[pima.nius] News from Nan@COP15: Climate Pasifika Team Daily Bulletin Day 3

 

Kia orana,

Please find below the daily bulletin from the Pacific for Day 3 of the UNFCCC COP 15 in Copenhagen.

Please visit our blogsite for further photos and updates: http://climatepasifika.blogspot.com/

Thank you,

Climate Pasifika Team
UNFCCC - COP 15, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Headlines:

• Tuvalu stirs up COP15, calls for suspension.
• Draft Danish text sparks anger and outrage at climate change talks in Copenhagen
  
• Bold Tuvalu scores rare acclaim at COP 15
• Vanuatu already relocating, backs AOSIS call to COP 15
• Pacific's smallest island nation at the worlds largest UN meet
• Youth, water, and a touch of climate refugee in Kiribati COP 15 event.
• Your voices@COP15: Kim Carstensen WWF
• Samoas adaptation measures featured at COP 15
• E moemoea - Cook Islands dances a wake up call to COP 15
• YourVoices@COP15 - Dr Graham Sem, Papua New Guinea
• Something in the air; wind adds to power at COP15
• Water inspires Bluepeace NGO
• FIFA goes green for World Cup 2010
• For the children: Solomons calls for legally binding agreement at COP15
• Financial commitment and science key to COP 15: Samoa
• US will contribute to Copenhagen launch fund, says climate change envoy
• Conflict resolution important to achieve COP15 consensus: Mediators beyond borders

Tuvalu stirs up COP15, calls for suspension.

In an unprecedented move, Tuvalu called for the suspension of the Conference of the Parties (COP) plenary session in Copenhagen today (Wed 09 Dec)
.
The COP plenary session is the main body that is considering proposals from member countries for amendments to the Kyoto Protocol.

Tuvalu and Papua New Guinea submitted proposed amendments to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat in June this year.Addressing the COP plenary, chaired by Denmark's minister responsible for climate change, Connie Hedegaard, Tuvalu's chief negotiator Ian Fry (pictured) reiterated his government's position for a legally binding agreement. Tuvalu's proposal, Mr Fry said, is an amendment to Kyoto to 'make it clear.'

"Tuvalu has delivered, we have an agreement, we have the means. Let us pull out the red carpet, put ink on our pens and drag out the signing table."

"We call on all leaders to put pen to paper and sign two legally binding agreements in Copenhagen – amendments to the Kyoto Protocol and a new Protocol to be called the Copenhagen Protocol in honour of this great city. But, Tuvalu's attempt to refer any detailed discussion on its proposed amended Kyoto Protocol to a contact group, to be set up by the Conference of the Parties (COP) was refused by the chair.

"The blocking came from China, Saudi Arabia and India. They don't want any discussion in the contact group," said Tuvalu's spokesperson, Taukiei Kitala.
"The contact group will allow for a more transparent and open discussion on our proposal for a legally binding agreement. It will also allow for a greater view point from both the parties and NGOs to present their views. The plenary session is only confined to parties, said Mr Kitala.

Solomon Islands, a member of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), which supported Tuvalu's call, agreed that there needs to be greater transparency in the COP process.

Ambassador Colin Beck told the Pacific Communications Team here in Copenhagen there was some understanding about Tuvalu's proposal.
"The proposal is to amend the protocol but not kill it off totally. In essence it called for the extension of the legally binding agreement."

"If we are going to have a positive outcome, it needs to be legally binding. The extension needs to be part of the package, otherwise it will not be a success. Even though we have the financing mechanism, we should also have the commitments. It is really one of the breakers of the negotiations here.

"We are positive of a good outcome from consultations this evening so we can proceed tomorrow (Thursday 10 Dec)," said Ambassador Beck.
Fiji's Minister for Environment, Colonel Samuela Saumatua also declared his country's support for Tuvalu's move to suspend today's session to allow for the chair and other parties to consult on the best way to deal with amendments to the Kyoto Protocol.

"I lend my support to the concerns of Tuvalu delegation and their desire for a legally binding agreement and have a conclusive outcome."

"Fiji commends Tuvalu for this initiative and we hope the contact group will enable the realisation of Tuvalu's proposal," said  Saumatua.
President of the COP, Connie Hedegaard told the afternoon plenary consultations would take place through the evening "and we hope to give you all the good news tomorrow".

