United Nations Climate Change Conference
I wanted to take a few minutes to update you on the news regarding the United Nations Forum Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference which I just had the opportunity to attend, in Poznan, Poland. The conference was my first exposure to UN negotiations in process and clued me in to what's going on regarding climate change in ways I was not aware of. I feel compelled to share with this group as I believe the issues are relevant to our interests and studies and work and I am rather astonished by the lack of press this critical issue and the conference has gotten in the US. (FYI, I accompanied 19 Ithaca College students who were enrolled in a course titled "International Environmental Policy". IC has been granted 'observer' status at these conferences and, as such, is allowed to attend with any number of students, faculty or staff in tow.)
The UNFCCC is the UN entity which has been established to proceed with the ongoing negotiations that are necessary to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to levels that the earth and we humans can sustain. It created the Kyoto Protocol which set targets for nations to achieve by 2012. As 2012 is around the corner, delegates at these conferences are now looking forward to creating a new protocol with targets that will be set far into the future. Next year the conference will be in Copenhagen and it is hoped that the international community will be able to come together to set targets that will indeed protect the earth and its most vulnerable people. It is being regarded as a critical year and there was much dispute at the the conference over the targets which need to be set and there is extreme concern by NGOs and civil society that the delegates are not taking the issue seriously enough.
It is a numbers game of critical importance. Industrialized countries which share the vast majority of blame for GHG emissions are hesitant to commit to the following: A 20% reduction by 2020 and a 50% reduction by 2050 of GHG emissions compared to 1990 levels. This should halt the warming of the atmosphere to no more than 2 degrees C by maintaining somewhere between 450-550 parts per million of carbon dioxide (only one of 6 crucial GHGes). But this won't cut it. Not even close. (The Obama administration, by the way, is talking about these same numbers but compared to the year 2000 - a significant difference that is unacceptable). The Alliance of Small Island States and many others, including indigenous people, developing countries, youth organizations and scientists are arguing for much more stringent targets. 40% by 2020 and 95% (!) by 2050 (again according to the 1990 baseline). This could halt global warming at 1.5 degrees C by hopefully bring carbon emissions to 350ppm. We're currently at an unsustainable 385 ppm, by the way. They're just numbers but they have significant repercussions for millions of people.
At the end of the conference in Poznan there was no consensus on the numbers that will be sought by all nations and this is bad news. Before the next conference in Copenhagen, delegates must confer within their governments to see how the most stringent targets could be achieved. The United States is, of course, a leader here. There is certainly hope with the new administration posed to step in soon to make considerable changes. But, like I said, Obama's current figures WILL NOT DO. If the U.S. does not show its commitment, we can be pretty sure that emerging, polluting economies like China and India won't either. The EU and Canada will also be hesitant. And, hundreds of millions of people will continue to be displaced as environmental refugees as small island nations go under water, pollution increases, food and potable water shortages become more intense (did I mention the population of the earth is expected to be over 9 billion by 2050!), storms, etc.
I heard it over and over again that the technology needed to create a GREEN ENERGY REVOLUTION exists. Grey Germany is the leader in creating solar power! Solar and wind and wave power are the only truly sustainable renewable energy systems that should be pursued. All other proposed technologies that are being negotiated – clean coal or carbon capture and storage, nuclear, hyrdoelectric dams and biofuels, in particular - are wrought with side affects that do not respect human rights and have detrimental affects on the health of the earth in ways not directly related to global warming. For example, nuclear power plants require the dangerous mining of uranium and storage of radioactive material while hydrodams can flood ecologically fragile zones not to mention force the relocation of entire villages. Biofuels are degrading soils and causing the planting of monocultures and accompanying species losses. And over and over again I heard it said that all that is needed to create the Green Energy Revolution - to put money into research and technology transfer - is political WILL. It's the governments and delegates at these conferences who must take a stand and they must do it now.
