Last year, in Bali Indonesia, the nations of the world agreed to reach an agreement by 2009 to tackle climate change. By December 15th 2009, in Copenhagen Denmark, governments are expected to reach an agreement that  will holistically tackle not only the issues of emissions, but also the impacts to those most vulnerable. This coming Monday, in Poznan, Poland, the UN will meet again to advance the Bali Action Plan.

The Bali roadmap, which has become more like a treasure-hunt, brings many daunting challenges to Poznan. From tackling issues of deforestation in tropical forest, to insurance schemes to help countries recover from extreme climate change-related losses, Poznan is happening in the midst of global financial crisis that many countries are already using as a scape-goat for dumping climate goals and continuing the decades of inaction and unsustainable economic policies. The stakes are high, yet ideas are not flowing. The developed countries’ proposals on technology transfer and   finance for mitigation and adaptation are a carbon copy of the failed regulation mechanisms of modern history, yet somehow they are asking developing nations to take bold steps in order to achieve an agreement.

For something meaningful to come out of the agreement next year, Poznan must set a new path.

Rather that trying fixing our future on new-yet-dirty of the same fuels that have gotten us in trouble, we need a vision of a world where well-being is not coupled with greenhouse gases. There will be over 500 young people in Poznan, and they have been organizing for months. Over this weekend they will come together at Conference of Youth to finish their strategy, and over the next two weeks youth from across the planet will be contributing to itsgettinghotinhere.org, giving their perspective on the process and their suggestions for fixing the planet we will inherit. You can also contribute with your message by sharing your views with COP14 youth messaging team

But many of us youth did not run off immediately, because we had met some incredible youth from the Kibera slums, one of the largest slums in the world, and they had graciously offered to take us on a tour of their community. We were shown around their homes and our eyes were opened to the realities of poverty – a world without running water or consistent electricity, where on average people made less than $1 a day, and that is now home to many Sudanese refugees. But we were also exposed to one of the most incredible organizations I have ever met – the Kibera Community Youth Project (KYCP).

This organization embodies what our movement is about: empowering young people to emerge as agents of change, taking action within their communities for the improvement of all. They train young people to assemble solar panels and distribute them around the community, allowing people to operate appliances even if their electricity is cut-off. And the panels provide a self-sustaining source of income for the organizations’ other programs. They have encouraged young people to express themselves through creative channels, setting up recording studios for young local artists to record songs of social change. And they have used community theatre to reduce the stigma of HIV/AIDS in Kibera. KYCP is truly making a difference. And right now, as Nairobi is gripped with post-election violence, they need our help. Please read below an email from KCYP’s Director Fredrick Ouko, and help our brother and sisters in Kenya out by making a contribution at KYCP.net

Dear Friends,
You all know that Kenya went to a general election late last year with high hopes of achieving desired political changes after a 5 year rule of the Government elected in the general elections of 2002 that was seen with all as a very democratic and transparent election ever witnessed in an African Country.

Despite the high hopes and political stakes, Kenyans turned in large numbers on 27th December 2007 to cast their vote knowing that this was the only way to choose their leaders and that their decisions will be respected by the aspiring politicians.

I am writing on a January 2008, to inform you that; the electorate was massively let down and not only that, we are now turning against each other fueled by the abnormalities witnessed in the election process last year.

As at the moment, you might have seen the ugly scenes on the international media depicting how the situation is here in the country and more profoundly, where we work in Kibera slums. Innocent lives have been lost, properties destroyed and thousands left homeless as a result of the post-elections violence that has taken different faces.

As an organization, normal functions have been hindered the continued mass actions and the heavy police presence everywhere (one would think that ours is a police state!) and the danger of being found in groups by the same police wielding offensive weapons.

Our concern has been: the innocent children who do not know any tribe, the mothers who have to bear the burden of this violence and keeping their children and the innocent youth being killed for participating in mass actions across the country and even in Kibera slums.

As a community organization, we are definitely challenged to play a role in the justice and reconciliation efforts at a local level and this will be done through our peace project that started last year, we are also challenged to play a part in easing the suffering being faced by mothers and their children as a result of the violence in Kibera.

