useful.

Klimaliebe fur alle,

-PJ]]> Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:31:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/388513 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/388501
Anyway, back to the Press Conference…

Bill Hare of Greenpeace International spoke about the big picture – what do the events of the last two weeks mean for the next stages of the Kyoto protocol and what needs to happen for the process to be a success.

Overall, the parties have failed to make any progress any nearly all the agenda items – steps which are vital for the negotiations in Copenhagen in 2009 to be a success. In particular, Annex 1 actions for the next period and new mechanisms to aid participation by developing countries were lacking. Bill Hare warned that unless the pace increases and political roadblocks are removed quickly, there is a major risk of failure.

At every stage there have been low points, but in his fifteen years of experience the agenda has never been bigger while the progress has never been slower at these kind of negotiations in terms of substance.

This delay, he stated, is due to a pattern of unconstructive tactics, the “usual suspects,” Canada, Australia, the US and Japan, are objecting to straight-forward proposals, nitpicking, and generally attempting to slow negotiation and prevent real progress. He called on these countries to put forward constructive proposals that will solve big problems such as bunker fuels and developing country engagement rather than pushing for all old loopholes that were fought against in the creation of the Protocol.

The next speaker was Cynthia of the Nairobi based NGO the African Centre for Technological Development on issues of adaptation. Speaking as a citizen of a developing country, she reiterated that the process has been very slow progress and the we need action now to be ready for the development of the next stage.

In regard to the amount of funding allocated address adaptation needs in developing countries she noted that there have been two positive proposals. Both Norway and Switzerland have put forward concrete proposals for discussion. A disappointment has been that other developed countries haven’t really responded or put forward alternatives. Whatever plan is eventually adopted; it must be ensured that developing countries will be the ones that actually benefit from the adaptation funds.

Li Yan of Greenpeace China spoke about the productive proposals that developing nations have made over the last two weeks. These creative and constructive ideas on how to meet urgent need for mechanisms for tech transfer and investment are examples of the initiative that developed countries need to take. She highlighted Mexico’s ideas regarding a world climate change fund and Brazil’s ideas for tech transfer.

Catherine Gutman of WWF International closed the opening statements with a call for more leadership and political attention. She warned that it can’t be left to bureaucrats to work through these difficult decisions. There were very good ideas in week one, but week 2 lost momentum and ambition. In particular, the European Union’s participation was insufficient. The EU has an opportunity to build a positive dynamic with developing countries and send a strong political signal.

Media presence was up for this press conference and included all the major news wires. Maybe the most interesting thing about their questions is what they reflect about what the media see as being of interest to their readers. Notably, they asked about possible alternative processes to include the more reluctant parties to the process… The G8 summit will be taking place in Japan this July and is merged with discussion of the Major Emitters Meetings (MEM, such an innocuous acronym for such as insidious idea), reporters inquired whether the ENGOs were optimistic about the outcome of the meetings and whether they could form an alternative process to engage the major emitters…. And the answers were “no” and “no”.

For all its flaws, the UNFCCC process gets the major emitters and the “victim states” at the table together. Without the constant reminder that failure to take action on climate change will result in the loss of some countries and devastating impacts for others, targets for major emitters would likely be less ambitious and therefore less effective. Winston Churchill has been quoted as saying that “… democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried”. As with democracy, this may be a flawed process, but the best we’ve got. Equally, it is also up to participating countries and their citizens (that’s you), to guide the process to a positive outcome.
]]> Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:17:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/388501 52.1333333 -106.666666752.1333333-106.6666667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/388373
I'm not entirely sure how this differs from the text itself, which was also proposing to put it off till Poznan.

Alas.... this is sure to remain a heated issue.

On that topic, the rumour is that talks on Article 9 (the Review of the Protocol) went until 5:30am this morning and still couldn't reach consensus. It might be a very spark-filled afternoon in the SBI.

Tune in then!


]]> Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:25:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/388373 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/388297
I'm not entirely sure what's going on here but, whatever it is, Qatar has said it will not support it. The Umbrella Group (Australia, Canada, US, NZ, et al) is mad too, but they will support the compromise.

Drama!

Okay, I've gotten my bearings a bit. They are discussing whether or not CCS can be included in the CDM. The text proposed (http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2008/sbsta/eng/l10.pdf) is basically a non-decision. It says the parties agree to consider the issue further in Poznan this December.

The EU has also said it will support. Micronesia is down. Barbados (for AOSIS) is currently taking the Umbrella Group to task for claiming that "a few parties" - those that do not support CCS - are taking away their rights to learn more on it. Not only is that barb unfortunate, he says, but also inaccurate. Dear Umbrella Group, "I suggest an informal Side Event would be a good place to learn more about these issues." Ah, Barbados, I love you!

Okay, since there is no agreement, the chair just told delegates to talk it out for 30mins at the back of the room while everyone else moves on with the agenda.

Updates when they happen


]]> Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:23:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/388297 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/388027
Antigua and Barbuda, for the G77/China, strongly supports the Chair's call for a new spirit and a new approach. They expressed a bit of concern over developed countries trying to bring in matters that fall outside the AWG-KP's mandate. We have an incredible amount of work to do. We must not let our timetable slip.