It's easy to become discouraged and we can be sure that the news in the coming decades will be dire. Global warming is already unstoppable. BUT, IF negotiators can come up with the most stringent of targets for GHG emission reductions and establish a post-Kyoto protocol with said targets we can save the lives of millions and solve other problems in the process if done right, especially economic concerns. I am not alone in stating that this as an unprecedented global crisis that demands a solution created and enforced by the international community. It is exciting, in a twisted sense, to see if we can step up to the challenge. The UNFCCC conference in Copenhagen is slated to be of critical importance and there are organizations from all corners of the world which will be there to pressure the delegates.
My goal here is to create awareness and not instill despair. A delegate from Costa Rica encouraged the youth at the conference to commit to TWO things they can do to combat global warming - on a personal, community, institutional, and/or policy level. I believe this is a good start to give all of us - you, me and the students we work with - a tangible way to feel we/they are doing something. Change must come from governments but it must also happen at the grassroots and local levels. Change can happen from a myriad of venues and we must think creatively and be active, and encourage our students to do so as well. I asked the 19 students from IC to think of commitments. If you are interested, check out the blog they kept at: http://icpoznanclimateconference.blogspot.com/
For those of use who are interested in sustainability in general and who are working in a field that acknowledges the importance of international understanding and cooperation, I think this issue of global warming should be at the top of the list in the coming years and especially in 2009 as governments consider what their commitments to reducing their own GHG emissions will be. Perhaps we can commit to use the platform of international education to reach out to each other and, in particular, to our students by encouraging them to be conscious of their ecological and carbon footprints while at home and abroad, encouraging them to make two commitments and giving them venues to voice their opinions and take action. The Green Passport Program may help to initiate discussions and let us know if you have ideas for how we can help you. There are some other very noteworthy youth organizations out there that we can tap them into and I've provided some links below, as well as links to more general information about climate change.
If you've made it this far, thank you for your attention and I hope you will join me in helping our youth and our selves to achieve a bright and hopeful future. Let's keep the discussion alive. Feel free to write me with questions about the conference.
Astrid
Just a few links for further information:
http://www.350.org - youth led org. pushing to make 350ppm a known figure around the world before Copenhagen
http://www.focusthenation.org/ - youth led org. that organizes PowerShift (sends thousands of students to D.C. in Feb. to talk about climate change) and teach-ins at SustainUS: http://sustainus.org (youth led)
Presidential Climate Action Project: http://www.climateactionproject.com/news/main.php
World Future Council: http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/the_switch.html
UNFCCC: http://unfccc.int/2860.php
Al Gore's call to action at UNFCCC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTWc_aOuxj8
The UNFCCC is the UN entity which has been established to proceed with the ongoing negotiations that are necessary to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to levels that the earth and we humans can sustain. It created the Kyoto Protocol which set targets for nations to achieve by 2012. As 2012 is around the corner, delegates at these conferences are now looking forward to creating a new protocol with targets that will be set far into the future. Next year the conference will be in Copenhagen and it is hoped that the international community will be able to come together to set targets that will indeed protect the earth and its most vulnerable people. It is being regarded as a critical year and there was much dispute at the the conference over the targets which need to be set and there is extreme concern by NGOs and civil society that the delegates are not taking the issue seriously enough.
It is a numbers game of critical importance. Industrialized countries which share the vast majority of blame for GHG emissions are hesitant to commit to the following: A 20% reduction by 2020 and a 50% reduction by 2050 of GHG emissions compared to 1990 levels. This should halt the warming of the atmosphere to no more than 2 degrees C by maintaining somewhere between 450-550 parts per million of carbon dioxide (only one of 6 crucial GHGes). But this won't cut it. Not even close. (The Obama administration, by the way, is talking about these same numbers but compared to the year 2000 - a significant difference that is unacceptable). The Alliance of Small Island States and many others, including indigenous people, developing countries, youth organizations and scientists are arguing for much more stringent targets. 40% by 2020 and 95% (!) by 2050 (again according to the 1990 baseline). This could halt global warming at 1.5 degrees C by hopefully bring carbon emissions to 350ppm. We're currently at an unsustainable 385 ppm, by the way. They're just numbers but they have significant repercussions for millions of people.
