Delegation

The UKYCC team at our 2010 vision weekend

The AYICC Kenya team at their 2010 planning weekend!

5000 miles is nothing!

Distance is the only thing that separates us and our Kenyan friends (well that and the weather…). Just look at these photos!

During Copenhagen we all discovered that though we live 5000 miles apart we all have very similar lives, the meetings may have slightly different settings but we are  discussing the exact same things!

Our partnership with AYICC Kenya (African Youth Initiative on Climate Change)  was one of the most amazing things we got out of Copenhagen and in 2010 we will be continuing to work, partner, exchange stories, experiences and friendships with them. And we hope you too can get involved, make some friends, share some experiences and realise that climate change does not divide us…

In fact it unites us like nothing else in history.

As I said you only need to look at these photos to see that!

An International Environmental Court, of course!

See the below details for a lecture that will describe how an International Environmental Court should be created, and what the purpose of it will be:

The United Nations Association Westminster Branch, Clifford Chance LLP and the International Relations Committee, the Bar Council

invite you to the

8^th Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen International Law Lecture

Monday, 8 March 2010 at 6.30pm

The case for an International Court for the Environment

Stephen Hockman QC

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Wind turbines – I’m a fan! No but seriously I really like wind turbines, and it’s my dream I guess to see the UK powered solely by renewable energy, in my lifetime rather thank Kzonk years away. This is why I have been following closely on the post-Copenhagen promises, those that announce the government’s latest proposals for giant off shore wind farms to power the UK. But is it worth swinging my pants around my head and shouting whoooop whooooop just yet, or is it just another token gesture from a suspiciously well-to-do, but do-nothing-well government?

Following the hoo-ha of Copenhagen and the UK’s insistence it is ready to address the threat of climate change, the Government announced plans for a £100 billion off-shore wind farm development in the UK. The project is in no doubt a major step, 6400 massive turbines said to feed a quarter of the UK’s energy demand by 2020. This amounts to the biggest shift in our energy supply since the discovery of North Sea oil and gas fields nearly 40 years ago! They will stand at 145m above sea level, in some cases as far as 130 miles out to sea, in 9 development zones. The biggest of which is named Dogger Bank, after its location, and not what the local councillors are up to in heathland late at night! All in all it’s a huge project that will put Britain at the top of Europe’s wind energy league, and create one of the biggest wind infrastructure projects in the world.

As I mentioned I love wind energy, so much in fact that I chose to march through Copenhagen with a banner reading Blow Me and a picture of a wind turbine, during the biggest environmental march the world has ever seen.

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Thanks to Lewis Merdler, artistic genius, for this image!

Posted by Kirsty Schneeberger

Today the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change opened a Consultation on how young people can be involved in the department’s decision making process! This is super-duper exciting and it means All Hands on DECC to fill out this 4 minute survey.  And remember – try and fill it out as soon as you read this because you only have until 26 January.

Ever since I have been involved with UKYCC, this has been one of the most important issues to me. At every event I have been to – if I have been lucky enough to ask a question – they have pretty much been: ‘how is DECC going to engage more with young people, and let them be involved in decision-making; Or – will DECC include a young person in the official UK Delegation; Or- would DECC consider having a youth advisor/panel who can present youth perspectives to the Department.’ At most of the events Ed Miliband, has agreed to these ideas, but only informally.

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We didn’t do it then

We need to do it now

But then was now

And now becomes then

And the question remains

When?

The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband, has confirmed his attendance to The Climate Revolution on Tuesday 12th January.
 
Just weeks after the Copenhagen Summit, this is your opportunity to hear exactly what this Government will commit to and question these promises.
 
The free tickets are running out fast, book here; http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/264379/index.html
 
For more info contact 020 7553 9895 or email kajal@ukyp.org.uk.

This event is being organised by the UK Youth Parliament. The UK Youth Climate Coalition will be there to run some workshops and it would be great to see you too!

Awakening on Boxing Day stricken by an alcohol induced mental fog no less stubborn than the moral one that afflicted the world leaders at COP15 I tried to make sense of what had happened. Confusion reigned at the conference which, after two weeks of filibuster produced little more than a Google doc, a Nation State Christmas list of what leader’s felt like cutting by whenever they felt like it. Through the subsequent blizzard of finger pointing, each country blaming the next one for the turd on the table, one thing remains abundantly clear; our leaders failed us. Strangely the overwhelming sensation I feel now is not fear or anger, but relief. Copenhagen certainly didn’t provide a solution, but it might well have provided a clean slate from which we can start really dealing with the problem of climate change. Our leaders produced nothing to hide behind; it is now our turn to act.