Makereta Komai
Climate Pasifika

Draft Danish text sparks anger and outrage at climate change talks in Copenhagen

A draft text on how to fund cuts in greenhouse gas emissions that was leaked to the Guardian newspaper has sparked anger and outrage at the Copenhagen climate talks.


The so-called Danish text, in principle will give rich nations significant power over the billions of dollars to be distributed to poorer countries as part of the new climate change deal.


Chairman of the G77 and China group, Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, a diplomat and lead negotiator for Sudan said the Danish text, 'was a violation of the principles of transparency and openness.'


"We feel insulted by this deal. It's unfair and not equitable.


He questioned the rationale behind Denmark's 'secret' deal.


"The Prime Minister is desperate for a success at any price here at Copenhagen. He needs to distinguish between his political career and his ambitions.


Ambassador Lumumba appealed to the U.S President, Barack Obama to use his influence to bring about a fair and equitable deal to 'save Africa and the small island states, who will face the wrath of climate change."


"The strategic Danish text is also being pursued by President Obama's team here.


"I humbly ask President Obama that a new dawn of multilateralism that he promised the world should not be business as usual.


The chair of the powerful G77 and China also turned on the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon and exhorted him to 'lead like a good sherperd and an honest broker.'


"He is not to be seen as advancing the interests of one power block, said Ambassador Lumumba.


Immediately after, the Danish host of the conference went on the offensive, telling the Danish press that the text could be one among many and didn't represent the official government position.


"The Danish government meets with many different countries, both bilaterally and in groups, to discuss different scenarios and talk about different solutions," said Danish host Connie Hedegaard. "There's nothing new in that."


International media reported that the text was guarded as top secret, and only existed in numbered copies that were handed out mainly in settings where the papers afterwards were taken back again.


Climate experts working for non-governmental organizations said the draft was a tactical mistake by the Danish hosts, drafted as a way to ensure United States participates in the talks. United States negotiators would like to see emerging economies, such as China and India, take "robust" actions to curb emissions. "It was a ploy to get a result by making sure that they could accommodate the US, and that was the wrong approach," said Kim Carstensen, leader of WWF Global Climate Initiative.
The draft includes the controversial goals of having global emissions peak by 2020, with the long-term goal of cutting them in half by 2050 — a target that's strongly opposed by China, India and other developing nations because it would require those nations to cut their greenhouse gas emissions, rather than simply reducing their rates of growth.


The text is now likely to be withdrawn because of its reception by China, India and many other developing countries. It suggests that rich countries are desperate for world leaders to have a text to work from when they arrive next week.

Makereta Komai
Climate Pasifika

Bold Tuvalu scores rare acclaim at COP15

Tuvalu managed to scoop the first ever Ray of the Day award today in a satirical game-show style ceremony at the COP15. The historical award is presented on rare occasions to countries that substantially advance progress in global climate talks; and was scooped by the Pacific nation after chief negotiator Ian Fry made bold proposals during plenary to create a contact group to discuss, in an open and transparent forum, the legal outcome of the COP. Tuvalu's bold move has bolstered solidarity amongst other Pacific nations in the AOSIS group who are part of the call for Copenhagen to deliver a legally binding and enforceable outcome.This means, as well as a second commitment of the Kyoto Protocol, a complementary agreement that covers non-Kyoto parties must take place. For this agreement to be born, the discussion must begin. At the other end of the spectrum, Canada and Croatia won the first place daily 'fossil awards' for worst climate change performance, while Russia managed to slip into second place.



Rachna Lal
Climate Pasifika/CAN International release

Pacific's smallest island nation at the worlds largest UN meet

From the atoll of Fakaofo to the Bella Centre, it has been a long journey of over four days for Faipule Foua Toloa, the Ulu, or titular head of Tokelau. Toloa (pictured) has come to Copenhagen, Denmark hopeful that his small island nation accessible only by sea, will be given observer status with the Alliance of Small Islands States (AOSIS). Toloa is attending the COP 15 as a member of the New Zealand delegation. Tokelauans like Cook Islanders and Niueans are all New Zealand citizens. Toloa is joined by Lili Tuioti who is also representing Tokelau within the New Zealand delegation. Both members arrived on day 3 of the climate change negotiations.

