Sustaining Forests and Sustaining Livelihoods

An Interview with Ministers of the Environment, from the Democratic Republic of Congo


You never know who you are going to run into on the train. This morning (12/7/09), on the train ride over to Copenhagen for the first day of the U.N. Convention on Climate Change COP-15, Alex Sheker just happened to be seated beside three ministers of the environment from the Democratic Republic of Congo. We then proceeded to discuss with the ministers what they were fighting for in these negotiations, including funding, technology, building capacity, and reducing poverty.

The ministers of the environment from the Congo stated that their main objective was to not sacrifice the Congo’s development, while still maintaining sustainable agriculture. The ministers said, “To adapt we need technology, and that is our fight. And we fight poverty as well.” They emphasized the complexity of deforestation and recognized that “the forest is not the only issue. Water, animals, people [are all at stake].” They said they were responsible for “the interest of the forest, and the interest of the whole world.” Well-managed, sustainable, and protected areas are what are needed. Currently, the Congo has seven protected areas, larger than in any other country.

The Congolese ministers of the environment were primarily looking for funding, “to bring schools for our children. To reduce poverty, you have to learn how to teach the population, like how to do agriculture in a sustainable world—new seeds, new materials. By doing this, you reduce poverty and human pressure on the forests.” Tropical deforestation is responsible for approximately 20% of world greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report by Nicholas Stern on the economics of climate change, in October 2006.

When asked about the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD), the ministers said, “CDMs are not working…REDD is better for us. Our fight is that the REDD mechanism must be part of the final agreement. Natural forest must be taken into account to reduce global emissions….Forest is part of the problem, but we must make it part of the solution, as well.”

One of the most difficult challenges to implement sustainable practices in the Congo is money. “Money is like conversation. You just talk, but you can’t do anything without money,” one of the ministers said. There must be opportunity to replace the financial activities that sustained people’s livelihoods in the rainforests before.

Youth Flash Dance

So as you all should know, today was the first official day at COP15 and one thing that a few SES delegates participated in was a youth flash dance!

For those of you who are unaware of what a flash dance is...
A flash dance is simply a dance that happens when people are least expecting it with the dancers staged as confused audience members that then join in with the dance once it has started.

The youth flash dance happened like this...
A little after getting into the conference this morning we happened to meet up with the delegates from the Will Steger Foundation and one of their delegates, Reed, told us about a flash dance that was going to happen at one o'clock. I for one was really excited when I heard this because in the Climate Change Policy intensive theme this fall I was able to watch both Australia and the UK (through YouTube) participate in youth flash dances to raise awareness and gain attention to the youth movement. The plan was that one YOUNGO (youth non-governmental) delegate was going to stand up, throw off his jacket and break out into song and dance about how the climate is warming. So what happened was at one o'clock YOUNGO members (includes ANY youth delegate) and members of the international YMCA met outside of a meeting room, in a very open area where people were hanging out, eating lunch, drinking coffee, on the web, or just taking a break between meetings...so it was a very busy area. Among these people included many media members filming the dance and people taking pictures of everything.

Deon, Jessica, and I (Tara) went up to this crowd of youth and we waited for the leader to start the dance (as Katie filmed it all of course). The dance went like this...the youth leader started singing "Ohhh it's hot in here! There must be some carbon in the atmosphere!" And there was a dance skit involved that Deon, Jessica, and I tried to learn and reproduce as quickly as we could. After that we chanted back lines that he shouted first.

We did the whole thing twice and then we wanted to move into the meeting room we were next to, where negotiators were, so we could make a stand and show them how the youth delegates would not be quiet at COP15, but the security guarding the room did not let us in.

All in all it was a really cool experience to be a part of a flash dance at COP15 with youth from all over the world.

More Preparation Material

SustainUS Copenhagen Youth Preparation Guide

Extremely thorough. Included in this guide is a nicely crafted list of potential interview questions written by SustainUS (a nonprofit youth organization whose mission is to advance sustainable development and empower youth in the United States).

Q: What is your official title?
A: Delegate to the Fifteenth UN climate change conference (*wonk alert* UNFCCC COP15 = United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 15th Conference of the Parties)

Q: What exactly will you be doing in Copenhagen?
A: I will be working with government delegates, fellow civil society members, and youth from around the world to promote youth-friendly and future-focused policies related to sustainable development and climate change. I will be presenting policy proposals, meeting with my government’s representatives, and working with the growing international youth movement to ensure a strong outcome at this conference.

