COP15: The final diagnosis?

Definition of an Accord: a harmony of people’s opinions or actions or characters; to harmonise: to go together. Credit: guardian.co.uk

Full text of the Copenhagen Accord: http://www.medsin.org/downloads/page_attachments/0000/2536/l07.pdf

One autumn morning by the side of Camden canal in London, two of us sat over a coffee considering how healthcare students could push for a strong deal on climate change and send a successful delegation to Copenhagen.  It’s been an amazing and eventful ride since; five of us in total attending COP15, meeting and working with inspiring activists from all over the world, and generally being part of arguably the most important multilateral negotiation process the world has seen in the last 50 years.

With high hopes and ambitions for the conference though, we have to admit our dismay on leaving Copenhagen that a stronger treaty was not agreed upon.  The collective efforts of all 193 countries of the United Nations were it seems not translated into any semblance of a framework that will begin to protect our global environment; instead a pitiful statement issuing little more than grandiose rhetoric became the written outcome of the negotiations.  Whilst progress was made on agreeing a 2C maximum for global temperature rises and on financially supporting poorer countries to fight climate change ($10 billion a year in the short term, $100 billion a year by 2020 in the long term), no targets were set to commit countries to sustaining a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, no long term emission targets were set, no timescale was agreed, and a range of other issues including deforestation were shelved until the next COP in December 2010.  Eventually, an agreement was made at the behest of a select few countries with the enforced buy-in from those countries likely to be most-affected by climate change, that is those from the global South.

Civil society groups barred from entering the conference during the final important days of the negotiations.

Not only that, the obscene obstruction to civil society representation called into question the very pillars which should shape our global decision-making: where was the transparency, the civic representation, and the apparent accountability which holds governments to the will of their people?  Sadly, for anyone up until now less versed in the nature of global power politics, our escapades in exposing the intricacies of the conference were far better than any Geopolitical class 101.

Was the health message successfully received by those at the conference?  Whilst a great many ministers agreed with us, in our conversations throughout the week, on the importance of health in any agreement, the true measure of our success remains to be in concluding a legally-binding and fair treaty.  Adaptation funding remains a golden opportunity to both safeguard communities in the face of climate change, and protect them from the “diseases of poverty” which are likely to be worsened as the planet warms.  On both of these accounts, we are still far from fulfilling the changes we need to protect patient and community health.

Medsin campaigners from Leeds join in on the climate change and health campaigning during COP!

Does this mean we’re downtrodden and at a loss of what to do?  Of course not!  Beyond any doubt, the true leadership shown throughout this saga has been our own, and of our fellow student compatriots from around the globe, all motivated by the simple aim of environmental preservation and the betterment of world health.  The messages, the actions and the ideas you’ve all been sending to us have deepened our faith that we can and will finalise a treaty that reflects the needs of communities themselves.  Whether a deal was signed or not, we always knew our work would begin, not end, at Copenhagen and we’re by all means ready for the next stage come January 2010.

In expanding and empowering the health community to face the challenges that climate change presents, we have started a new movement to unite around a new vision for the future of our society.  In understanding and explaining the ongoings of the UN, we are better prepared to face a new round of talks in future years.  Our bright message, and hope, for a safe future for patients and communities the world over must now resonate around the political corridors from Westminster to Washington, and further afar as we push for a new climate deal which goes beyond any ‘accord’ or statement.  As the year draws to a close and we inch closer to a climate justice itself, we know with your help and assistance we can succeed – so watch this space for further actions in the New Year and well done on all that you have done so far!

Jonny, Guppi, Sunil, Nick, Mori and Yorgos

Flagging – but not as you know it.

Last night, they said..

Here are some extracts of live feed we were getting through from the Bella Centre last night. High drama around 3am, when the UNFCCC had already declared a deal had been brokered. We left the Bell Centre a couple of hours earlier – apart from Mori, who stuck it out amongst the sleep deprived journalists, policy wonks and pale-faced negotiators.