"We are the only territory of NZ who have not been involved with discussing environmental issues when we would be the first, like many other countries in the Pacific, to go under water from the rising sea levels," said Toloa.

"There are very important issues regarding climate change and we haven't been involved from the beginning, but we are coming here now. As the new leader of Tokelau, I see that climate change is a top issue and I am putting that as a priority."

As at July this year the census estimated a population of just over 1,400 which reside on three atolls which make up the nation which is currently under New Zealand administration.

Tokealu lies in the Pacific typhoon belt and it is understood that the highest point for the islands nation is 5 metres. The impacts of climate change are a serious threat to the survival of the people of Tokelau, says its Ulu. "Even though we are part of the New Zealand delegation I am hoping we can have some understanding on this issue of climate change. At the same time I have appealed to AOSIS, the voice of the Small Islands Developing States so that at least we can be heard."

Nanette Woonton

Climate Pasifika

Youth, water, and a touch of climate refugee in Kiribati COP15 event

1 in every 100 infants in Kiribati dies before their first birthday because of contaminated water in the low-lying atoll nation. The grim statistic was part of a slideshow given by climate change officer in the Kiribati Ministry of Environment, Micheal Foon during a COP15 side event hosted by Kiribati. Statistics suggest that Kiribati has the highest infant mortality rate in the Pacific followed by Papua New Guinea and Marshall Islands. "How many more children will die before we do something about it?," asked Foon in the emotionally-charged moment.

Kiribati is one of the Pacific nations already bearing the brunt of sea level rise worsened by climate change. The lack of fresh water is becoming a threat requiring international assistance to help officials implement adaptive measures.Tessie Eria Lambourne, (pictured, above) is working with the Kiribati Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She says Australia and New Zealand have been helping the adaptation process.

"We have a program called the Kiribati – Australia Nursing Initiative (KINA) which trains our young people to get Australian university qualifications in nursing," she said. The KINA program not only educates  the students, but provides them with opportunities to stay and work in Australia.

"This is the model that we are trying to get all the developed countries to assist us in training our people to your standards and international standards so we can help you fill your labor gaps," she appealed.

In the meanwhile, youth have been working in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment in Kiribati to help in adaptive measures. Foon said youth in the environment youth club were involved in all sectors of the environment.

"At the moment, we are trying to engage them in mangrove planting and that is our current focus of adaptive measures among the youth-- to help them help others".

Rachna Lal
Climate Pasifika

Samoas adaptation measures featured at COP15

Samoas integrated approach to adaptation was featured at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark this week. Anne Rasmussen (pictured), Principal Climate Change Officer for the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment presented Samoas case today at the Global Environment Facility (GEF) address to the Conference. 

She said: "We are one of the very vulnerable contries, a small island state in the Pacific and we see this project as a very hands on, on the ground project that will help the people of Samoa adapt to climate change." Samoa signed Kyoto on the 16th of March 1998, and was accepted for ratification on the 27th of November 2000. Samoa submitted its first national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1999. 

Anne says: "The Samoa story is that not only have we developed our NAPA, we have already done the plans, and identified the 9 projects, community driven.

We are now coming to see the implementation of these projects.

The project integrated adaptation itno the agriculture sector and health." Samoa was one of the first countries to receive funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) under the Least Developed Country Fund to develop its National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA). After two years of information and data collection, as well as countrywide consultations, Samoa's NAPA preparation project reported the achievement of it's objectives. 

One such success included the realisation that climate change involved more than one sector. 

"We do not see climate change as just an environmental issue, it is a cross cutting issue and plans get passed on all other sectors. We see an integrated approach on all sectors as not only unique but important," Anne said.

The Global Environment Facility commended the efforts of Samoa in complying with terms of the funding and said islands should follow suit. The 'Samoa Climate Change Synthesis Report: National Adaptation Programme of Action 2004' also created links to other multilateral agreements like the the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). 

According to MNRE a nationally driven set of criteria for priorities in climate change adaptation has also been developed. MNRE reports that the development of Samoa's NAPA was an good learning experience for all those involved, particularly the National Climate Change Country Team (NCCCT) and National Task Team (NTT).

