Tuesday 29 September 2009

What are negotiators really talking about...?

Check it out http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/interactive/2009/sep/28/climate-change-copenhagen-text-explanation (article/ explanation from COP website pasted below)
The Guardian has "translated" key passages from the extensive draft text currently under discussion in the UN-led negotiations ahead of December’s decisive conference.

Do you want to know what 4,000 delegates and other participants at the ongoing UN negotiations in Bangkok are talking about, but are you tired just at the thought of digesting 300 pages of formal text? In that case you are advised to take a closer look at "The beginners’ guide to the Copenhagen climate conference negotiating text" produced by the Guardian.

The webpage of the British newspaper has picked key paragraphs from the draft. Take for instance this completely incomprehensible sentence: "[Comparability of mitigation efforts by [developed country Parties] [shall] [should] be ensured through: (a) [Their [magnitude] [using tonnes of CO2 equivalents as a unit of comparability] [level of mitigation ambition]]… (d) [Time frames [commitment periods] and the application of the same base year established by the Kyoto protocol]."

Here is what it really means, according to the interactive guide:

"Because the US did not ratify the Kyoto protocol, it lies on a different legal track to the countries that did. The notion of comparability is one way to bridge the gap. US targets may look weaker, it says, but they are starting from a different position and that needs to be accounted for."

Monday 28 September 2009

African Youth Perspectives in Bangkok


African Youth First meeting
At our first African youth meeting on Monday the 28th of September we shared our goals for the UNFCCC climate talks in Bangkok.
Present were:
Kenneth Amoateng-Ghana
Grace Mwaura-Kenya
David Ssomwegerere-Uganda
Sena Alouka-Togo
To be joining us will be: Akpadja Yaogan & Sylvia Wachira

A summary of our goals are as follows:
1. See, learn and share from this meeting: from the delegates, the youth and the adult NGOS, etc
2. Deliberation the African youth coordination towards COP 15 & beyond- clear long term strategy & management.
3. Create new partnerships & networks-
a. With our country delegations
b. With the AMCEN team
4. Assess the level of fundraising and African support for COP 15, and draw up a matrix, of all the African youth seeking support, either confirmed or not, including sub regional representation
5. Attend and participate in Bangkok youth daily meetings and activities and contributing in the Global South affinity group
6. Follow up thematic specific negotiations in Bangkok ( African group resolutions, Mitigation, Adaptation, Financing, LULIUCF, REDD, etc)
7. Attend everyday African youth review meetings at 8.00pm, and a major evaluation meeting over the weekend.
8. Party with each other;
Having the objectives set out, these are some of the things you expect to be posted on the Blog, to be happening amongst us, or to be followed up with your inputs.
- New comers Orientation (preferably tomorrow, Tuesday with CAN-SCB coordinator Shruti and German Watch colleagues.
- Daily posts on the blog, from each one of us, on what we learnt that day. The new networks formed and the new opportunities available for the youth
- A comprehensive discussion from our end, which you will be expected to contribute to, on how better we can organize the African youth
- News from the African delegates, NGOs, youth organizations etc that we shall contact.
- Updates on the fundraising progress for the African youth, the matrix of the level of support already sough and confirmed
- Updates on the blog, of the African youth engagement with the Bangkok youth and details of activities/meetings/actions attended.
- Updates from specific negotiations followed up by us here in Bangkok.
- Review and minutes of everyday African youth review meetings.

Most of these will be on the Blog, so we encourage you to blog and send all your responses via the blog.