The day after the conference it is easy to picture the various countries waking up with an enormous COP-over and only embarrassing memories to remind them of their efforts. The US’s present was given to us all with ceremonial calls to action, but when unwrapped it became clear that there was nothing inside the box. The EU’s gift was of a reasonable size but it was wrapped with so many strings attached that no one could open it fully. China promised wondrous treasures of great beauty, but kept them under wraps refusing to show a sole. And, of course there was Canada, the grumpy, drunk uncle who busied himself moaning in the corner, occasionally kicking the dog.

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Our leaders aren’t done yet… and neither are we

Amid the depression and chaos of the last few weeks I’ve seen, and been able to be a part of so many beautiful, inspiring things.

I’ve walking with 100,000 people of every age and nationality to call for a safe and stable climate.

I’ve seen 3 young people prove, as they finish their 46 day hunger fast, that achieving the ‘impossible’ is just a matter of having the courage to try and the will to keep trying.

I’ve seen young people take to the stage in the main negotiations to tell the world what this means to us.

I’ve stood at a Vigil for Survival amid hundreds of other people where every single candle represented 10,000 people who had called for a real deal at Copenhagen.

I’ve helped to fill the greyness and endless corridors of the UN with colour and life and music.

We’ve shared songs, games, stories, and experiences with the Kenyan Youth Delegation. After working with them all year, we can now put names to faces and stories.

I’ve had less sleep than I’ve ever had before and worked harder than I’ve ever done before. But I know so many people who’ve given even more than I have and have been doing this all year. Going back again and again to the UN, traveling overland for weeks, or having no money for months because they give all their time to this.

I’ve sat with a hall full of people as Obama announced the Copenhagen Accord. I’ve shared the disempowerment, the sadness and the anger of that moment. Twenty minutes later I was stood protesting with hundreds of other young people outside the Conference Centre as the delegates filed out. It was 1 in the morning, well bellow freezing and snowing heavily but no one even considered not going.

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Yesterday it appeared a lot had happened in Copenhagen. World leaders arrived at the Bella Centre in a flurry of convoys, and addressed the Conference of Parties and the world with aims to move forward. No sooner had they arrived and delivered their speeches, than they had disappeared again. As the dust settles the ‘Copenhagen Accord’ appears and as I read the text with no targets I realise that our future is not in their hands, but in ours.

Today we will pick up the pieces our leaders couldn’t put together and tidy the mess they made and didn’t clean up. Today youth from around the world will begin the world of educating on climate change and greening the global environment. Today we will decrease carbon emissions by empowering individuals and communities around the world. Today we will educate people with logical solutions to decrease carbon emissions and dependency on fossil fuels.

Am I disappointed by what was put on the table? Yes, but I am not surprised. Nor am I disheartened by it. That’s because today we will go further and make sure, top-down and bottom-up, that we will address this global challenge. We will empower everyone and, together, secure everyone’s futures.

Yesterday, when a call went out to the leaders of the world to lead on tackling climate change, no-one put their hands up.

Today I put my hand up.

It is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But at least it is the end of the beginning. - Winston Churchill, 1941

Ah, but for a Churchill to help us tackle climate change. Sadly, not even President Obama – otherwise a master of inspirational rhetoric – could put the ‘hope’ back into ‘Hopenhagen’ as the climate talks drew to a close this weekend.

So where do we now stand? Planet saved or world in crisis? Read the rest of this entry »

Late on Friday 18th December, it was announced that the US, China, Brazil, India and South Africa had signed a “meaningful agreement” here in Copenhagen, with the possibility of the EU and Mexico signing on. In doing so, our politicians have undermined two years of progress, since an agreement to agree with the Bali Action Plan, and two weeks of intense negotiations which were severely impacted by the lack of leadership.