 According to Rasmussen:"By adopting an integrated approach, all the relevant stakeholders both in government and non-government organizations have been able to work hand in hand to ensure that those whose livelihoods are most vulnerable to adverse impacts of climate change impart the urgency and immediacy of the adaptation needs."

Cherelle Jackson
Climate Pasifika Media team
Environment Weekly

E Moemoea--Cook Islands dances a wake up call to COP15

"We are part of the group that contributes less than one percent to the carbon emissions yet we are the ones to face the drastic impacts – so help us save not only our land, but also our culture," say Pacific youth who used dance and performance to capture attention today at COP15.

Luana Bosanquet-Heays and Rikana Toroma of the Cook Islands performed a traditional dance to the Cook Islands song 'moemoea', meaning 'to sleep'. Their performance was a symbolic call on world leaders to wake up and take action to stop climate change.

Climate change not only threatens the existence of the small islands in the Pacific, it also threatens their diverse culture unique to them. With the hope of standing up to the threats of climate change and its impact on the vulnerable Pacific Islands, the two Cook Islands teens are part of Project Survival Pacific, a youth team who are in Copenhagen this week to campaign for their future as well as that of the generations to follow.

In one of the exhibitions, they told of their fears for a Pacific future through story telling. Youth from Papua New Guinea, FSM, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Fiji gave different accounts of how their countries were being faced with new challenges as a result of climate change. Their message: that land is not only an asset to them but also their identity and now the need is to save it.

"The Pacific is at the forefront of climate change and it is imperative to get a positive outcome from the COP15 here in Denmark," says Luana Bosanquet-Heays.

Rachna Lal

Climate Pasifika

Something in the air: Wind adds to power at COP15

The word wind energy or wind power is becoming more common every day and it describes the process by which the wind is used to generate electricity. It has been proven, that these types of energy help reduce carbon emissions.

Denmark was ready to showcase to the world how to increase energy efficiency with the impressive display of a 6.1 meter blade or a wind turbine at the entrance of United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen this year.

Delegates, media, NGOs and other participants were greeted with the sight of the wind turbine blade at the conference venue with another wind turbine in some distance at the back already in operation to provide electricity during the event.

The rotor blade said to be the world's longest wind turbine blade in serial production was installed at the building's main entrance as a greeting to the delegates of COP15 representing the significant developments made in renewable wind energy.
The wind turbine at the rear has been in operation since February 2009 and has had a total energy production of 854,200 kWH since.

Also, it has been able to save 770 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

Free hot beverages like coffee, chai tea and cappuccino are also available for delegates arriving by the metro in the morning which has been generated from the wind turbine energy.

The negotiations on climate change could not have had a better start than this showing that action needs to be taken now.

Rachna Lal
Climate Pasifika Media

Water inspires Bluepeace NGO

Approximately 70% of the Earth is covered in water, hence the brainchild behind the name of an environmental non governmental oorganisation (NGO) based in the Maldives; Bluepeace.

20 years old, this environment organisation is represented in Copenhagen during the World's biggest climate change conference ever.

The Maldive islands are 1,190 coral islands which form an archipelago of 26 major atolls that stretch 820 kilometers from the north to the south and 120 kilometers east to west. While this nation may be geographically distant to the Pacific islands their issues and challenges are very similar to that of the Pacific islands nations, they are also dreading a possible one metre sea-level rise by the end of this century.

It's in Copenhagen that Bluepeace are bringing the effects of climate change to an audience of thousands with their photography exhibition "Vulnerable: the face of climate change in the Maldives".

"We use the skills of our members to help promote and carry out the work of Bluepeace, and it's proving very cost effective, our organization has helped make policy changes in the Maldives," said Ali Rilwan (pictured) , a founding member of the organization. "But a major change we want to see happen will come from this meeting."

Bluepeace has attended several climate exchange activities organized by the Danish Conservation Society while in Copenhagen, sending out the message of the vulnerability of the Maldives.

It is also an organization that is willing to establish a branch in the Pacific region should there be interest.

