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Taking a Stand for the Planet

November 29, 2012 in Doha climate summit, Ecological Justice, Latin America/Carribean, LWF, UN

LWF delegate Raquel Kleber speaks with the Brazilian ambassador

LWF delegation member Raquel Kleber (from Brazil; right) speaks with Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, head of the Brazilian country delegation at the COP18 climate summit in Doha. © LWF/Sidney Traynham

As the latest United Nations climate change negotiations begin in Doha, Lutheran youth from across the globe have converged on the Qatari capital to raise their voices for concrete action, and to bring tangible lessons home to their churches and communities.

“Governments need to take decisions that will benefit all of humanity and look beyond their own immediate national interests,” says Tsiry Rakoto from Madagascar, one of the delegation coordinators. “We are calling for concrete commitments for the reduction of greenhouse gases and the usage of clean energy sources.”

She emphasizes the need for greater commitment to assist developing countries because many communities are already experiencing the catastrophic effects of climate change. “All too often developing countries do not have the means to recover quickly, if at all, from the loss and damage.”

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) delegation of nine youth aged 21 to 29 attending as observers, represents every region of the world and comes from LWF member churches in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Madagascar, Norway, Papua New Guinea and Poland. Their participation includes networking in advocacy side events and coordinating with other representatives from ACT Alliance, the World Council of Churches and global youth delegations.

There are among an estimated 17,000 participants expected at the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 26 November – 7 December.

Warime Guti, who travelled from Papua New Guinea for the summit, believes climate change is the most important issue for his generation. He asks, “Will nations really commit themselves for the good of all—both in words and in deeds, and both for developed countries and small minority developing countries?”

The Doha negotiations will address a range of issues including work towards a new treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2015 and is the only legally binding agreement that commits signatory nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The conference will also further discussion on climate funding mechanisms, such as the Green Climate Fund, to assist countries affected by climate change.

“Key countries have yet to submit new emission limits and reduction objectives for a renewed treaty, while others have only committed to modest targets,” Rakoto notes.

Putting Youth at the Front and Center

Lutheran young people have long been involved in climate advocacy at international and local summits but the Doha meeting marks a first for the LWF. “These youth are not only members of the LWF delegation to the Doha summit, they are the LWF delegation to Doha,” states LWF General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge.

“As a communion, we have taken the clear decision to put youth at the front and center in our advocacy on climate change because they are presently leaders in our churches and in the future, they are the ones who will inherit the planet that preceding generations leave behind,” he adds.

Rakoto, an international affairs and human rights intern at the LWF Communion Office in Geneva, says that the LWF understands that “young people are major stakeholders.”

Significant New Learning

Top UN climate official Christiana Figueres speak with youth representatives at COP18

Top UN climate official Christiana Figueres speak with youth representatives at COP18

At Doha, two members of the LWF delegation participated in an early youth constituency event that was attended by the UN’s top climate official, Christiana Figueres. She told the global youth representatives, “Putting your time and energy into mentoring others on this process is the most important thing you can do.”

The delegation sees its most important work as what happens back home. “By participating in the COP18 process, I believe that we have more credibility to influence our churches, communities and governments in the future,” says Rakoto.

Chris Böer, youth nominee of the German National Committee of the LWF, takes seriously Figueres’ point about involvement in the event. He notes that while they are unable to vote, youth monitor the process from the observer section and participate in side events.

“Even with all the significant new learning we are doing as a delegation on these processes and structures, we are excited by the opportunity to be here,” Böer adds.

The LWF delegation’s participation in the COP18 summit builds upon the organization’s long-standing advocacy efforts in the area of climate change. This commitment was re-affirmed in the 2010 LWF Assembly and the LWF Strategy. It also continues the involvement of youth in previous LWF initiatives like the green&just virtual conference held earlier this year.

While the summit may not produce a landmark decision, it is critical to countries and communities already living under the effects of climate change, says Rakoto. “This meeting will set the framework for ongoing state commitments and provide space for increased and concrete action in the future.”

