It’s Getting Hot In Here

The Opening of the COP 12 in Nairobi, Kenya!

This morning, the 12th conference of the parties to the UNFCCC opened with the usual diplomatic drudgery as well as a few interesting points. Most notable was the statement made by the minister for the environment in Canada, Rona Ambrose. Ambrose has been the president of the COP for the past year and it was time to pass the baton to Minister Kivutha Kibwana of Kenya. Rona made her statement cordially…from Canada…by video. Her video presence seemed to put the icing on the cake of climate destruction that Canada is making.

Her tone was respectful, but her points were holding Canada’s new tack in their stance on climate. Minister Kibwana commented on her “tremendous efforts” on this issue in the past year. As far as the youth are concerned, it was a tremendous effort in stalling action against climate change! Rona’s words were flashbacks to the United States’ position at Kyoto. She talked about how climate change is a global issue that demands that all parties must make commitments. She did not mention that developing nations are trying to rise out of poverty, disease, conflict, and ecological crisis–much of which is connected to climate change, either by making problems worse, or by creating new ones. These comments were accopanied by her support of the Russian proposal that is asking non-annex 1 parties (economies in transistion to market economy and developing countries) to make commitments. This has the danger of turning the negotiations here in Nairobi sour, and Canada’s support doesn’t make it any better. As youth, we are being careful of this issue, as we need this meeting to be effective in moving forward. The Russion proposal needs to be clarified, as it is ambiguous and we don’t want parties to act on a proposal that is not clear. Ultimately minister Ambrose’s speech was an empty diplomatic cover for Canada’s hostile policy towards Kyoto.

Perhaps more inspiring was Kenyan Vice-president Arthur Moody Awori’s talk on the urgent needs at hand. He illustrated the effects that climate change is having on sub-saharan Africa, and stressed the need for confronting the big emitters in the spirit of common but differentiated responsibilities. He called for political will going forward with the talks concerning post-2012 commitments, and the need for technology and financing in the face of a growing need for adaptation assistance for the least developed countries. Mr. Awori’s speech seemed to highlight that the most important issue at this conference is the need for governments to get past their dissagreements and get on with this important work. The Kyoto process cannot withstand major impasses on these issues. There is a clear urgency in the need for cooperation to keep kyoto alive, and to prepare for what comes next after 2012.

The youth attending the conference are now in high gear. We are planning ways to communicate our many concerns to country delegates and to their home countries by recording video of our reactions and expectations. We are also making contact with official delgations and setting up meetings, and we are rapidly uncovering the key issues that will make or break this meeting. Our delegation is very strong and we are just getting warmed up, so stay tuned for updates.