"We would like to see a Bluepeace in the Pacific, people are welcome to seek further information from us, we can share the lessons we have learnt ad we'd be happy if an organization would like to use our name, logo and style."


To find out more on Bluepeace you can visit: http://www.bluepeacemaldives.org/index.htm

Nanette Woonton
Climate Pasifika

FIFA goes green for World Cup 2010

One of the world's biggest sporting events, the FIFA World Cup is preparing to going green come next year's games. This follows an annoucement at the United Nations climate change conference, that more than half of the countries that have qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa have committed to off-setting carbon emissions caused by their teams and officials' flights to the competition. The Oceania region who have enjoyed the excitement of playoffs such as those between the Solomon Islands and Dubai (pictured) will be represented at the 2010 FIFA World Cup by New Zealand, whose 48 team and officials, travelling to the games will be paying over 11 million US dollars, on off setting their carbon foot prints.

Among the top teams that have pledged are Argentina, Brazil, England, Japan and New Zealand, who join host South Africa, who are aiming to score green goals for the environment, through the cause, an initiative of the UN Environment ProgrammUNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner has urged fans and teams to be part of the incentive.
 
' Footballing nations representing millions, if not billions of fans are standing up and are being counted as environmental ambassadors, for one of the greatest spectator events on the calendar. I hope the remaining teams will want to come on side for the climate in order to score their own green goals, " he said.
The news comes as UNEP and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) announced a one million dollar funding package, towards greening the World Cup.

The funding is going towards helping six host cities in South Africa reduce their energy consumption by installing solar powered street lamps, traffic lights and bill boards.
The funds paid by the teams will complement exisiting green intiatives by South Africa and will include investments in public transport, rainwater harvest, recycling and tree planting drives. 

Ahimsa Kibikibi
Climate Pasifika Team

For the children: Solomons calls for legally binding agreement at COP15

Solomon Islands Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology Rence Sore has told the opening plenary of the United Nations Climate Change conference in Denmark on Monday that failure is not an option in Copenhagen and that children will hold those attending COP15 to account for the outcomes of this conference.

"We have been talking about Copenhagen since Bali. We are now in Copenhagen. Can we walk the talk and deliver what is expected of us here in Copenhagen? Can we make a difference after two years of negotiations?" he said. 

Sore told an audience of more than 15,000 that for the survival of humanity in least developing countries and small Islands developing states a fair, ambitious and legally binding agreement is necessary. 

He said scaled up political agreement and enhanced agreement framework is not the answer to climate but a change that should happen in Copenhagen now.

"We often say in climate negotiations that it is livelihood of the most vulnerable that we are negotiating to protect. Should we fail in our negotiations our children will blame us."

He said if negotiation at the COP15 failed it's the innocent children of the Small Islands Developing states(SIDS) and Least Developed Countries that would suffer most.
"They would always remain as victims of our failure to come up with a fair ambitious and legally binding agreement in Copenhagen," he said.

" We shall never give up the fight for a change in climate change.
He said, "we are not going backwards or scaling back on our expectations and will continue to defend the survival of people in the world."
"As victims of climate change we want change and we want it now . We are here to fight for change and we shall never give up the fight for a change in climate change," he said.
Mr Sore told the plenary small island states in the developing countries are affected by sea level rise and coastal erosion.
"Let us agree on a legal, binding agreement. Let us accept our moral responsibilities and let us save humanity from vanishing in least developed countries and small islands developing states," he said.--ENDS

Gina Maka'a
Contributing author, Solomons Star

Financial commitment and science key to COP15: Samoa

The Pacific delegations may be thinking it, but it took Samoa's Ambassador to the UN to voice a growing pressure on COP15 to deliver. 

"My simple message is this. We are not here just to make up the numbers. We are here because we need action now. Let us use science as the basis of all this so that people don't get off scot-free in terms of their responsibility. We appreciate the assistance given by our development partners, but at the end of the day we happen to share the same globe. As I said we call it our heritage, and our home, even though some may regard it as an investment and a disposable asset." 

So said Samoa's ambassador to the United Nations Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia during a COP15 Pacific press conference, where he called on developed countries and major polluters in the developing world to act now in reversing the impacts of climate change.  Feturi (pictured) said there is no time to wait for change.