Two weeks ago, the nation of Tuvalu brought us to tears. Two weeks on, we are again in a similar situation for a very different reason. It is summised perfectly by a US official who leaked the Copenhagen Accord, “the new deal is not enough to combat the threat of climate change.” So how is it then a step forward? Read the rest of this entry »

I wrote this earlier this afternoon, on paper. Anna’s already blogged about the intervention, but here are my thoughts:

I’m sitting in the new youth convergence space, a huge bright white hall near the central station and the Klimafoum called Oskerhalle. A young climate activist from London is standing on the stage with his guitar, doing a sound-check which has turned into a short impromptu concert.

Music is just what I need right now – I’ve just heard the last youth ‘intervention’ or speech of the COP, given by Juan Carlos Soriano, from Peru.  His eloquent, empassionned words were recieved by a crowd of cheering, watching here over video link. But my tears were of anger because they were delivered to a huge empty plenary room, while all of the powerful people who should have been listening and being moved are making the important decisions somewhere else, in a closed room.

Juan Carlos is one of the few young people to have been allowed into the Bella centre today, the last day of the negotiations, but this ‘privilege’, which should have been a right, is hollow – he and the other youth and NGOs and other members of civil society inside are not allowed to witness the real decisions being made.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ-SMqh7q3o

Here is Obama announcing what is essentaily “a carefully managed collapse” in the form of the Copenhagen Accord.

On Thursday evening, there was a vigil for survival. In the last few days, I’ve been feeling disconnected and disheartened about the whole process, as have many of us, but this candlelit vigil was a really good place to reconnect with what this is all about.

It opened with a song, followed by several reflective, inspirational speeches. At the end, we were all invited to write some thoughts on a piece of paper, and bring them to the front with the candles, as an offering. Here is what I wrote:

“I was struggling to find any meaning in having been here, witnessing this COP process, trying to influence it. Today, hearing Bill McKibben say that the civil society movements who have come together here and around the world, from north and south, have given strength to governments of more than 100 of the least powerful countries to stand their ground and say that they want an effective deal, gives meaning to having been part of this.”

Youth intervention in high level plenary (Big love to our friend Juan, who stays in the hostel room across from ours, for his passionate delivery!)

Thank you mister President for giving us the floor.

Good afternoon fellow human beings.

My name is Juan Carlos, and in the year 2050 I will be 64 years old. I am proud to represent the International Youth Climate Movement.

Christina Ora, a 17 year old from the Solomon Islands, addressed the opening plenary two weeks ago. She said “I was born in 1992. You have been negotiating all my life. You cannot tell us that you need more time.”

We have all worked for the past two years with the promise of a strong deal in Copenhagen to safeguard our future. Now it seems you will not get it done.

This is unacceptable. We placed our trust in you. You should be ashamed.

The United Nations was created to solve humanitarian and social crises, but instead of standing united, you are now the Divided Nations. Humanity can and must do better. Mother Nature will not negotiate with us.

Read the rest of this entry »

Wednesday was the last day that the UK Youth Delegation had any presence within the UN. Watch this to see what Emma, Dave, Anna and Josh did with it – it’s exciting!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n5cYJgB0R8

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vygLEXJpEPM

Climate Justice Fast
Today over 5,000 people have joined in solidarity to fast for 24 hours, as part of the Climate Justice Fast.  The fast has been undertaken for 42 days (or just over 1,000 hours) by three youth advocates who have proved that the “impossible” can be done.  Indeed, they have shown us that when a goal is set – and if we show courage, determination and commitment – these goal can be achieved!

And this determination and courage can, and must, be shown when building a prosperous and vibrant society, full of clean and safe technologies.  This courage and determination needs to be shown by all leaders here in Copenhagen, building on the guidance and brilliant examples shown by the likes of President Nasheed of the Maldives and other least developed country delegates.

Young people participating in the negotiations
Here in Copenhagen civil society organisations have played a significant role in encouraging governments to show true leadership in determining how to safeguard the future of their peoples.  Some of the most prominent voices over the last 10 days have come from youth organisations, such as the UK Youth Climate Coalition Delegation.  These young people have come to the talks to advocate for the bright and prosperous future that they deserve:  a future free from pollution, and instead full of cutting-edge technologies that can solve an impending energy crisis in a clean and non-polluting way.

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httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko7HRMqNsF0

Two days ago I lost my accreditation into the largest and most important summit in history.  Not by choice, but because

civil society and the global youth are a security hazard.   But the only security hazard is the lack of commitment and leadership from many developed nations to secure a future for all.