While there are relief efforts being made by humanitarian organizations, you will remember Kibera has a population of an approximate one million people and its infrastructure doesn’t allow easy access to the area. It is only the the lucky ones and more stronger victims of the post-elections violence who often receive the relief food and assistance from the humanitarian organizations.
We are looking forward to your participation in the efforts of helping vulnerable families and KCYP members in Kibera secure a meal during this hardship time in our country`s history. You will remember that, lots of individual and group livelihoods were destroyed during the skirmishes thus making it very difficult for others to earn a decent income for themselves, they can also rebuild their businesses but help will again be needed once security returns in some of the parts of the slum.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:
You can donate money that will be used to help needy families get food supplies thus taking care of their children. Any amount of donation will surely help alleviate the current suffering being experienced in the area.

This you can do through our PayPal facility at: www.kcyp.net

We will be happy to inform you how your assistance is helping alleviate suffering of people in Kibera during this difficult time where prices of essential goods have risen sharply. I want to thank you in advance for making the important decision to support our work in rebuilding Kibera through your support. We also hope that this situation will quickly be resolved to usher in peace and tranquility in the country for development processes to continue.

I will be happy to respond to your inquiries and look forward to hear from you.

With regards,
Fredrick Ouko
Director,
Kibera Community Youth Programme

Please consider contributing to their ongoing efforts for peace and sustainability in Kibera.

December, 2005 (almost two years ago) saw the launch of It’s Getting Hot In Here at the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations in Montreal, Canada. Although this was the 11th Conference of Parties meeting to discuss international action to address climate change, it was the first Meeting of Parties, where the countries that ratified the Kyoto Protocol gathered to discuss how to meet its requirements and to begin looking at what happens after 2012.

December 3, 2005 saw the world’s first International Day of Climate Action. Scheduled to coincide with the Montreal negotiations, tens of thousands of people around the world took action to call for strong implementation of reduction mechanisms. As a part of the 30,000 person march to the Palais de Congres where the negotiations were taking place, I was stunned by the number of people involved. That conference was my first major experience with the climate movement, and then and there I became devoted to climate activism.

November 4, 2006 saw the world’s second International Day of Climate Action in preparation for the negotiations in Nairobi, Kenya. The demonstration in Montreal drew tens of thousands of people, in part because it was in a major metropolitan area in North America and fairly easy for large numbers of people to reach. Kenya is a little more difficult to travel to. However, with the momentum of the previous year’s actions, events in 48 countries around the world called for strong leadership in enacting the goals of Kyoto.

December 8^th, 2007 will see the third International Day of Climate Action, during the negotiations in Bali, Indonesia, with actions in 78 countries. This time around, the negotiations will be seriously looking into the international plan for emissions reductions after 2012. Although the United States is not a part of the Kyoto Protocol, there is the possibility that it will join in the post-2012 agreements. The US youth delegation in Bali is working to show the world a different America, one that is not abandoning the rest of the world in the fight against global warming, but rather one whose people are already fighting climate change on the local, state and recently the national level. They will show the international delegates the momentum from Power Shift, Step It Up and (hopefully) the mobilization around the Energy Bill in Congress.

Although I will not be going to Bali, I will be participating in the International Day of Climate Action. The message for December 8^th to world leaders is:

“We demand that world leaders take the urgent and resolute action that is needed to prevent the catastrophic destabilisation of global climate, so that the entire world can move as rapidly as possible to a stronger emissions reductions treaty which is both equitable and effective in preventing dangerous climate change.

We also demand that the long-industrialised countries that have emitted most greenhouse gases up to now take most of the responsibility for the adaptive measures that have to be taken, especially by low-emitting countries with limited economic resources.”

The Global Climate Campaign states that “there is an overwhelming need to create a groundswell of global opinion to push for the urgent and radical action on climate change, without which we risk a global catastrophe of unimaginable proportions.”

We are part of a global movement, and can support it through our work to reduce emissions on the local, state and nation levels (don’t forget to take action on the Energy Bill) and through displays of solidarity. On December 8^th, let’s show the world that the people of the United States are a part of the fight against global warming.

Rosa Kouri, National Director of the Sierra Youth Coalition and Virginie Lavallée-Picard, Organizer with SustainUS are among the prestigious slew of women recognized today. The recognition is extended to 23 women around the world who are working on the pressing issue of climate change.

“At 23 years old, Rosa has already been involved in the environmental movement for over 10 years. A longtime member of the Sierra Youth Coalition (a national environmental organization and the youth arm of the Sierra Club of Canada), Rosa is a tireless spokesperson and advocate for young people. She firmly believes that youth deserve the power to help shape the world in which they live.