"Some are talking about saving the planet for future generations, but what about us who are here now,? We are not going to theorize about something that is going to happen in the future, maybe for some countries, but definitely for the Pacific and definitely for Samoa."

Feturi presented alongside Fiji, Solomon Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia . He said the islands do not take the negotiations lightly.
"Samoa's (delegation) took over two days to get to Copenhagen, not because we want to make up numbers for the quorum so that the meeting can start. We are here because science instructed us to be here."

The UN Ambassador said developed countries should not underestimate the severity of the situation for Pacific islands.

"We have had two cyclones, and we have had to get loans from the World Bank to try and ensure that we can mitigate against some of the impacts of climate change. This is not something that we are trying to convince ourselves, because it is happening. That is why we have following the negotiations in good faith, to the extent that a lot of our Leaders will be arriving here next week." Feturi said facts speak for the case of Samoa and other Pacific island countries feeling the impacts of climate change.

"Science instructed us to act now. Not next week or next year. Why, because we share the same planet, and for Samoa, we call this planet our heritage, for some they call it an investment or probably a disposable asset."

Feturi touched on financing of adaptation and mitigation in the Pacific, emphasising on the need for fair support by developed nations.

"I just want to make the point that a lot of people are talking about immediate finance. I think there is a tendency in these negotiations to play with words. For us English is a second language, but we think we can understand what parties are trying to say. The immediate finance for the next three years or so, that's all very well and we appreciate any additional funds on the table. But the question is, is that sufficient?"

The Ambassador emphasised the need to stick to the facts when it comes to financial responsibilities. "The science has dictated that we try and repair the planet because of the damages that man has already induced or done, though we need a lot more than some of the numbers that have been thrown around. "

"It is imperative that the international community should not lose sight of the plight of the Pacific islands states, including least developed countries and also small island developing states in terms of finances."Feturi said sustainability and independence is key: "It is all very well for Governments to say that you are going to get so much money, but what hasn't been established is how much of that is going to come from the private sector. Government don't have control of the private sector. They will depend on the goodwill of people in that sector. So there is an element of uncertainty and we cannot play accordingly. "

He called on world leaders to take their responsibility seriously and recognize that small islands are also contributing to their own welfare: "It is important for the international community to know that we are not just asking for handouts. We are doing things individually within our respective countries within the resource constraints that we face. At the strategic level, we are ensuring that climate change is integrated into our own development planning."
Feturi did not fail to note the value of including grassroots communities.
"We are also strategising at the community level through projects because at the end of the day, they are the people at the forefront. They are the people who will bear the brunt of all the impacts of the climate change that are being felt in the region."

Cherelle Jackson
Environment Weekly
Climate Pasifika


US will contribute to Copenhagen launch fund, says climate change envoy

 

"The United States will pay its fair share of the amount and welcomes statements by other countries which intend to make substantial commitments as well, said Dr Pershing (pictured).

The special envoy, who is here in Copenhagen as the alternate head of delegation for the U.S Government, urged other rich and powerful nations to support this global fund."It's not only a humanitarian imperative, it is part of a development accord that invests in our common security and the global economy."

To date, only Britain has committed 800 million pounds (US$1.3 billion) to this special fund.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the wealthiest nations should set aside the money as part of a climate agreement.

"We have got to provide some money to help that," Prime Minister Brown said. "Britain will do so, the rest of Europe will do so and I believe America will do so as well."

Financing to assist developing countries is one of the key areas of debate here at Copenhagen, where 80 world leaders have so far agreed to attend.  U.S President, Barack Obama is expected to address the international climate change conference on December 18, the last day of the climate change talks.  Last week, the U.S announced that it was prepared to put on the table an emissions reduction target in the range of 17 percent below 2005 levels in 2020.

"In line with the President's goal to reduce emissions to 83 percent by 2050, this pending legislation would put us on a pathway toward a 30 percent emissions reduction by 2025 and a 42 percent reduction in 2030.

 

But the Alliance of Small Islands States (AOSIS), this commitment is not enough.

AOSIS wants Annex 1 parties to reduce emissions by more than 45 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 95 percent by 2050. Yves de Boer, the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change said the European Union and China feels that the United States can still improve its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.

