Youth call out fossil fuel industry corruption at Doha climate negotiations. Credit: Kyle Gracey/SustainUS

When Hitchcock’s first black bird landed on the frame of the playing ground, it seemed individual, particular. There was no need to derive a common theory about the bird in the larger scheme of things as a harbinger of anything significant. By the time the children looked out the window again, 4 more birds had arrived. Soon, the sky had become dark with the descent of an avian blanket of hundreds of birds. As delegates entered the U.N convention center at Doha for the second week of the COP 18 in Doha, they saw the first bird perched atop the escalators.

SustainUS, a youth led organization, along with Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition and Canadian Youth Climate Coalition gathered around the entrance of the convention center and stood disenchanted and disenfranchised from the process, with a somber gloom. They held black cancerous spots that had been clogging the arteries of the negotiations, speaking about the chronic and acute influence of the fossil fuel industry on the levers of global climate change policy.

Mike Sandmel, the media chair of SustainUS and co-organizer of the event stated that “we hear a lot of stories about countries being painted as evil actors as if they were monolithic. Often, even in the choke points of the climate negotiations, there is a huge internal struggle for the environmental soul of the country. The fossil fuel industries control the strings of the country’s fate because of their financial influence and this event is to bring it out in the open.” As the delegates went past the signs that read “Fossil fuel industry groups spent upwards of $376 million on TV ads to influence 2012 elections in the US.” and “Preventing the tragedies of a 2°C temperature rise means staying within a carbon budget of 565 gigatons”, their minds were arrested as their bodies glided limply past. There were a few skeptical voices heard as one delegate from India remarked “Do these people not know that half the world’s population doesn’t have electricity?” Mostly, as the delegations passed, they documented the event in film while the media rushed onto the scene to get the individual perspectives.

Democracy Now interviewed Chi Tung-Hsien, a Taiwanese youth, and he said “Hurricane Sandy has recently shaken Americans awake from a deep sleep about the disastrous effects of climate change. In Taiwan, Sandy is the norm. With mudslides, a food crisis that is likely to lead the country into famine and constant threat of the rising oceans on their island, they live at the constant mercy of climate change.”

Youth call out Obama Administration failures on climate leadership. Credit: Kyle Gracey/SustainUS

As the setting cleared, and the birds dispersed, another bird landed and another action materialized itself. This time, the youth gathered together to observe the cognitive dissonance within the Obama administration. The promises he gave the youth were read out, namely, “We want our children to live in an America that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet”. The action then went on to systematically deconstruct and unearth every single action by the Obama administration that is at complete odds with the ostensible ambition of both the election campaigns. Two elections in which the most disenfranchised minority, the youth, that came out in unprecedented numbers to vote the President in for him to leave them a planet that is habitable have been growing increasingly disillusioned. The constant propitiations to fossil fuel industries and other business interests were encapsulated under the banners of a ‘’Lack of leadership’, ‘’Weak targets’’, ‘’No clarity of how we will reach our targets’’, ‘’Airline reduction’’, ‘’Lack of Financial commitments’’ and ‘’Politics placed ahead of scientific realities’.

While the soot was sinking and the kettle of media was swooping in to the wake of Obama’s dead promises, the numbers and the solidarity of the youth was growing fast with each action, stamping and branding the leaders at Doha with a climate legacy that will last generations to come.

We believe that without the voices of minors, the process is flawed and fails to adequately represent key stakeholders in the climate crisis. If you are a negotiator at the COP18 climate talks and value the voices of the world’s minors, lend us your support today.

In more than 13 Arab countries youth united in demanding serious action against climate change. The members of the “Arab Youth Climate movement” coordinated a regional day of action across the Arab world.

In Dubai,  members of the “Arab Youth Climate Movement” carried the banner “It is time to lead,” referring to the need for Arab governments to exploit this golden opportunity for leadership in the international talks on climate change due to its geopolitical location and influence.

The event was done in coordination with 350-UAE, Green Map-UAE and Flea for Charity. Volunteers and coordinators took students from Al-Himam center in Ajman to Safa park, were they partook in different activities with environmental awareness as a theme.

The aim of this move is to urge Arab leaders to reach the best solutions to the environmental disaster that we face. The United Nations Conference on Climate Change will be held for the first time in an Arab country, namely Qatar from November 26th to 7th December 2012. This constitutes a historic opportunity for the Arab countries to take leadership in the environmental front.

