The Occupied Times is the newspaper of and for Occupy London, an incredible, independent publication that perfectly demonstrates the creative and collaborative energy behind the Occupy movement. For their latest issue (see #10, PDF), I wrote an article about my experiences at the UN Climate Talks in Durban, South Africa and how we used the principles and methods of the Occupy movement to push for change in a diplomatic setting.
On 9 December 2011 we came, we saw, and although we didn’t conquer the United Nations, for two hours it felt as if we had.
Towards the end of last year I travelled to the United Nations climate talks in South Africa. I had received funding from people in my local community and went to push the negotiations forward, not to obstruct them. I am 18, and I joined hundreds of young people of a similar age at these negotiations, all of us looking for a political solution to climate change to match the technical and social ones that already exist.
Young people attending the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) climate talks ran an open, inclusive, consensus-based process, meeting every morning and working to actively facilitate new participation. Teams of experienced activists spent hours one-on-one with those entering, unprepared into the perplexing world of international climate politics, building in them the confidence and skills needed to enable full participation.
So I’ve just spent three weeks in Durban, South Africa to attend the United Nations climate change negotiations. It was the hardest experience of my life, but also the best experience of my life. Although making change in a place with so little agency was demoralising, to attempt it with hundreds of fellow young people of incredible enthusiasm and intelligence from around the world was wonderful. I’ve made friends I’ll never lose, from the UK Youth Climate Coalition delegation with which I went to Durban and from all over the globe..
I’m heading out to Durban, South Africa for the UN climate change negotiations in just four days time! Here’s some stories and videos about the hopes and expectations from different quarters. I’ll be sending out four or so updates like these over the course of the conference: contact me if you’d like to be added to my mailing list.
In this update:
Our reflections after our final training weekend
Introduction to the UN climate change process
How to follow the negotiations
New study shows links between climate change and extreme weather
Still confused or want to follow the negotiations for yourself?
If you’re still a little confused by what the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is all about, then earlier in the year Kristina from the delegation did an excellent blog for those unacquainted with the weird and wonderful world of the UN climate talks.
“ For those who believe climate change is about some distanct future, I invite them to Kiribati. It’s lapping at our feet, quite literally.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on his visit to the pacific island nation of Kiribati last week. Climate change will cause Kiribati to sink under rising sea levels if greenhouse gas emissions are not cut.
“ Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The concept of sustainable development does imply limits - not absolute limits but limitations imposed by the present state of technology and social organization on environmental resources and by the ability of the biosphere to absorb the effects of human activities.
from “Our Common Future”, otherwise known as The Brundtland Report, published by the United Nations Word Commission on Environment and Development in 1987. It defined sustainable development in international politics and paved the way for action on it at the 1992 Earth Summit and beyond.
I’ve just read this fantastic blog post by Sarah Arnold, a fellow member of the UKYCC delegation to the United Nations’ climate change talks. As she stresses below, the real importance of the youth at the UN is positivity - to remind negotiators that this is about humanity and compassion, not just a complex agenda.
But if I’m feeling this stressed and frustrated, the negotiators must be feeling similar. They are human (apparently) after all! And tired, disheartened negotiators are not going to produce an optimal outcome – and it is an optimal outcome we all need right now!
And I think that’s why I’m here. As a young person, I think it is my role to bring that energy to negotiations, and the UN in general. We need to put aside our cynicism and weariness and remember that we can sleep at the end of the week, but right now we need to be positive and not allow anyone, not even ourselves, to lose enthusiasm.
In the last week, we have danced, we have high-fived negotiators, we have patted them on the back and presented them with awards and ‘Ray of the Day’. We have painted flags on our faces, worn capes, and sang songs as loud as we could. Sometimes we’ve looked like idiots, but negotiators have come up to us several times this week and thanked us for bringing life to the process.
Great blog post by Cat Stace, a fellow UKYCC delegate to COP17, jargon-busting the term ‘Clean Development Mechanisms’.
So now back to topic – today’s acronym is CDM, the Clean Development Mechanism. CDM is a part of the Kyoto Protocol and allows countries who have signed up to reduce their own emissions to instead pay for emissions-reducing projects in other countries. This allows richer, developed countries in the global North to reduce emissions by helping poorer developing nations to reduce their emissions.
Her analogy later on is especially fun!
Critics might say that it is similar to someone avoiding going on a diet by feeding someone else celery whilst carrying on eating the Krispy Kremes. They’re helping out other people with the low-calorie options but not shifting their own pounds.
“ Determined to protect the climate system for present and future generations
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Last article of the preamble. Ratified by every nation on earth. Let’s hope they mean it.
‘An Inconvenient Youth’, a hugely inspiring video giving an insight into the work young activists from across the globe do at the United Nations climate change negotiations. I hope I can help further this work at COP17 in Durban this winter.
Amazing image. Libyan mission to the UN replaces modern flag with former one, saying it belongs to ‘the Libyan people’, officially ending its support for the Gaddafi regime.