"For the Alliance of Small Islands States and Least Developed Countries, the U.S announcement is still not good enough.

"This is where the deadlock lies. We hope that when they sit across the table to discuss this controversial issue that they will come to some understanding on what is the most realistic emission reduction target.

 

"We are moving to an 80 percent reduction, which is what the science has called for. The science suggests that if you do that, you'd be on a trajectory to prevent the kinds of damages that this conference is working to avoid, said Dr Pershing.

He said the United States doesn't see a legal treaty coming out of Copenhagen but a political arrangement.

The U.S. also wants other countries, mainly China and India, to commit on when their greenhouse-gas emissions will peak, and will demand stringent standards for reporting, monitoring and verification of emissions and reductions.

"We see it beginning with a political deal that would be operational that would move elements and activities forward immediately and that would be followed by negotiations of a legal arrangement.

"And we believe we could be party to that legal arrangement.

China has pledged to curb carbon emissions as a percentage of gross domestic product by 40 to 45 percent by 2020. These would be voluntary cuts and therefore unlikely to be part of a binding climate-change pact.

 

 Makereta Komai
Climate Pasifika

 

Conflict resolution important to achieve COP15 consensus: Mediators Beyond Borders

 

While talks, agendas and lobbyists are in overdrive this week as countries strive to reach an agreement everyone is happy with, Mediators Beyond Borders are trying to convince people that mediation and conflict resolution skills are important to achieve consensus.

President of the US-based organisation Kenneth Cloke says their mission is to build conflict resolution capacity around the world and they are hoping to ensure that , "the first time something goes wrong, the whole thing does not fall apart."

"Mediation is an extremely powerful method of dispute resolution and if you want climate change to work, you cannot use military force. What you can use is mediation so you have to  negotiate in a collaborative way with each other and that is the skill we are bringing," he said.

The organisation has beenmeeting delegates and handing brochures and no one has claimed this to be a bad idea so far.

Interestingly enough, he says, Solomon Islands has been the only nation so far who support mediation being the way to go. "This appreciation was at a government level and it means alot."

Explaining mediation, he added, "to solve any of the worlds problems, you have to learn how to live together as human beings on the same planet and we have not figured that out yet. But it's really easy - we have to treat each other equally and fairly, we have to earn to talk beyond our differences and overcome prejudices and biases. We have to have ways of responding when the communication breaks down."

The MBB has projects in 14 countries but hope to add some more from the Pacific as well and already have it pipelined for countries like Fiji and East Timor.

"We have members in Australia and New Zealand who are joining us in two projects in the Pacific and we hope to have more as we are only three years old now."

One of the founding members of MBB, Fiona Nagle agrees mediation is going to be extremely important to adjust the world to the new way of living.

Rachna Lal
Climate Pasifika

Messages from Copenhagen:  Dr Graeme Sem, Papua New Guinea

TRANSCRIPT: There is some sense of togetherness in a way. At the moment we haven't had any surprises yet. The only thing that might derail this is if we get a surprise from a country or a group of countries.  Thats the suspicion but we don't know.  I think there is a general feeling that we might not necessarily get a deal but some sort of a framework that will help us work towards getting that deal.

Viewable on the blogsite:  http://www.climatepasifika.blogspot.com/

Geoffrey Smith
Climate Pasifika

Messages from Copenhagen: Kim Carstensen, WWF

TRANSCRIPT: The easy bit is one where developing countries get support from developed countries in terms of finance or in terms of technology. For those bits developing countries seem perfectly willing to measure, to report and to have it verified. They are willing and you can see that in the basic paper.  They are willing to live up to whatever international guidelines there might be .But on the other part the part they do themselves then they have more reservations because why should they just put up to international scrutiny.This is ours they say. Its our actions, its our money, our responsibility and you shouldn't interfere with that.

The trick will be to find a balance and that this is done in accordance of course with national rules of countries. But on the other hand in a way that makes it transparent to the world,because its important for the world and the atmosphere We need to find a way in which it will be verified, the reporting requirements, the measurement standards and even the accounting rules are there for everybody so that we know we can trust information the country's give us.

Geoffrey Smith
Climate Pasifika

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pacific islands media association
pima.nius@gmail.com
aotearoa, new zealand
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