Draft Text Available Here

• Danish Environment Minister (Rasmussen) opened and then suspended the COP very quickly. He then rushed through the conference putting forward the infamous “President’s text”. He gave parties an hour to read the paper and suspended the meeting even though the secretariat had asked for issues an impending point of order. He replied “There’s no point”
• As Rasmussen et al left the plenary, Venezuela started angrily banging its plate on the table and the whole room began applauding. Rasmussen apologised for “not noticing” the point of order.

Responses to the text are as follows:

Tuvalu

Calls on Ban Ki Moon’s presence to recognize that UN Processes are democratic, but what we’ve seen happen in COP15 has been completely undemocratic, conducted in closed door sessions.

Beyond that – they had major problems with the text:

- Text fails to recognise the Kyoto Protocol

- International Insurance Mechanism isn’t mentioned

- The review by 2015 is too late for their future.

- The 2 degrees target does not ensure survival of their island

- “We’re being offered 30 pieces of silver to betray our OUR FUTURE IS NOT FOR SALE

- Tuvalu cannot accept this document

Venezuela

Are outraged.

-It cannot be possible sovereign states are not given the floor. How can a United Nations agreement be made up between 5 countries?

- This session will not be stopped, we have waited too long for it to begin. We need to be heard.

Bolivia (said to be the country most affected by climate change)

- We are most offended by the process: we haven’t had time to read this document; we’ve just now seen that it is a two page document and without putting this before us – those of us who represent OTHER people.

- Can an hour actually give us the time to consider the people we represent?

- We have only heard elements of this text from the media.

- 2 Deg C is what we can see in just a few seconds in this document. That means that various islands, cities and the poputlations of those cities, the glaciers of the world that provide water for millions and provide food security for millions and here we are taking the decisions about the lives of millions in sixty minutes. We DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS RESPECTFUL. we are seeing decisions taken in a dictatorial way and this is not the way that the world should discuss the future of the planet. We cannot impose one hour of dsicussion for a document that was prepared undemocratically and we are expressing quite clearly that we do no support this document or the process. We oppose this as a pleuri-national state and we say to the peoples of the world that they should pass judgment on this world. This doesn’t respect two years of their work, or the people who have invested huge amounts . Doesn’t respect the rights of our people in this way of making decisions. We are not going to make a decision of millions in one hour. This does not capture the consensus of this room, it represents a small group of people

• Cuba, Costa Rica and Nicaragua make similar comments of outrage – meeting is suspended.
• Meeting resumes at 5.01am
• Sudan 2 degrees C is a suicide pact and an incineration act.
  As President of COP15, you have been biased and have violated all rules of transparency and procedure.
• Maldives I commend the work that the Danish Prime Minister is doing and has done to bring a fruitful conclusion to COP15
• We have a real danger of UNFCCC talks going the same way as WTO talks or other such multilateral talks. In many issues, this can be tolerated, or can be allowed. Scienc shows that in climate change, this is just not possible. We have a window of seven years. If real, actual measures are not take, gross climate can reach tipping points.

• Engaged with more than 25 countries; big emitting countries are refusing to raise their ambitions high, neither are they allowing us to raise our ambitions to a level where world temperatures will not rise over 1.5 degrees. Above 1.5 degrees, many such islands would vanish. This is why we ahve tried so hard for 1.5 degrees to be in the text, and we can migrate from this document to many of our aspirations.

• If we cannot have a basic understand of the parameters, we will never have any fruitful decision of these talks. I call on all governments to back this document and not to allow these talks to collapse.

What’s in a word?

Here is a short analysis of the Adaptation text, courtesy of Sandeep from WWF Singapore policy team.

On Adaptation this is a very poor deal

Major Adaptation gaps/BAD:

A) Principle.

1)     What’s on the table Doesn’t Prevent dangerous global warming-

below 2 degrees- weak target

2)     Lost principles of precautionary, polluter pays,

3)     No hooks within side on historic responsibility

4)     No commitment on the impacts already happening

5)     No commitment to the rationale early action on mitigation reduces

climate impacts in future

6)     Weak on overall equity dimension and responsibility

B) Substance:

7)     Response measures included in para 1  AND 3

8)     Nothing on insurance mechanism

9)     Nothing on International Mechanism for loss and damage

10)  Nothing on Regional Centers.

11)  Nothing on “role of ecosystem”.