The last 48 hours the global youth, non governmental organisations from around the world and many others originally involved in this process have been locked outside, unable to fully interact with the process.  Even indoors it sounds like its beginning to feel a little cold too.  Anna, Dave, Emma and Josh from the UKYCC are still in there but with more meetings being held behind closed doors this open and inclusive process is becoming increasingly opaque and exclusive.

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I’m smitten for that sit-in, that can’t be prewritten

What’s best is what’s forbidden when your battling what’s hidden

Behind closed doors curtains and tear gas

Corporate bear mats, fear tactics, veneer cracks.

So here’s the statement, steer the spaceship

It’s not that complex, in fact it’s basic.

We want a FAB deal not a death warrant with a green seal

One that’s Fair and Ambitious and Binding for real.

Today is the last day that NGO’s and civil society will be allowed access to the Bella Centre, and from tomorrow the negotiations will happen without the much needed presence of the international youth movement. However, the youth have not given up just yet, and have peacefully occupied the main hall, right in the face of many world leaders and the worlds press.

            The action began in planning stage early this morning, when members of the youth climate movement managed to stage a secret meeting inside a big globe. The globe set was used earlier in the week by Greenpeace as their rescue centre, and the youth decided they needed to do some rescuing of their own. Quite how such a meeting managed to take place under the nose of the police and security is hard to explain, but we was helped by deafening police helicopter humming from the protests outside.

            Starting a 5 o clock, the youth began their planned sit-in of the main hall. We peacefully began to read out the names of 11 million people who had signed a petition calling for a fair, ambitious, and binding deal in the next coming days. Unlike our friends on the outside of the conference, we were protected by the worlds press. This meant that we were not unnecessarily beaten by those who’d prefer it if we all just shut up whilst world leaders plotted the planet away.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re11HDMdf_E&feature=player_embedded

The intended sit-in is now a camp out, with many of the youth refusing to move until that F.A.B. deal we need is in place. Members of the UKYCC Delegation are present to show solidarity with the global youth and to make sure they are looked after. We have borrowed and handed out blankets from Greenpeace, free food, sweets, water and beer. The guys camping out are showing real dedication and are of much amusement to the worlds press. Politicians will read “we don’t want your pennies, we want change” as they look down on the camp out deemed as the youths’ COP finale. One of the politicians was Senator John Kerry, who stopped to also show his support.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdu_0atsJBM&feature=player_embedded

It’s going to be a long night, but we intend on supporting these guys however we can. We are often scouting for free chocolates and drinks, and joining them on the floor for messages of support.

The UKYCC is a big fan of stories, we are also a big fan of AOSIS (Small Island State Negotiating Block) which is why we are delighted to have support from Dessima Williams. The chairwoman of AOSIS sat in the same space for 8 days, 14 years ago, to urge that funding for the military be spent on development for women. Here’s what she had to say on the youth COP Camp Out and her own incredible story.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuRsrGZx43c&feature=player_embedded#

Its time for the youth to make history

Josh bumped into Kumi Naidoo, Director of Greenpeace, outside a press conference in the Bella Centre today. Check him out, he is just too cool for school.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3zh4BwAJEo

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjB3GsJRd-E

Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

With only a few days left of COP15, we really need to see some serious step-up in commitments from developed nations. However, as it becomes less and less likely that the top 2 greenhouse gas emitters US and China are going to lead the front, we sit through endless delays and arguements. It’s about time someone else took the courageous and admirable pledge to curb their own emissions in order to spur the world to do the same.

A Guardian/ICM poll today found that three in four British voters believe Gordy B and world leaders are on an important mission at COP15, and 30% of the public agreed that “world leaders are trying to tackle the most serious threat facing mankind”. So today we are asking Gordy to stop pleading to the US to cut their emissions and instead step up to the plate and show the world that although UK is small, we are mighty. Read the rest of this entry »

Police surround protesters outside the Bella centre Photograph: Christian Charisius/Reuters

When I signed up for this, 6 months ago, the last thing I expected to experience during my short stay in Copenhagen was covering my face from tear gas while being snarled at by dogs and shouted at by police. I came to Copenhagen to engage with the process, to enter the UN and make my views heard. To tell the decision makers the story of my generation and why they can’t make those decisions about us, without us. Since yesterday that is exactly what they have been doing.

To make space for the world ‘leaders’ civil society has almost entirely been kicked out of the conference, right at the crunch time when they need to be present. Government leaders, ministers and negotiators have now bunkered down and continue to make decisions behind closed doors.