Guti, a member of the LWF Council, believes that climate change is a greater moral issue than any political or economic topic. “It comes down to moral values and whether we stand with the rights of those most affected—the poor and oppressed,” he adds.

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Follow online updates by the LWF delegation:

LWF Youth Blog: http://www.lwfyouth.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LWFYouth
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LWFYouth

Delegation members are available for media interviews. Contact lwfyouthmedia [at] gmail [dot] com or +974 33 387 426.

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The bank of climate change

November 29, 2012 in Doha climate summit, Ecological Justice, Middle East, UN

COP18 plenary session in Doha, Qatar

As we sit in on meeting after meeting regarding food sustainability, gender equity in relation to climate change, finance programs, and whatever else you can think of that might relate to the topic of climate change, there seems to be one recurring theme again and again, who is going to pay for this big fiesta and how?

As of yesterday, 27 November there were over 11,000 people registered for COP18, most of whom would have flown to Qatar on planes, are now staying in hotels across the city of Doha, shuttled in buses to and from their hotels to the convention centre and exhibition centre. This includes people ranging from government officials, special interest experts, activists, youth, and many more. This is a lot of people spending a lot of time and money to be at this conference, which will hopefully put together policies that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help us adapt to an earth that human activity is changing.

As I met with Isaiah, a delegate from ACT Alliance who has been to many COP summits and is very willing to pass on knowledge of how they work, we discussed some of the problems that come up from just holding an event such as COP18. There are people who feel that if governments and organisations were to not spend their money on events like this and were to put that money towards efforts of mitigation and adaptation, the money would be better spent. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. If it weren’t for COP18, there would not be an effective governing body to put in place mitigation and adaptation policies and strategies to follow and no one would be held accountable (as it is, there are people who feel that the UNFCCC is lacking “teeth” to effect any real change, but that is another blog altogether…).

Being from Canada, I felt that I should sit in on a side event about Fast-Track Financing as this is an area where the Canadian government feels that we have really done well with helping in the fight against climate change. Fast-Track Financing is a program where many of the wealthier nations are aiming to provide an additional US$100 billion (on top of previously budgeted programs) to help assist countries who don’t have the means to mitigate and adapt to climate change without the funding. In the first three commitment years, over US$33 billion was raised, which was more than expected. I was expecting it to be a rather dry event, but was pleasantly surprised when I found myself to rather interested in the information that the presenters were providing (information regarding what a number of countries have been providing additional funding for in terms of mitigation and adaptation). Although we are currently on track to achieve this goal, there are many people and organizations which feel that US$100 billion isn’t enough to make the changes that are required.

It is events such as COP that allow experts, policy makers and others with a vested interest to come together and discuss what really needs to be done and how we can go about making this happen. In the end, I don’t feel that everyone is going to go home happy and satisfied, but we, as humans are working together for a common goal and this is absolutely inspiring to see. As our earth is becoming more of a global village each day, it is great to see a Lutheran from Winnipeg (where it is -30°C) come to work with others from every corner of the world in Doha (where it is +30°C).

Jeff Buhse is a lay representative for the Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario Synod to the National Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

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Doha climate summit: Count us in!

November 28, 2012 in Doha climate summit, Ecological Justice, UN, Youth, Youth participation

Opening plenary of COP18

On Monday, 26 November the COP18/CMP8 climate summit began and we in the LWF delegation were in full attendance at the opening plenary. Let me offer a short explanation of all the new acronyms and terms that we are learning here in Doha. COP18 stands for the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties, and “parties” means countries that are signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). However, the COP18 conference is also a joint meeting with the CMP8, which is the 8th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. Clear enough?

We in the LWF delegation took our seats in an observer section shortly after 10:00am and waited for the proceedings to begin. The conference was officially opened at 10:20 AST by H.E. Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabanet, who served as president to COP17/CMP7 held in Durban, South Africa in 2011. After a short speech, she then handed the presidency over to H.E. Mr Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, who will be serving as president during the conference in Doha and beyond.

He visions the event to be a historic one – a major turning point in climate change negotiations – and especially focused on three main principles: transparency, participation and an emphasis on strengthening the role of the state parties. He said that serious effort must be put into mitigating climate change.