12)  Says international support for adaptation (no clarity on what that means eg finance?)

13)  Vaque wording on “enhanced action and international collaboration- doesn’t say who

does what no hooks into responsibility

14)   Nothing outlines in the annexes listing contributions of support

15)   LDC and SIDS may undertake actions voluntarily and on the basis of support.

16)   No mentioned about Adaptation Action Framework.

C) Adaptation finance

17)  Does not talk about easy and direct access but “improved” to vulnerable countries.

18)  No finance scale given for adaptation e.g. amount required (or %)

19)  No clarity on finance resources- split between public private

20)  Funding is allowed outside of the UNFCCC with no compliance on funding provision.

21)  Not authority for the COP to hold finance mechanism accountable

22)  Nothing prioritization of finance to “poor and vulnerable”

23)  Does not recognize and address the full and fair protection of human rights and those

of displaced people.

24)  Does not provide full Resources for full NAPA finance for LDCs.

25)   The current Copenhagen deal does not ensure transparency by providing access to

justice for all relevant stakeholders

26)   The trust fund arrangement calls for equal rather than equitable governance

Good:

1)      Talks about Bali Action Plan (BAP)

2)      Support from Developed countries.

3)      Adaptation to the adverse effect of climate change is a challenge

faced by all countries.

4)      CBDR

5)      MRV on Financial support from developed countries

6)      Talks about new an additional “resources” for adaptation

We’re wrapping up. Almost…

4:53pm, 18/12/2009. The sun in Copenhagen has set on the last day of this ‘historic’ United Nations
conference, here in Copenhagen.

I remember reading on BBC world: ‘The largest and most important conference the world has ever seen’. Another source casually mentioned that ‘some 6.8 billion people are counting on a successful outcome in Copenhagen’.

We’ve split our efforts, with two of us working from the outside in direct actions and protests (Jonny and Guppi), and two of us working the ministerial angle from the inside (Nick and Mori).

The day is almost done, it looks like there will be no global deal – not here. Despite the literature, the data, the protests, the petitions and the mobilisation of civil society we may just leave Copenhagen empty handed.

I’m Australian, and I’m usually very proud to be so. But an hour ago I was asked how it felt, to be fighting (along side millions of others) for a treaty which could provide the world with what science and justice demands, when the response from developed world (my man, Kevin Rudd included) has been abrasive, unforgiving, selfish and inadequate. So today, I’m sorry to say that I’m not so proud to represent Australia here in Europe.

So the question we’ve all been asking ourselves is ‘What Next?’ If we were ever to give up, now would surely be the perfect time to do so.

Unfortunately, giving up has never been something the four of us have ever been very good at. So where DO we go from here?

Throughout the past two weeks, we’ve seen an unprecedented level of enthusiasm from the general public. We’ve seen so much energy from NGOs and the Youth groups here in their protests (silent and outspoken), their speeches and their ability to coordinate themselves as a single and effective body. We’ve seen each agency of the United Nations work for months in an attempt to ‘deliver as one system’, rallying the support of civil society and government alike.

Now? We rebuild!!!

The 16^th Conference of the Parties (COP16) will be hosted in Mexico. In an effort to keep up the high-octane political pressure, it will most likely be held six months early, in July.

We (as students) can:

-          Speak to local clinicians and members of the health profession, encouraging them to engage in the debate or directly cut down the emissions of their university or hospital.

-          Join one of the long standing student campaigns ( visit www.medsin.org or www.amsa.org.au/climate )

-          Lobby environmental and health ministers from around the world

-          Educate ourselves about issues relating to Climate Change and Health

-          Head down to the pub, and discuss it with your mates, see what they think, and get people talking about it.

-          Get in contact with us about an idea, project, or campaign you think we should take on at the IFMSA or Medsin-UK.

It has been said ‘on the street’, that the real ground work accomplished here in Denmark this December has been through the Conference of the Youth, the World Mayors and Local Governments Conference, and the mobilisation of the public. Through local action and local initiative, and the momentum which has been built up. After all, all this (green) energy has to go somewhere.