Q: How did your organization get 'delegation status' for this UN conference?
A: It applied and was accepted for Observer status with the UN climate negotiations; The Climate Convention specifically calls for UN cooperation with non-governmental bodies (my organization) to achieve the objectives of the convention, so there is a special process of accreditation to the convention that it went through with the conference Secretariat.

Q: Do you think that youth will actually make an impact at this conference?
A: YES! You can talk about youth participation in elections in your country, grassroots campaigns, changing the tone of the conversation, bearing witness, etc. You can also mention that our success in large part depends on the solidarity of other people in your country. Talk about booing the U.S.A.’s Bush Administration 2 years ago in Bali and getting them to back down from blocking the negotiations, last year we launched Project Survival to highlight the role of countries who will disappear from our pollution and that's making its way into the text, 350.org campaign has changed what is the political baseline.

Q: Why is it important that youth are represented at the conference?
A: We will experience the worst of climate change throughout our lives if we don't act today. We want clean and safe energy solutions. We deserve to live in a world that is healthy and safe.

UNFCCC YOUNGO Wiki Portal

YOUNGO Copenhagen Logistic Handbook

This is a very helpful overview of basic topics, like food, money, weather, and transportation in Copenhagen.

Calendar during COP 15

Schedule of youth events, side events, other events in Copenhagen, etc.

All youth delegates are also invited to register to be on the delegation contact list.

And last but not least, check us out in the news: This Week Newspapers/Dakota Co. Tribune - Local students to attend international summit

5 days!

--Katie Paulson-Smith

President Obama makes the right decision

Official: Obama going to Copenhagen climate summit
Julie Pace ASSOCIATED PRESS November 25, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama will go to Copenhagen next month, a White House official said Wednesday, to participate in a long-anticipated, high-stakes global climate summit.

The president will attend the summit on Dec. 9 before heading to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, the official said. Obama's attendance had been in question until now.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the formal announcement has not been made.

The conference had originally been intended to produce a new global climate change treaty on limiting emissions of greenhouse gases that would replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. However, hopes for a legally binding agreement have dimmed lately, with leaders saying the summit is more likely to produce a template for future action to cut emissions blamed for global warming.

At least 65 world leaders will attend the summit, but unlike Obama, most are expected to attend the final days of the Dec. 7-18 conference.

Yvo de Boer, U.N. climate treaty chief, told reporters in Bonn Wednesday, "I think it's critical that President Obama attend the climate change summit in Copenhagen. The world is very much looking to the United States to come forward with an emission reduction target and contribute to financial support to help developing countries."

While Obama himself tried to tamp down expectations during his eight-day trip to Asia earlier this month, he also called on world leaders to come to an agreement that has "immediate operational effect" and is not just a political declaration.

Administration officials said earlier this week that the U.S. will present a target for reducing carbon dioxide emissions at the summit. The development came as the European Union urged the United States and China to deliver greenhouse gas emissions targets at the summit, saying their delays were hindering global efforts to curb climate change.

The administration has indicated for nearly a year that it would eventually come up with specific targets for quick reductions in pollution that causes global warming, as part of international negotiations. Those targets will soon be made public, officials said.

This will be Obama's second trip to Denmark this year. He made short trip to Copenhagen on Oct. 2 to make a vain pitch for 2016 Summer Olympics in Chicago during a meeting of the International Olympic Committee.

______________________________________________

OBAMA ANNOUNCEMENT ADDS TO COPENHAGEN MOMENTUM


Washington, DC – International development organization Oxfam America
praised today’s announcement that President Obama will attend the United
Nations conference on climate change in Copenhagen next month. Oxfam
America’s president, Raymond C. Offenheiser made the following statement in
reaction:

“For months, President Obama stated his personal commitment to tackling
climate change at the global level. Today, he signaled that he’s ready to
roll up his sleeves to make a climate change deal happen.

“All eyes have been on the US to see whether it will shift decisively to
become a global leader in the fight against climate change. But concrete
offers from the US have been missing, and Congressional legislation has been
slow to get to the finish line.

“Today’s announcement flies in the face of predictions of failure in
Copenhagen well before the conference even begins. Oxfam and other groups
have urged President Obama to join negotiators and more than 60 heads of
state in Copenhagen. President Obama’s personal appearance and commitment to
action can bring the necessary momentum to deliver a deal.