While at McGill University, she founded the Sustainable McGill Project, which continues to engage students, university staff and administration in improving the level of sustainability at the university. Now the director of the Sierra Youth Coalition, Rosa continues to find new opportunities to inspire and inform youth about their role in fighting climate change.

For the past two years, the organization has sent youth delegates to international climate change conferences (12th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change in Nairobi and 11th in Montreal) and provided them with the training and support to make an impact. When asked why youth are at the forefront of this struggle, Rosa explains that “youth comprise a majority of the world’s population, and they will feel the impacts of flooding, droughts, disease, lack of food security, and other effects of climate change. And more and more youth have realized what is at stake”.

Rosa attended the 12th Conference of the Parties in Montreal and played a key role as an organizer of youth delegates from around the world. She led a “Bed-In for the Climate”, a public theatre demonstration that made news around the world, including Reuters and the New York Times. She has a deep passion for the arts and works this into her climate work as creatively and often as possible. She is known for saying, “The goal of the revolutionary artist is to make the revolution irresistible.”

She is also a founding member of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, a broad-based coalition of youth-driven organizations which have come together to encourage the Canadian government to take meaningful action on climate change.

Rosa is fearless, informed and devastatingly articulate. Her educational background is an Honours degree in Economics and Political Science from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. She is fluent in French and English, and, as she is keenly aware of the broader implications of climate change, she works to incorporate social and economic dimensions into climate policy. She is not afraid to take a stand and speak out against those whom she believes are not doing their part to tackle problems such as climate change.”

“Virginie Lavallee-Picard is an amazing person, senior at College of the Atlantic and majoring in Human Ecology, in addition to being a Davis scholarship recipient who has studied in multiple places.She is avidly concentrating on international and environmental studies, specifically working in depth on the relationship between global politics and climate change. By being active in both the college’s local-organic farm and a key member of Sustain US, in addition to her internship with the Mesoamerican Permaculture Reference Center in Guatemala,

Virginie is focusing on sustainable agricultural practices and slow foods in conjunction with international policy. Through this she hopes that reducing food mileage can also reduce both green house gas emissions and the dependence on fossil fuels. As part of her dedication to the issue of climate change, Virginie traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, last winter as a youth representative in the 2nd Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, and the 12th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Here she met with delegates, examined the issues, and applied all she had learned through her studies leading up to this event.

Virginie is constantly finding new ways in which she can educate and enthuse others about climate change opportunities, from attending conferences on climate change, to filming documentary videos on the issue, to being an active part in COA’s mission to be carbon neutral by 2015. On top of all of this, she is a priceless asset as a person, one who will go out into the world and make a difference. Virginie is an inspiration to all around her as a shining example of what you can do if you put enough effort into it.”

Congratulations to these incredible women!

Stephen Harper did some rearranging last Thursday, the most high profile change being the switch of former Environment Minister Rona Ambrose to intergovernmental affairs and replacing her with the often-controversial John Baird. Some of Baird’s provincial career highlights including proposals that all welfare recipients should have to undergo mandatory drug testing with a threat of being cut off of the funding if tests were positive, as well as having to pass a literacy test before receiving social support. Federally (a member of parliament since Jan. 2006) Baird also notoriously announced cuts to 66 federal programmes, which included Status to Women and literacy programmes on the same day that the federal government announced its 13.2 billion dollar surplus.

The shuffle is allegedly in preparation for an impending federal election, and based on the widely acknowledged failure of Ms. Ambrose to successfully ’sell’ the Conservative’s Clean Air Act, few were surprised by her replacement. Stephane Dion, new leader of the federal Liberal party has repeated that the shuffle is solely aesthetic and that you cannot expect anyone to convince Global partners of a bad proposal.

All history aside, Baird has stepped up from previous conservative positions by admitting that unusual weather that even he has noticed is ‘a huge concern‘. Baird has remained silent on his position on the Kyoto protocol, but used ample amounts of a speech-writers time criticizing the previous 13 years of Liberal environmental policy.

Anything is possible in politics, but borrowed from a good friend Ben, it is kind of like rearranging the chairs on the titanic…..