During the activity the UAE coordinators for the “Arab youth climate movement” defined the movement and its objectives; it was founded in September of this year and it aims to lead Arab youth to address the problems caused by climate change and call on Arab countries to take the position of leadership and direct Arab opinion toward formulating a decisive stance and committing to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The coordinators explained that Arab governments must take action like other countries of the world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the world through clear policies agreed upon at the conference. If this is not successful over the next five years it will become impossible to turn back and seek to reduce the temperature of the planet then.

Arab countries, especially GCC countries must show a changed perspective towards climate change and work to protect renewable resources.

It is worth mentioning that the imposition of policies reduces the greenhouse gas emissions requires the imposition of environmental justice in all countries, this calls for the use of renewable energy sources and natural gas as alternatives to fossil fuels, it also calls to reduce air pollution and the reduction of the use of means of transportation that rely on oil.

Youth groups have participated in each of the following countries: Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Libya, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Iraq.

SustainUS also has an annual academic writing competition, Citizen Science, that enables young scientists to be published and present their work at a UN Conference. Earlier this year SustainUS launched the Lead Now Fellowship to empower young people to build the organizations and develop the campaigns that will help them address the challenges we face.

Along with sending a full delegation to COP18 in Doha, Qatar this fall, SustainUS will launch a rapid response network for the US, encouraging youth across the country to take action to influence climate negotiations while at home.

Australian Youth Climate Coalition

On its website the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) boasts its ambitious theory of change: the organization asserts that “climate change is the single greatest threat facing humanity, and that young people – as the inheritors of this planet – are the key stakeholder in humanity’s response to the climate crisis.” Within that crisis, however, is an opportunity to “create a more sustainable, just and fair Australia.” AYCC believes a generation-wide movement can rise to the challenge, engaging thousands of people across the continent who are willing to take bold action on climate change issues.

Seven youth comprise the AYCC’s team of directors; the organization also operates under a 39-page constitution and partners with groups such as the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition and the National Indigenous Youth Movement of Australia. AYCC recently registered approximately 22,000 people during its Youth Decide campaign. Delegations have been sent to UN climate negotiations for the past few years; AYCC plans to send a team to COP 18 in Qatar this fall.

AYCC’s most recent campaign, Walk for Solar, just ended after dozens of youth walked 300 km from Port Augusta to Adelaide. Along with engaging and encouraging communities across the region to support solar development, the AYCC’s journey earned them a surprise visit – and show of support – from South Australian Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis! The campaign’s success proves AYCC’s theory of change is more than just that: it’s an effective, successful strategy for solving the climate change crisis.

Countries are still left with a worrying seven year gap from 2013 to 2020 without commitments on finance to help countries adapt to the impacts of climate change, or to reduce emissions.

Fast Start Finance was the initial package announced in Copenhagen to provide $30Bn in climate finance from 2010-2012. In Durban, countries committed to agree on a new treaty to be implemented by 2020. It is unclear when the new Green Climate Fund will kick in.

At the Bangkok talks yesterday, the US tried to reassure countries that they are working hard, yet said that any target for “mid-term finance” is “not something we can do”.

Frustratingly, the US delegate (Paul) said that this was something that “would have had to be brought up at the beginning”.

Need for dialogue with the Green Climate Fund:

Parties pointed out the Green Climate Fund is accountable to the COP (Conference of Parties). Columbia called for a clear process for all Parties to have a dialogue with the new ‘Green Climate Fund’, and Philippines called for “coherent and consistent” parameters – like those used by the GEF (Global Environment Facility).

Oil-rich Saudi Arabia (who constantly disrupt the talks) was against this, claiming the GEF lacks capacity.

The future of Long-term Cooperative Action?

The working group on Long-term Cooperative Action (LCA) was given the mandate in Bali 2007 to work until an “agreed outcome” was reached. However, this work was only extended in Durban for one year. The US now seems unwilling to extend the LCA.

Developing countries like Columbia and Bangladesh argue there is still a lot to discuss and want it to be extended. Bangladesh highlighted on Monday that funds have not yet come through for the National Adaptation Plans, and regional adaptation networks also have yet to appear.

On Monday, United States said these type of concerns did not need to be discussed since this would “pre-empt the adaptation committee” next week. Yet the next day, the US themselves seemed to ‘pre-empt’ the discussion over the LCA’s future, saying: “we are in the process of closing up the LCA”.

Developing countries are obviously concerned that the LCA should not be closed until the outstanding issues are put on the table elsewhere.

No text on the table:

Since this was an informal session, it meant that parties could not put official text on the table, and developed countries seemed unwilling to discuss informal text either.

On Tuesday, Philippines strongly called for direct access for developing countries to resources, to enable equitable allocation, and balance between adaptation and mitigation. They said it was “not an option to have no text”.