"Hard-hit communities on the front lines of climate change need President
Obama on the front lines of the negotiations. The President should head to
Copenhagen with ambitious goals to cut emissions here at home, along with a
robust finance package to help poor communities cope with the serious
impacts of climate change. The US proposal for a new global climate fund
marks a potentially helpful step, and President Obama should move quickly to
back it up with a commitment of substantial long-term funding."

Oxfam America is dedicated to finding long-term solutions to poverty, hunger
and social injustice around the world. For more information, please visit
www.oxfamamerica.org.


--
Jason Wojciechowski
Digital Strategist (GCAP)
Oxfam GB

Climate Justice Fast

The following was posted today by Anna Keenan on the Youth UNFCCC Google Group on her 16th day of fasting. I found it to be very inspiring:

The Climate Justice Fast is an international hunger strike which began on
the 6th of November - the last day of the Barcelona climate talks - to call
for strong, just action on the climate crisis. Participants in the Climate
Justice Fast are eating no food and will drink only water until, throughout
and potentially beyond the end of the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen.

There are long-term fasters in Europe, Australia and the US, with supporters
all over the world - including India, Nepal, Bhutan, the Phillipines and
more.

While the concept of the fast may shock some, we have found that it
inspires others and has the potential to wake people up to the urgency of
the situtation.

We feel that it is a very necessary action at this urgent time. We undertake
the Fast out of a deep love for life, and out of belief that all people
deserve the same chance for a safe life and a safe climate - this is
currently being jeopardised by climate change, and we see this as a great
injustice.



Hunger striking is a form of protest unparalleled in its ability to
capture attention and catalyse social movements. It has been successfully
used throughout history to create awareness and motivation for action, as
the most powerful statement against injustice that an individual can make.
We are doing everything that we can within our personal power, to make
change.



Mahatma Gandhi wrote that "under certain circumstances, fasting is the one
weapon God has given us for use in times of utter helplessness.” Many would
argue that the political inaction on climate change has now brought us to
such a time that a fast of this magnitude is warranted.

Join Climate Justice Fast Facebook Group

Follow Climate Justice Fast on Twitter

YEA! MN Winter Gathering

Please join us!

Youth Environmental Activists of MN (YEA! MN) Winter Gathering

December 10, 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Southwest High School, Cafeteria

Educators and students are invited to join YEA! MN for an evening of climate change education, peer inspiration, and opportunities for action. Our 2nd quarterly meeting of the year will focus on the following theme:

'Copenhagen: Understanding the international climate negotiations happening Dec 4-19th, and the role youth can play to make a difference here at home'

Participants will learn about youth delegations to the negotiations from the School of Environmental Studies as well as the Will Steger Foundation, and have the opportunity to hear directly from delegation members via a live internet connection (pending tech capabilities).

Participants will also have an opportunity to network with student environmental leaders from high schools across the Twin Cities metro, share strategies and successes, and generate ideas on possible collaboration.

RSVP: Sean Gosiewski, Alliance for Sustainability: sean@afors.org, 612-331-1099

PLEASE FORWARD

----

Abby Fenton

Education Program Manager

Will Steger Foundation

www.willstegerfoundation.org

50 things to know with (less than!) 50 days to go

COP-15: 50 things to know with 50 days to go

The UN Climate Change Conference 2009 (COP15) is only 50 days away (well, 23 days away now!) Prepare with 50 of the most important facts.

COP-15: Countdown to Copenhagen with the World Resources Institute experts

The Jackpot of Links Galore

I just hit the jackpot! You will never believe this assortment of AWESOME climate change material (and on the final night of this wonderful intensive theme, too...)

CHECK THIS OUT: http://web.wm.edu/cwa/B33Elkins.pdf?svr=www
(Posted with permission from Dr. Terry Elkins)

In this incredible collection of links, several caught my attention:

• MIT Report: “Climate Change Odds Much Worse than Thought”
• THIS reading would have been PERFECT for required reading (even though it is 30 pages, the more the merrier...except when it comes to GHGs): Copenhagen Climate Synthesis Report (March, 2009) = the latest definitive status report of the world climate science community – the Copenhagen Climate Congress
  
• Blog with HUGE conglomeration of climate change articles-- what our blog should aspire to be
• This is just fascinating: Report of the American Psychological Association Task Force on the Interface Between Psychology and Global Climate Change
• And the grand finale presentation-- extremely thorough and extensive evidence (52 pages of pure glory...)
  

Ok, so I got a little carried away, but this is really exciting...for me.

Thanks everyone!
--Katie Paulson-Smith

Kilmaforum09 - Debate Graph