So how, as a concerned citizen, am I meant to make my voice heard if I’m not allowed in? This was the issue facing over a thousand people today, as they marched towards the Bella Centre to make their voice heard in the only way they could: Forcing there way into the grounds of the conference centre to hold their own people’s rally.

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From the Makers of The Age of Stupid comes The Stupid Show, live from Copenhagen. feat. Nic from UKYCC

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQMvbzxnavk

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RkF0qUUXJA

I am feeling frustrated. As we have been restricted access, only four of us are inside the Bella Centre today. Some of us have gone on the Reclaim Power march, and I am sitting in the hostel with others, trying to provide support and help communications between everyone, and try and send the news to people back home.

News is coming to us here through texts, snatched conversations, following twitter updates and following the news. So far, even more civil society groups have been barred access to the conference, including Avaaz and Friends of the Earth. Even the HEAD OF THE BRAZILIAN DELEGATION couldn’t get in.WHAT’S GOING ON?

I can’t bear this, I can’t bear hearing what my friends are doing inside and outside and not quite knowing what is going on, whether they are safe, whether or not these talks are going to completely collapse, how we’re going to move on next year. But we will move on, we have to. Just heard that the head of the IPCC has joined others in walking out of the conference and has joined the Reclaim Power march on the Bella Centre. Science has left the building, youth has left the building, civil society has left the building. What is left?

NO DECISIONS ABOUT US WITHOUT US.

At any given moment an infinite number of worlds exist synchronically; interdependent yet isolated, like dew drops on a spider’s web. Right now in Copenhagen these worlds are being pushed together, shoulder to shoulder.  Despite what you might think, they don’t know each other at all though plenty of people, people like me, walk the tightrope between them.

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Climate Action Network Fossil Fool Awards, for Monday, week 2.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MDuL0CtfyQ&feature=player_embedded

The Future is on the Line

Today I am extremely frustrated.  I am running around trying to make use of my day because this may well be the last day I can get into the Bella Centre, no wait, the entire UN process that is COP15.

The entire youth movement’s accreditation is being cut by 2/3rds because 110 heads of state are due to arrive over the next couple of days.  This means that UKYCC, who have 23 delegates, will be cut and only 4 members will be allowed access to the Bella Centre for Tuesday and Wednesday.  It is highly unlikely that we will be allowed into the centre at all on Thursday and Friday.

Its funny.  You try and go to everything you possibly can in one day because you want to fulfill your personal objectives.  Well that’s how I feel anyway.  I sat in plenary this morning from 10 am until 1.30 pm only to be told that all NGO representatives (that’s me) had to leave and the session was now ‘closed’ to party members.  It is ridiculous.  The voice of the youth is not being heard yet it is our future that is on the line.

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httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h94e5SjhEBM

Here's looking at you Ed

I think I need more than four hours

For all power or any. Sitting in Plen the halls packed with many

Men and women here early for the last day

For most observers, now there’s no where to say

Two pennies for the press, or press for two trill

For the developing world and a deal.

Oh wait! It’s been postponed once more

The real action goes on behind closed doors.

Where’s the urgency? This is an emergency

Who’s running this whispered word insurgency.

Who knows? Do you know mister state secretary

Looking bemused standing there next to me

And 10 members of UKYCC. ‘Is this sinister?’

“Don’t ask me I’m just a minister?”

Said Ed, looking as puzzled as us all

Sitting in plenary waiting for the call.

Postponed to 1:30

From the makers of ‘The Age of Stupid’
Watch it here!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epO7L5bQzXo

Before the new week breaks on the threshold of opportunity, half-hoping hearts and held breath, I thought it best to sketch the preamble of what will inescapably be an historic week enshrining systemic or climatic change for the world. It is hard to overstress the importance of the events that will take place in Copenhagen over the next five days, though it remains rather difficult to predict how they will unfold.

The political scenario isn’t looking great. The process is indecisive and decidedly undemocratic. Decision making goes on behind closed doors, businesses courting governments, and powerful countries getting together to botch together an unjust deal . Civil society will shortly become excluded from the talks. On Tuesday our accreditation will be reduced to a few people at best, reducing our already restricted access as observers and on Thursday as the city prepares to host the podium of world leaders even our right to witness will be removed.

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