Some of you, that were present in Nairobi, might have already seen it, but for others I’d like to show you the video the African youth, together with Solar Generation, has been working on in the autumn of 2006 and that has been presented at the CopMop2 Climate Conference in Nairobi. African youth from Kenya, Togo and Uganda have done a tremendous effort in pulling this video together. The video tells the story of the devastating impacts climate change already has on Africa, as told by young people, who are calling politicians to act for their future. The video also aims as a tool to raise awareness of climate change for young people in Africa (and beyond). Below you can find a short teaser of the video. The complete video (12 minutes) can be found on http://www.archive.org/details/SolarGenVideo
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/u-O5_JLC0tk" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

Now that the UN Climate negotiations in Nairobi are over participants have had time to reflect and rethink what has happened and what still needs to happen. Of course the progress made in the negotiations does not come close to adequately addressing the magnitude and severity of our climate crisis. However, progress has been made and if we look past the (slow and convoluted) politics there are clear positive outcomes and reasons to remain optimistic. One of the outcomes that is particularly encouraging and exciting is the official launching of the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change! Many individuals and organizations (particularly the Greenpeace Solar Generation team!) have been part of bringing this initiative together. Those of us who were in Nairobi and had the opportunity to meet and work with many of the passionate and dedicated youth and organizers involved in this initiative can attest to its strength and significance. I would tell you more about it but would rather let the African Youth involved speak for themselves. The short video attached, put together with the help of several people from the Conference of Youth in Nairobi, was used for the official launch of the AYICC in a side event during the United Nations climate change convention. This video contains some of the voices of the youth from across Africa who are concerned about climate change and who are taking action and making a difference.To learn more or to help fund this vital organization please visit www.AYICC.org for more information.

Nairobi didn’t yield the same inspirational miracles that Montreal did, but we still left with work being accomplished. Countries agreed, negotiations ended on time, but a lot was put off to next year. Here’s an overview of what happened:

• Post-2012, the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol for Developed Countries: Article 3.9 (that requires developed countries to discuss their targets for after 2012, the 2nd part of Kyoto) agreed to a modest amount of analysis about effectiveness of current measures and policies and potential for further reductions, but but with no end-date. Developed countries with targets under the Kyoto Protocol basically agreed on a work plan to figure out commitments for Kyoto part-2 (after 2012).

• Article 9 (that requires countries to review the entire Kyoto Protocol) agreed that it had completed a modest review of the Protocol in in Nairobi, and will do a second review in 2008. Next year’s conference will be when parties decide what exactly should be in that review.

• Working on Making it Easier for Countries to Join: Countries agreed to work on making it easier for countries to be involved in Kyoto, by possibly starting with just voluntary commitments for developing countries. This is a sticky issue because it minimizes accountability, but at the same time allows more countries to be a part of the work. Russia was expected to block this decision if it didn’t get enough progress in Nairobi (like what happened last year – See “Why We Won”). Thankfully, we moved forwards deciding to talk about voluntary commitments in the spring followed by further consideration as part of the official agenda at next year’s conference.
  

• The Adaptation Fund ($ for projects in developing countries that will help respond to climate change) had Terms of Reference and principles for governance agreed. Would have liked to see actual governance agreed. The Adaptation Fund gets its money from a levy on Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) credits. Developing countries secured the right to decide which projects get funding. Would have like to see actual governance agreed, not just principles.

• Deforestation (cutting down trees) is over 20% of the problem of climate change. We decided to discuss it in a workshop in the spring, followed by talks int he summer. But did not agree on anything beyond 2007. Will need to push this next year. This is an important issue for deciding how some developing countries like Brazil will participate in the 2nd phase of Kyoto, post-2012.

• The expert group working on Technology Transfer was given one more year to work on issues. This is a huge deal for developing countries and important to whatever the final deal is. Developing countries wanted to change the way tech transfer was dealt with and to secure more money, but developed countries wouldn’t budge. So a decision was put off until the spring for the mid-year meeting to see if a draft decision could at least be put forward to next year’s meeting at COP 13 (this is in the Convention on Climate Change, not Kyoto).

• Dialogue is a part of the Convention on Climate Change – it’s a place for involving the non-Kyoto countries and the Kyoto countries without targets yet (developing countries) in the discussions about Kyoto targets. We want to make sure that formal negotiations happen under the Kyoto Protocol that will build on the way Kyoto is right now, instead of starting over under the Convention (the mother of Kyoto).

• Over-Arching Goal: is to get governments to agree to a “mandate” (basically a package-deal) to negotiate at next year’s conference, COP/MOP3, that would take outputs from all the issues listed above, and then set a time line of ideally 1 year (although 2 years may be more likely) to finish the negotiations. Then governments will be able to ratify this in time to avoid a gap between the first and second Kyoto commitment periods.

