Written by Natalie Ross-Lapointe – PSP Policy Coordinator and AOSIS liaison officer
Krishneil started the day at a meeting with the South African Minister for Environment and Water Edna Molewa, where he proposed with the new YOUNGO Focal Point Jean Paul Afana, that as the hosts of COP17, South Africa assist in organising next years’ Conference of Youth (COY). The Minister seemed keen on the idea and we will definitely work on fostering this partnership in 2011.
- Krishneil meeting with Edna Molewa – Minister of Environment & Water form South Africa
Krish then went on to assist the observers briefing with the chair of the AWG-LCA and the UN Secretary General’s brief on climate financing where Ban Ki-Moon released a report demonstrating that it’s possible to finance the $100 billion in the Copenhagen Accord entirely from public funds.
- Krishneil with Mr. Anote Tong, the President of Kiribati
- Romita with Mr. Anote Tong, the President of Kiribati
Krish, Romita and I then attended a press briefing with the Pacific Leaders from Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and Tuvalu where the leaders emphasised the impact that climate change is already having on their island states. Krish and Romita then met several of the Presidents after the meeting.
Pen had a busy day facilitating the outsiders working group, attending meetings at Kilmaforum including one with the CEO of Greenpeace Kumi Naidoo who gave a very inspiring speech. She also worked on media blogs, press releases and articles, as well as having a meeting on the PSP video. Additionally, she worked with AYD on a database to share youth resources and on the 1.5 degrees campaign.
Lu wrote a letter for SustainUS and a blog for Unfairplay. She then headed to a stakeholder meeting with the New Zealand (NZ) negotiators and the head of the Kyoto Protocol working group. She asked lots of hard questions including how NZ can say they have such a strong moral stance on Human Rights when they ignore the plight of their pacific neighbours on climate change. Go girl! This was followed by an interview with One Climate TV.
Romita spent much of the day at the Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP) plenary, which I also partially attended. This included speeches by numerous Presidents and Ministers, including the President of Kiribati who emphasised the importance of dialog between nations being affected by climate change, as well as with youth, whose future is being negotiated. He also associated himself with the AOSIS statement and the statement made yesterday by the President of Nauru on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS). The President of Nauru emphasised the impact that climate change is already having on the islands and stated “when you ask us to compromise, you are asking us to choose how many islands we will lose. This is not a choice we are prepared to make.”
Romita also watched the statements from Samoa and FSM amongst others, as well as attending the meeting on Climate Finance with Krish, a closed meeting on Climate Funding, then the Pacific Leaders press conference with Krish and I, followed by a closed AOSIS meeting.
As for me, my day began at the YOUNGO Spokes-council, after which I attended some of the Presidential speeches at CMP with Romita before rushing off to a Climate Action Network Australia (CANA) meeting with a group of other Australian NGOs to discuss the progress of the negotiations. I then attended the Australian delegations’ NGO briefing with Minister Greg Combet, after which AYCC had a private meeting with Combet and I presented him with a t-shirt with a quote from Christina Ora of the Solomon Islands who was 17 when she addressed the COP plenary last year. “You have been negotiating all my life. You can not tell me that you need more time.”
- PSP & AYCC meet with Climate Change Minister Greg Combet at Moon Palace, Cancun
Then it was back to COP for a few more Presidential speeches and the Pacific leaders Press briefing with Krish and Romita and dinner.
- Dinner with AYCC, NZYD & PSP & Philippines youth
We then joined Luana and Pen for a dinner in a combined Project Survival Pacific (PSP), Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) and New Zealand Youth Delegation (NZYD) and the Philippine youth dinner to celebrate our amazing partnerships in 2010.
So it was a busy day but productive day for all. I think it is really important to have the pacific youth here to let these negotiators know that they’re being watched by those whose future they will determine. Issues such as choosing a 1.5 degree target rather than 2 degrees will dramatically affect the islands and they need to be held accountable for this. It’s essential that countries stop looking out for their own interests and think of the collective outcome, as climate change is something which will affects everyone. The Pacific, who is one of the least responsible for the problem, is unfortunately one of the first effected and stands to loose the most. Their home, their culture and identity are at stake.
Lets hope the negotiators hear the plight of our pacific youth.
The End 