After this speech, Christiana Figueres, who is the Executive Secretary to the UNFCCC, gave her opening address in which she welcomed all delegates attending the COP for the first time which applies to all LWF delegates at COP18/CMP8, with the exception of Raquel in our group. She further pointed out that it is the first COP held within the Gulf region, making this COP as unique as past ones. She looks at the Doha conference as the place to launch the Kyoto Protocol into its next period of implementation and moves the Bali Action Plan from plan to action in order to urgently response to climate change and enable much needed financial assistance and technical support for developing countries.

This was all closely watched by LWF delegates within the plenary hall. Until then it had been unclear as to how far we could participate as delegates registered with a non-governmental status. Our worst bet the night before within our group was that we would only be allowed on the premises in front of the building and would hold up signs demanding action on climate change. By the standards of our LWF general assembly – which not only allows youth participation but also mandates it – this would have been a vivid nightmare. Luckily though, the plenary agreed to allow non-governmental organisations access to the conference. This not only made our group relieved, but indeed allows our participation in side events and enables accesses to the plenary hall to listen in on the sessions. As non-governmental delegates, we are unable to vote, as this is only allowed to the different parties or countries, as it is an intergovernmental conference.

YOUNGO meets Christiana Figueres

Following the plenary, a few of us went to an afternoon session sponsored by YOUNGO, the youth non-governmental organisation coordination group. The featured guest was Christiana Figueres, who made it clear during her visit that youth are only able to be observers unless they are part of their countries’ delegation. Youth delegates raised concerns about the limits on youth participation during a conference that discusses a topic which will significantly impact the youth of today. Figueres showed understanding for this frustration but refersed to UN policies and the structure of the UN convention on climate change. However, she encouraged youth to continue to put pressure on delegates with voting rights during the conference, but in particular within their home country context. Back home, some country representatives taking part at COP and CMP are more attentive to climate change campaigns by youth organisations.

This message was also shared by NGO representatives from China, the EU and USA in a side event on what Doha must deliver for the pre- and post-2020 climate regime. In summary, civil society must continue to build up pressure on governments of the EU, USA and China to increase ambitions on climate change. China expects the countries from the west to commit further on climate change before delivering its own ambitions.

Although the EU has already fulfilled its self-imposed commitment of green house gas reduction by 20% compared to 1990 until 2020, it is showing a lack of interest in expanding its reduction aims during the rest of the decade. In addition, one speaker noted that a window has potentially opened for climate change policies in the US due to increasing bad weather and the re-election of President Obama. However, the Obama administration has not been clear on its path regarding climate change as power remains divided over legislation.

The theme of the COP18/CMP8 summit is “Count me in!” Even with all the significant new learning we are doing as a delegation on these processes and structures, we are excited by the opportunity to be here. And it now must be said by the LWF delegation in Doha: “Count us in!”

Chris Böer is the youth appointee to the German National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (GNC/LWF).

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Greetings from the UN climate summit in Doha

November 26, 2012 in Doha climate summit, Ecological Justice, Enviroment, LWF together - the earth needs you, UN

LWF Youth delegation to COP18 in Doha

Dear LWF Youth and friends of LWF Youth,

We are excited to announce that we have made it to Doha for the COP18 climate summit. We have just registered as observer participants and attended the opening plenary session where the presidency was handed over from South Africa to Qatar.

Over the past two days we have all been arriving from our home countries in each region of the world: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Madagascar, Norway, Papua New Guinea and Poland. We are energised by our diversity and common passion for advocating for climate justice.

In the coming days we will continue to engage with our ecumenical partners with ACT Alliance and the World Council of Churches, along with other delegations of young people represented here in Doha.

We look forward to hearing from you and what issues are of most interest to you and are most important in your contexts. We feel privileged to be here to learn and to represent you, so please feel free to engage with us by posting a comment or question below — or staying in touch on the LWF Youth Facebook page during the conference.

Blessings,
LWF Youth Delegation to COP18

LWF youth delegation signatures

 

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