2002-2014
It's late afternoon Friday on the last day of these negotiations and is the high-level negotiating will likely go into the wee hours of the morning. I will wake up tomorrow and check to see what the overall outcome is - how strong or weak will the Bali Roadmap to the next Kyoto commitment period be? Until then, I will leave you with some food for thought that comes from a very wise source.
The highlight of the day today for me was the high level plenary where civil society groups were permitted time to make interventions. There were two from the ENGOs (Environmental Non-Government Organizations), both emphasized the urgent need to move forward with a strong outcome from the Bali negotiations. There were reminders that the science is clear and the developed world needs to lead the way in taking on deeper commitments to reduce GHG emissions - 25-40% from 1990 levels by 2020. One of the speakers talked about the need for emissions to peak and then begin to fall within the next 10-15 years - another reference to one of the clear messages from the IPCC report. In another speech, there was a subtle, yet not-so-subtle allusion to countries that are blocking progress - no names were named, but I believe his words were something like, "We know who you are and we will be watching you".
There were also impassioned addresses from representatives of the World Council of Churches, women for climate justice and gender, and two Mayors (of New York City and Bonn, Germany) spoke about cities as being critical to implementing the policies and initiatives to deliver GHG emissions reductions and in adapting to our changing climate. Indigenous people were represented, pointing out that many of the world's indigenous communities are already dealing with devastating effects of climate change.
It was the youth, though, that were the show-stopper. There were four individuals who shared the stage and took turns making statements that I hope from the bottom of my heart reminded the delegates and the world what is really and truly at stake here. The first statement served to remind us all that half the world's population is under 30 and that the youth are the ones who will have to live with the decisions being made today. The next speaker got personal, recalling his reaction to hearing the story of a young woman whose island home is threatened by climate change. The island is only two meters above sea level and as the land is being swallowed by sea-level rise, so too are the livelihoods and culture of her people. He shared the feelings of urgency, solidarity and responsibility to speak and act that he felt after hearing the young woman speak and his question to the plenary and the delegates was: "How many stories do we need to hear before we wake up and take action?".
I was so grateful that the youth chose to be blunt and hard hitting. This is what this conference needs. Here are some of the statements I was most moved by that came near the end of the youth intervention:
"Our future is at stake. As climate change accelerates, and your decisions unfold, we will look back at this moment, this conference. History will judge whether you did enough to give us a plant worth living in . . ."
"The time for excuses is over. We need you to acknowledge that solving climate change will require a just transition to eliminate fossil fuels within our lifetimes . . ."
"If you lead us on the wrong path, we have no time to find our way back and undo your decisions. The potential effects will be devastating and indiscriminant . . ."
"As you make these decisions, take a moment to reflect on why you are here. Are you here as only a delegate? Or are you also here as a mom or dad, an aunt or uncle, a brother or sister? Are you here for us, your children? This is not a political choice - rather a moral imperative, and a requirement for human life. We are already inheriting the consequences of your choices. The world is watching, the youth are rising. Join us."
I hope these messages got through to the delegates loud and clear.