China "has to point out" that this group is working at a very slow pace, especially regarding targets for industrialised countries. We need to be able to show 'necessary political will' by Accra so that we can move forward.

Indonesia, amongst other things, emphasizes that nuclear should NOT be included in the CDM. Holla back!

.. . . . . . . . .


P.S. Chris' speech is now posted on our Project Page. Check it out! http://projects.takingitglobal.org/cydbonn/docs/

]]> Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:47:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/388027 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/388025
So, the texts have all been adopted. The chair has expressed his disappointment at the pace of the meetings. If it continues like this, he warns, we won't be able to complete the work required before Copenhagen. We need an "entirely new spirit of cooperation." Go home, do your homework, and come to Accra prepared to talk. Ouch.

Now let's hear from Parties what they thought:]]> Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:36:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/388025 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/388017
This photo was not staged in any way. Claire, you're awesome. ]]> Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:19:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/388017 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387903
Venezuela is PISSED!!! They are frustrated that developing countries have been doing work but that developed countries aren't putting anything on the table and instead just pointing the finger and creating markets to hide their domestic inaction on reducing emissions. 2050 targets are meaningless... Zinggg

Well that was nice and cathartic. Moving on...

The Chair is making some concluding comments and shout-outs (Yvo represent!) aaaaand [*gavel*] Closed! That's one out of four for this session.

Up next is the AWG-KP. Stay tuned!
]]> Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:50:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387903 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387893
The EU just agreed with the NGOs: it's not your fault Mr. Chair, it's the Parties, but THIS PROCESS IS GOING TOO SLOWLY. Daaaamn!

Kick it up a notch!

The G77/China is now dropping it like its hot, reminding us how threatened many developing countries and especially LDCs are by climate change - we need URGENT action. We have a two-year time frame to make a new agreement and 6 months have already passed. We've heard all parties say they want to move it along. But we've also seen some countries (*ahem* US, Canada) slowly down key forums like technology transfer. We need more concrete progess. The next meetings in Ghana must be different

Barbados now, for AOSIS, "the time for gamesmanship is over." We've only got a few years before it's late too prevent dangerous climate change and the disappearance of many SIDS. The job of this body is to translate the overwhelming scientific evidence into a political response, guided by the principles of the Convention. We've got to work together]]> Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:17:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387893 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387889
Approximately 4 large meetings throughout next year (totalling 8 wks) will cost $5.8m for conference logistics and $1.4m per additional session for supporting developing country participation.

That's a total of around $15m USD.

So.... who wants to donate? :)

No, seriously.


]]> Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:04:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387889 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387887
3. Enabling the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention through long-term cooperative action now, up to and beyond 2012, by addressing, inter alia:
A shared vision for long-term cooperative action
Enhanced national/international action on mitigation of climate change
Enhanced action on adaptation
Enhanced action on technology development and transfer to support action on mitigation and adaptation
Enhanced action on the provision of financial resources and investment to support action on mitigation and adaptation and technology cooperation"

This is the outline of the Bali Action Plan, so work here is the central construction site of the new agreement. Here is the Chair's Summary: http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2008/awglca2/eng/l05.pdf

Annnnd, it just passed]]> Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:57:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387887 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387821
The session is opening with statements from Observer Organisations. A representative of the Business and Industry NGOs (BINGOs) is speaking first.

To represent the ENGOs, Li Yan, a colleague from Greenpeace China is speaking on behalf of CAN. We will post the text of that on our Project Page once we get it: http://projects.takingitglobal.org/cydbonn

Now it is a representative of Trade Unions and Labour. We interviewed him this morning for our podcast!!! He's making some excellent points about 'just transitions,' economic diversification and the creation of more sustainable socio-economic fabrics. We must no longer consider social and environmental problems in isolation, but must deal with them together.

More soon!

]]> Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:42:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387821 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387711
Many of the contact groups and sub-issues have now completed their work for this session and are ready to bring their conclusions back to the big group ('plenary,' a fancy word for smaller groups coming together as a whole) for approval. Even LULUCF, usually the enfant terrible of these talks has reached agreement.

BUT, not everyone has. Some issues are still outstanding and the Plenaries for both AWG-KP and AWG-LCA remain 'To Be Announced.' That means that those of us not allowed in the smaller sessions must keep an eye on these nifty screens for updates.

Who are we waiting for? The 'Flexible Mechanisms' (Emissions trading, CDM and friends) and 'Other Issues' (aviation and maritime emissions, etc) Contact Groups are holding up the AWG-KP because they haven't been able to agree on conclusions. The AWG-LCA is still being held up by disagreement on technology transfer issues.

So, stay tuned! From the Draft Conclusions we've seen so far ("text" for the cool kids), it looks like negotiators are putting off a lot of work to future meetings. It might help them reach an agreement on contentious issues here, but sooner or later they're going to have to deal with the hard stuff!! ]]> Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:27:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387711 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387261
Following the announcement of Mr. Martin’s appointment, the opposition parties were quick to point out that the Harper government had eliminated a similar position, the Ambassador for the Environment and Sustainable Development, approximately two years earlier.