Once again, the climate talks have been extremely frustrating. Bolivia called on Monday for the parties to “get to the substance” but progress has been painstakingly slow.

Developed countries, blinded by their own short-term problems, seem to be unwilling to discuss finance, let alone agree on the financial means to tackle climate change. In Doha (COP19), these countries must commit to medium-term targets for finance, or risk undermining trust in the whole regime.

Meanwhile, the world hurtles towards 3 degrees of warming, or perhaps more…

Youth outrage as EU reveals no intention to fight climate change.

LONDON / BANGKOK – Today, young people across Europe expressed outrage as the EU revealed its intention to stick to an embarrassingly weak CO2 reduction target of 20% by 2020.

At an informal session of the UN climate negotiations in Bangkok, Thailand, the EU announced the plan, explaining that “25% is not reality, it is wishful thinking.” This is despite repeated warnings from the scientific community that sticking the current pledge of 20% will risk a catastrophic 6°C global temperature rise.

The EU revealed that it is closing discussion on the 2020 targets to focus on emissions reductions for 2030 – meaning that it will not consider further progress on emissions reductions for another decade. Increasing pre-2020 emission reduction targets was a key part of the Durban agreement, but the EU this week rejected a part of the Durban package which would have ensured immediate emissions cuts before looking to a 2030 climate deal.

Although the EU has traditionally held a more hesitant stance regarding an increase in ambition, it has previously claimed to be willing to “speed up progress” if “others will too” (Connie Hedegaard, Twitter 29/08/12). In today’s highly disappointing revelation of its true intentions, an EU delegate claimed that the “actions” of countries should be the focus, using vocabulary widely recognised to allude to developing countries’ commitments.

The EU claimed that it was  “unlikely to see changes in pledges this year or in other parts of the world.” The claim was an apparent oversight of developing countries’ commitments which have long surpassed developed countries’ low pledges to reducing emissions. As a result of today’s announcement, the EU’s stance is fast becoming known among civil society as the “false face” of EU climate diplomacy.

As many have looked to the EU to take leadership at the UN’s climate talks, the announcement will no doubt come as a damning blow. Millions around the world, particularly in the poorest areas, are already living with the effects of climate change. As the poorest suffer, today’s announcement indicates that the world’s richest are ignoring their responsibility to act first and fastest.

“With this move the EU has confirmed that it’s putting short-term, private profit ahead of the future wellbeing of its population, buddying-up with dirty fuel corporations instead of accepting the responsibility it has towards developing countries,” said Lucy Patterson, 25, a campaigner from the UK Youth Climate Coalition and Push Europe. “We need the EU to commit to at least 40% domestic reductions by 2020 to prevent catastrophic climate change – 20% is shameful and we will not accept it.”

“With this decision, the EU is speaking the language of polluters and not its own people. We as young Europeans want to highlight that EU officials are not representing our views, and we would like to apologise to the international community for their actions. We urgently need EU leaders to face up to their responsibility. Act now, strengthen emission reductions.” said Koen Verbruggen, 28, from Friends of the Earth Flanders-Brussels and Power Shift Belgium.

“Europe has the potential to make a transition to a low-carbon economy that is based on social and environmental justice, whilst helping poor nations to do the same,” added Marco Cadena from Push Europe. “We still believe this is possible. However, we need better leadership. Decisions should be in line with science, and they should be made by informed and responsible leaders, not by corporations. We are at the beginning of a full-scale climate crisis and we can’t afford to sit and watch oil companies rake in their profit while current and future generations are wiped out.”

This press release was originally published online here.

We have a number of fellowships available for talented young people (ages 18 – 30) who are willing to actively contribute to Adopt a Negotiator between now and the end of the 2012, including attending the Doha Climate Change Conference this November.

BACKGROUND

Adopt a Negotiator (AaN) is a project of the Global Campaign for Climate Action, an alliance of more than 350 non-profit organizations working to ensure a safe climate future for people and nature, to promote the low-carbon transition of our economies, and to accelerate the adaptation efforts in communities already affected by climate change by mobilizing civil society and galvanizing public. AaN got its start with a group of passionate young climate activists publicly tracking their country’s climate negotiators during the lead-up to the Copenhagen Climate Talks (COP15) in 2009. The project has since continued to support activists in publicly tracking their government’s roles in international efforts to respond to climate change.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Adopt a Negotiator project is awarding fellowships to exceptional young people that we think possess the ability to effectively push their country toward unlocking climate solutions nationally and internationally. Our Fellows will have an opportunity to help shape their government’s role in solving climate change. They will be part of a team of passionate, dedicated and talented activists from around the world; participating in a moment that will shape if and how the world responds. Their efforts will build on a proud legacy of past ‘Negotiator Trackers’, and contribute to the climate movement in a creative, challenging and exciting role.