There is a lot to push for at COP/MOP3 – but it will have to happen.

In a nutshell, a lot of things got put off until next year. And only the bare minimum was accomplished. There was a general lack of urgency present at this conference, which was surprising given how relevant the topic was to the surrounding area of Kenya.

Either way, it was relevant that non-governmental organizations made a significant impact, yet again. We have a lot to work towards for next year, and we must be thankful that these negotiations moved forward, although slightly. Pressure must be continued to be put on all of our governments, and we must continue to do public outreach through our work.

People need to know. We are quickly running out of time – too quickly. But we don’t need to wait for our leaders to act on climate change – we can be the leaders. We can pick up the pace. We can push this forward.

We have to.

———With thanks and reference to Louise Comeau, Climate Action Network———–

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Here is a copy of the text:

Youth Declaration of Demands at COP 12

The global community has acknowledged that the world is facing an unprecedented climate crisis. It is a fact that our generation will face the greatest consequences from climate change. By default, this crisis has become our issue because this is our future. Climate change extends beyond environmental issues – it cuts across all spheres of society thus we must be united in facing the challenge that it presents. This is our future that is at stake.

The Youth are ready to face this challenge, but we cannot do it alone. We are calling for greater action and leadership from our government on climate change. There is no time to waste.

On behalf of the youth of Canada, the Canadian Youth Delegation makes the following immediate demands of the Canadian Government:

1. A public re-commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, specifically meeting our targets from the original 2008 timeline.

The time for leadership is now. The technology and expertise are readily available to reduce emissions and meet our commitments. Government efficiency regulations are necessary in all sectors, in conjunction with mandatory caps that capitalize on market instruments.

The recent actions and statements by the Government of Canada have created confusion and uncertainty over Canada’s position on the Kyoto Protocol. Canada’s recent statements about our inability to meet our current target, and the introduction of the Clean Air Act (Bill C-30) are unacceptable responses to the climate crisis. The government has said that we are unable to meet our targets and has presented a plan that does not sufficiently address the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Solutions start with working towards our targets, not abandoning them.

Currently, Canada emissions are 35% above our Kyoto target. There is no more time to blame former governments for a lack of action.

The Stern review presents a strong economic case for tackling climate change immediately. Delaying action simply enhances impacts and impedes Canada’s long-term economic viability. This is Canada’s opportunity to lead the world into a sustainable energy economy. The solutions are available to us now.

Canadian youth demand a clear and unambiguous commitment, reaffirming Canada’s support of the protocol, and a comprehensive and effective plan for the Canadian public to rally behind.

2. Immediate commitment to negotiate the post-2012 framework.

Canada must agree to and push for a work plan on post-Kyoto targets for developing nations, to be completed no later than 2008. This is to assure that a mandate for the second commitment period can be adopted at COP/MOP 5. Delay beyond this deadline will postpone action by signatories to achieve future targets, thus creating the gap between commitment periods.

3. Adoption of the IPCC “2 degrees Celsius” target in the post-2012 phase.

Climate change is beyond partisanship. Solving this crisis will mean making difficult decisions. Clearly this an issue of political will.

Canada must demonstrate strong leadership in the fight against climate change. A firm goal must be agreed upon by all parties to remain below a 2oC global average rise in temperature above pre-industrial levels. Surpassing this point will bring with it significant and irreversible damage.

It is in the interest of the citizens of Canada to commit to short-term deep reduction targets. We live in a time of unprecedented technology options, and innovative policies. There is no excuse not to push for this stronger and more effective target. Canada must be innovative in its approach to climate change and reemerge as a leader.

The Kyoto Protocol is the only international agreement we have that addresses the threat of climate change – we cannot afford to weaken it now.

Our future is at stake.

Sincerely,

The Canadian Youth Delegation to Nairobi
www.cydnairobi.ca

735pm
The 12th Conference of the parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is closed. We now move to the tricky part of this meeting: the closing of the 2nd Meeting of the Parties of the Kyoto Protocol. We truly hope that negotiations will be done before midnight, thought last year we were not able to move from the plenary until 630am.
Many issues to still need to be addressed and resolved: the Russian proposal for voluntary commitments, the Belarusian intent to join Annex I to inject ‘hot air’ in the emission trading system, and the issues pertinent to Article 9 and the review of Kyoto.

We wont move from here until progress is made, and we will update IGHGH frequently.

SEE “WHAT HAPPENED IN NAIROBI” FOR FURTHER DETAILS.