The outcome of Copenhagen is uncertain, and we will most likely leave, momentarily disappointed. What is certain, is that we have already begun to look towards the future of this long standing campaign, that we will build our capacity, follow up on new contacts and partnerships, and be back for COP16 – bigger, better, and greener than ever.

Till COP16,

Nick.
–

A cheeky pair.

The Guardian announced earlier today that late-night negotiations over a third draft text ended in rifts between developing countries and the Danes et al.

It looks like Copenhagen is going to come to very little. We just heard from the Danish ministry that an announcement will be made after Heads of State have finished lunch: A political agreement will be made, but nothing legally binding.

We have been hearing over the past two weeks about various draft texts, greenroom negotiations, loopholes and backdoor conversations – so this announcement comes as no surprise.

What was surprising (even to them it seems!) was the presence of Evo Morales and Hugo Chavez, taking the stage just after all High Level statements had finished. After a disappointing speech from Obama (“This is what we come with, take it or leave it”), I was encapsulated by the latino pair and their announcements.

Here is what I scribbled down frantically as I watched with a group of East African delegates.

Evo Morales

I am very concerned about the ways in which we are trying to get this document finished. There are still a small group, not all, but a few, who are working on this document. This is not inclusive. for those who are most affected by climate change.

We have to leave this event proud. We must save lives.

If we want to act, we must fulfil the commitments of the KP – we have come to act, starting from now.

All money earmarked for war should be devoted to saving lives. Whether we live or die, that is what we are talking about.

Are we going to let people live or are we going to kill? It all boils down to temperatures. I will admit, I am no expert, but what I have read, islands under water, mountains without snow, we will be judged on all of this.

We welcome rich countries, but they say how they cannot reduce emissions by any more than 50% by 2050. Soe are calling for 100%, others much less.,

If there is no agreement at the level of Presidents, then put it to the people. We must listen to them, That is a participative democracy. I would even say in April, whenwe celebrate mother earth day, that we hold a referendum to the people – why form all these groups?

I do not support the way in which this is being done.

Presidents cannot stay, so let us conclude. If we are talking about lives, let us be responsible. Instead of spending money on war we have to be transparent, and have an ongoing dialogue with our people.

When we govern, we govern by the people. Responsibility lies on the shoulders of the capitalist system,

Hugo Chavez

We will never accept such a document.

we have met with movements who are fightint for social justice.

Thise who do not agree, go through the back door. That is how the yankee state will go – behind a back door.

Friends of the President (Denmark) had a meeting. We are all friends, but we were not invited.

All countries are at the same level, we do not have category 1 President and category 2 President. We do not have category 1 people and category 2 people.

I have been ordered to speak on behalf of Bolicia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Venuzuala

Obama left with a top secret document slipped underneath the back door. There is a real lack of transparency here. This would be fraudulent

if something should be restored it should be confidence.

We are all equal. We state this violation, we were afraid we might not be allowed the floor. The KP, as Lula said cannot be extinguished.

Obama, Nobel Prize Winner for War – still smell sulphur. He should everything he can do to get the US to concede to the KP.

Copenhagen will not finish here, we do not want to leave with a bitter sense of frustration in our mouths,  CPH is the beginning.

Obama said something ridiculous – US has a machine that can print money. People say if the climate was a bank, it would have been saved by now.

US are guilty of genocide. Obama will remain the worlds greatest frustration. Only way to acheive balance is to save lives and increase life expectancy.

Capitlalism is destroying the planet.

We are leaving, but country states must reject any document Obama slips underneath the back door.

Live blog roll:

11.15 –  Lula De Silva takes the stage for his opening High Level speech. First line “Frankly Ladies and Gentlemen – I am frustrated”

11.32 – Obama takes the stage – This is not fiction, it is science. Risks to our security, economies and planet.

11.33 – I think our ability to take collective action hangs in the balance. I come to talk, not to act.

11.35 – We believe we will all be stronger and more secure if we act together.

11.38 – How can we have an international agreement without keeping to our commitments? It would be a hollow agreement.

11.40 – America will be part of a $10bn fast-track funding to help developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate change.

11.41 – We have very little to show for these negotiations other than an increase in the climate change phenomenon. The time for talk is over. We can be part of a historic endeavour that will protect the lives of our children and families in the future. There is no time to waste.