Applicants must be 18 to 30 years of age; be able to attend the Doha Climate Change Conference from November 23rd to December 9th; and able to actively contribute to the Adopt a Negotiator project as an activist and blogger from August to December of this year.

Here are some of the qualities we are looking for:

You understand the landscape - Our Fellows should not only understand climate change, they are also familiar with their country’s national and international climate politics; preferably with the UNFCCC itself: its history, its inner workings, and its roles in addressing climate change.

You are a great communicator - Our Fellows are excellent at turning the complex and hard to communicate developments happening during climate negotiations into compelling, accessible, creative, actionable communications across multiple channels and mediums. Our primary tool is blogging – and you must be a skilled blogger – but the ability to leverage other communications tools and channels with strategic and/or large audiences via new and traditional media is key to their success.

You’ve got informed empathy - Our Fellows seek out a deep understanding of how climate change affects people in different situations in different ways all over the world – security, health, livelihood, values, politics, business, etc – and can tap into that understanding to help them connect with with various audiences (including your negotiators).

You’re brave - In a short amount of time, each Fellow has to build relationships with experts in our alliance, members of the media, and their country’s negotiators and decision makers. Fellows must make and take public stands on complicated issues; get their ideas and opinions out to media in their home country in meaningful ways; and share those

You’re fast - Our Fellows must be able to rapidly respond to events and opportunities inside climate negotiations and out.

You’re dedicated - Our Fellows understand the stakes and are dedicated to helping push for progress in addressing climate change in spite of any setbacks and challenges we face along the way. While we expect to count on our Fellows’ full-time participation during the Doha Climate Change Conference, they will also actively participate in the project throughout the remaining months of 2012.

While this Fellowship is a volunteer opportunity, support for participation in the Doha Climate Change Conference will be provided by the Global Campaign for Climate Action.

Visit AdoptANegotiator.org for role description and application form.

African Young Scientists Initiative on Climate Change and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AYSICCIKS)

The primary goal of African Young Scientists Initiative on Climate Change and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AYSICCIKS) is to empower young African scientists (and young people in general) to actively and effectively respond to climate change in their countries and communities. AYSICCIKS also aims to champion the recognition of indigenous knowledge in adaptation and mitigation.

Launched in 2010, the initiative is based at the University of Kwazulu Natal in Durban, South Africa and has been partially facilitated by the South African Department of Science and Technology. AYSICCIKS has members from more than 20 African countries, including Benin, Cameroon, the DRC, Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

In August 2011, the initiative brought together more 20 young climate researchers from various parts of Africa to Johannesburg to present and share their research findings on wide range of climate change-related issues such as adaptation, food security, traditional weather forecasting, REDD+ and many more. At COP17, AYSICCIKS members organized a side event and a roundtable discussion on the role of youth in combating climate change.

AYSICCIKS members and mentors also attended Rio+20 and organized a side event to showcase how African youth are addressing climate from research and information dissemination.

Information and photo provided by Thabit Jacob.

Earth in Brackets

To answer a question regarding its namesake, Earth in Brackets (EIB) states, “Brackets are used during international meetings to denote text that’s controversial. If countries can’t agree, the bracketed text is removed. Earth is now in brackets.”

EIB doesn’t claim to have a set-in-stone mission statement, but generally the group, based at the College of the Atlantic in Maine, USA, aims to bring the voices of civil society into the oft-inaccessible halls of climate negotiations; translate and analyze the cryptic language/nuances of environmental diplomacy; contest the UN space to ensure its process serves citizens; and inform, inspire, empower and embolden youth activism.

Earth in Brackets is composed of an ever-changing group of students with a vast array of passions. Primarily involving itself in the UN climate regime, EIB has focused on issues in adaptation, finance, technology transfer, market-mechanisms and mitigation – always with a justice perspective. Similarly to most youth organisations, full and fair civil society participation in global environmental governance is a cause EIB advocates constantly.

The organisation is in a process of solidification; in the safety of a “sustainable venture incubator,” EIB has been refining its identity. The YOUNGO community can look forward to a revamped Earth in Brackets website that’ll be more organized and easier to use. In the year or so since Anjali Appadurai’s intervention at COP17 in Durban, EIB has grown a lot and, like other youth organizations, is in the process of learning-by-doing every day. EIB has sent delegations to international climate conferences since the organization’s creation in 2006; its goal for COP18 is to have a more strategically coordinated youth effort.

Information provided by Nathan Thanki.