Today, the Canadian ENGOs, including yours truly, had a chance to meet with the ambassador to discuss Canada’s contributions to the climate change negotiations. This was Ambassador Martin’s third week on the job and his third day at the UNFCCC negotiations. He emphasized that he is still in an information gathering stage of his job and seems open to hearing from ENGOs regarding their concerns and perspectives on Canadian policies.

Mr. Martin will certainly have his work cut out for him as the negotiations move forward. It will be no easy task to coordinate Canada’s positions at negotiations that will be taking place with increasing frequency as the parties attempt to reach a new agreement for the nest phase of the Kyoto Protocol. This is not to mention the countless other forums outside the UNFCCC – such as the G8, Bush’s Major Emitters Process, the APP, etc – that fall under his jurisdiction.

We wish Mr. Martin the best of luck and hope that he will be enabled to lead a bold rethinking of Canada’s role in this process. If Canada is truly serious about preventing dangerous climate change it’s past time to show it. A leadership role means commitment to a goal (2˚C would be a good start) and leading by example. This means serious domestic targets – based on science, not excuses! – and serious commitments to financing adaptation and technology transfer. Anything less does not deserve its own “ambassador.”
]]> Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:01:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387261 52.1333333 -106.666666752.1333333-106.6666667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387105
As CoP-15 gets closer every day, the time is now to put proposals on the table. Parties are being urged in this direction and the speed of negotiations is picking up - it's beginning to feel a lot more like we are negotiating a global agreement than it did last week! (that could have been negotiating what colour a new sofa should be and whether or not the proposed colour clashes with the wall...)

So, as the days have worn on here things have gotten more and more specific. Issues are breaking out into their own forums. These forums, known as "contact groups" have in turn broken down into "informals," where the chairs discuss particular text or conclusions with parties in small meetings or bilateral consultations. As these conclusions crystalise the forums will start to reconvene and build back into the SBs from whence they came. It's a bit like Transformers or Power Rangers....

At the end, all of the issues and conclusions will be forwarded to the next large meeting. This is the two AWGs, who will be negotiating in Accra, Ghana in August. Then it's CoP-14 in Poznan, Poland in December, the 'half-way point' to Copenhagen. You could think of the CoP as the big boss Transformer that all of the collective smaller ones make when you put them together and then add a special flashing missile lancher with sound-effects (the Ministers) to. Naturally the purpose of this Optimus Prime character is to FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE. But, as anyone who's ever played with action figures knows, they don't do much unless you make them. (they are inanimate after all)

Ladies and Gentlemen, this December let's get ready to play!


A further note on Issues, etc. : don't forget to check the Documents section of our projects page. Each day we post the ECO newsletter that the international ENGOs write and the link is also there for the official reporting newsletter, ENB. Check them out! http://projects.takingitglobal.org/cydbonn/docs/

]]> Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:53:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387105 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387067 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:49:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387067 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387065 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:47:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387065 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387063 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:41:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/387063 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/386307
When the music died down nervous delegates looked on as Daniel Mittler of Greenpeace International explained the role of the Fossil awards. Fossil of the Day is presented by Climate Action Network International (CAN-I) to the most obstructionist and unhelpful countries in the negotiations. The awards are voted on by all CAN-I members at the talks and their presentation is always a theatrical and suspense-filled event.

This year, it was announced, the US would not be receiving a Fossil. No matter how badly they might deserve it, Daniel continued, there was no point wasting time on lame duck. Ooooooh! [many jeers and loud shouts of assent]

The third-place fossil went to Australia, for its comments that Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) should be included in the CDM because (in essence) they could continue exporting coal to developing countries! They also implied that CCS was good for Small-Island Developing States because they would not sink as fast... OUCH

The second place award to... JAPAN!!! Lots of Japanese media were present to witness the receipt of the bemedalled toy dinosaur. PM Fukuda had just release his Vision for the Japanese climate policy and the G8, which it will be hosting this summer. Very weak and playing some numbers games... it appears Fukuda's Vision was somewhat short-sighted.

Now, the big suspense was for first. Who would walk away with the Fossil of the Week??

Slowly the envelope was opened... CANADA! Oooooh!

It turns out that Canada's proposals to create more loopholes in the forestry rules were quite unwelcome. Essentially, we were proposing a system whereby we could earn credits for cutting down pristine forests, as long as they were replanted. Umm.... can we get free candy too? Back to the drawing board!

That's all for this week's Fossil awards. Tune in on Friday for the second Fossil of the Week. With the behaviour of some parties, it's sure to be a tight race for pole position!





]]> Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:24:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/386307 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/385227
More information on Stephen's organisation, Équiterre, can be found here: www.equiterre.org

]]> Sun, 08 Jun 2008 09:46:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/385227 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/384223
-PJ]]> Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:57:00 EDT http://www.tigblog.org/group/cydbonn/post/384223 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667