At the end of the conference in Poznan there was no consensus on the numbers that will be sought by all nations and this is bad news. Before the next conference in Copenhagen, delegates must confer within their governments to see how the most stringent targets could be achieved. The United States is, of course, a leader here. There is certainly hope with the new administration posed to step in soon to make considerable changes. But, like I said, Obama's current figures WILL NOT DO. If the U.S. does not show its commitment, we can be pretty sure that emerging, polluting economies like China and India won't either. The EU and Canada will also be hesitant. And, hundreds of millions of people will continue to be displaced as environmental refugees as small island nations go under water, pollution increases, food and potable water shortages become more intense (did I mention the population of the earth is expected to be over 9 billion by 2050!), storms, etc.
I heard it over and over again that the technology needed to create a GREEN ENERGY REVOLUTION exists. Grey Germany is the leader in creating solar power! Solar and wind and wave power are the only truly sustainable renewable energy systems that should be pursued. All other proposed technologies that are being negotiated – clean coal or carbon capture and storage, nuclear, hyrdoelectric dams and biofuels, in particular - are wrought with side affects that do not respect human rights and have detrimental affects on the health of the earth in ways not directly related to global warming. For example, nuclear power plants require the dangerous mining of uranium and storage of radioactive material while hydrodams can flood ecologically fragile zones not to mention force the relocation of entire villages. Biofuels are degrading soils and causing the planting of monocultures and accompanying species losses. And over and over again I heard it said that all that is needed to create the Green Energy Revolution - to put money into research and technology transfer - is political WILL. It's the governments and delegates at these conferences who must take a stand and they must do it now.
It's easy to become discouraged and we can be sure that the news in the coming decades will be dire. Global warming is already unstoppable. BUT, IF negotiators can come up with the most stringent of targets for GHG emission reductions and establish a post-Kyoto protocol with said targets we can save the lives of millions and solve other problems in the process if done right, especially economic concerns. I am not alone in stating that this as an unprecedented global crisis that demands a solution created and enforced by the international community. It is exciting, in a twisted sense, to see if we can step up to the challenge. The UNFCCC conference in Copenhagen is slated to be of critical importance and there are organizations from all corners of the world which will be there to pressure the delegates.
My goal here is to create awareness and not instill despair. A delegate from Costa Rica encouraged the youth at the conference to commit to TWO things they can do to combat global warming - on a personal, community, institutional, and/or policy level. I believe this is a good start to give all of us - you, me and the students we work with - a tangible way to feel we/they are doing something. Change must come from governments but it must also happen at the grassroots and local levels. Change can happen from a myriad of venues and we must think creatively and be active, and encourage our students to do so as well. I asked the 19 students from IC to think of commitments. If you are interested, check out the blog they kept at: http://icpoznanclimateconference.blogspot.com/
For those of use who are interested in sustainability in general and who are working in a field that acknowledges the importance of international understanding and cooperation, I think this issue of global warming should be at the top of the list in the coming years and especially in 2009 as governments consider what their commitments to reducing their own GHG emissions will be. Perhaps we can commit to use the platform of international education to reach out to each other and, in particular, to our students by encouraging them to be conscious of their ecological and carbon footprints while at home and abroad, encouraging them to make two commitments and giving them venues to voice their opinions and take action. The Green Passport Program may help to initiate discussions and let us know if you have ideas for how we can help you. There are some other very noteworthy youth organizations out there that we can tap them into and I've provided some links below, as well as links to more general information about climate change.
If you've made it this far, thank you for your attention and I hope you will join me in helping our youth and our selves to achieve a bright and hopeful future. Let's keep the discussion alive. Feel free to write me with questions about the conference.
Astrid
Just a few links for further information:
http://www.350.org - youth led org. pushing to make 350ppm a known figure around the world before Copenhagen
http://www.focusthenation.org/ - youth led org. that organizes PowerShift (sends thousands of students to D.C. in Feb. to talk about climate change) and teach-ins at SustainUS: http://sustainus.org (youth led)
Presidential Climate Action Project: http://www.climateactionproject.com/news/main.php
World Future Council: http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/the_switch.html
UNFCCC: http://unfccc.int/2860.php
Al Gore's call to action at UNFCCC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTWc_aOuxj8
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