11.44 – Lesotho take the floor – We came to Copenhagen hoping that developed countries would live up to their commitments.

11.49 – To say we are dissapointed is an understatement.

12.50 – Chair of Alliance of Small Island States, Grenada – The talks so far have been inadequate, but we remain optimistic until the end of the conference.

11.50 – Thanks Obama for his leadership on issue of climate change.

Last day at the UNFCCC COP15

Mori and Nick give a summary of where we’re up to, how far we have to go, and what we’ll be doing today to use up every last ounce of energy left in pushing for a healthy deal in Copenhagen. Over to you guys!

Mori:

Good day folks! So it’s the last day of the conference and the stakes are high! There is an air of anxiety in the main corridor here at the Bella Centre where we have set up our ‘Head Quarters’. We have been very lucky to have acquired a number of passes for the IFMSA delegation so we’re in, while most of the NGOs are following the action from the outside. While entering the conference centre, we saw a US motorcade with helicopters flying above the Bella Centre. One of the chopters landed down a few minutes ago. So is Obama in the building?  So far there is no news of the deal but everyone is hoping with Obama’s arrival something will happen. Rumour has it that the US is prepared to join others in providing developing countries USD 100 Billion in return of getting something from the G77 group. Lets see how the day will progress…

So what are our plans for the day? We are going to be spending the day in the centre, working with the 30 youth members who are still around. The IFMSA delegation will continue to raise awareness of the important link between climate change and health, speaking to as many individuals as we can.  We will also be participating in a youth press conference at 13:30 in the main conference room and a meeting with Mexican Environment Minister at 14:30. Apart from that, I’ll be looking into the process of applying to get the IFMSA an observance status at future COP meetings. More on the meeting, later in the day… For now, please continue to watch this space and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate send them to us.

Nick:

Its been an amazing rollercoaster of a week, with ups, downs, lefts and rights. We’ve got a huge day planned, and we’re not going down without a fight. We’ve created a hub for Youth-Health activity here in Bella. At any one time, there will be one of us here feeding information to the outside, with one hour rotations between the four of us (Nick, Guppi, Jonny and Mori). We’ll be interviewing, discussing with the negotiators and participating in actions all day long. We’re motivated, suited up, and fighting the ‘proverbial man’.

‘We want to be formal, but we are here to party’ – Cal Naughton

Visit www.medsin.org/cop for further upates on the week, and to find out what YOU can do to push for a healthy deal in Copenhagen and beyond.

Jonny and Guppi arrive at the final day at COP

Even after the entire civil society movement have been removed from the Bella Centre – by some stroke of genius, the Medsin COP Crew have managed to blag themselves UN Observer passes! Cheeky!

I don’t think we know quite how lucky we are. Right now we are sitting in the same vicinity as Obama, which if not weird enough – combine it with other Heads of State such as Brown, Sarkozy, Merkel, Lulu De Silva and Mugabe – makes for a pretty bizarre Friday!

Feelings are mixed inside and outside Bella Centre. Negotiations continued late into the night, followed by the leak of a draft text proposed by the Danish Government.

Here is an update I received in my inbox at 3.30am

“Interesting developments tonight.  as the drafting groups were meeting
and agreeing text, the president was drafting another text that could
serve to undermine the work.  the powers that be are still trying to
force a single outcome and have floated a text that joins KP and LCA
despite numerous statements by the G77 and China that they want a two-
track outcome, and a two-track process.  the G77 still is insisting on
an open process, with documents drafted out in the open rather than
behind closed doors.  there were G77 consultations with the result
that the G77 again requested a two-track outcome with a friends of the
chair process where representation in the group was transparent and
acceptable.

It’s getting interesting, but not necessarily pleasant. the G77
continues to be angry at the untransparency of a process where the
president says one thing is happening and the next thing you know
there is a new text drafted by some unknown group put on the table.”

So as you can see – the media are on the right track when they say they are optimistic of a deal – but whether it is the kind of deal we’re talking about, that’s a completely different issue.

Interview with Diarmaid Campbell-Lendrum, WHO