Debriefing

Although the students did not reach the consensus, they have learned a lot. The real climate negotiations also reflect complex nature of commitments. During this session students watched the video from the UNFCCC debate. Having seen political debates, the students realized that there are many similarities.


Thank you very much for your participation!
Your oikos Student Reporters
http://www.oikos-international.org/

Breaking news: No agreement signed.

No agreement was signed. No Protocol, no Accord, nothing. 40 delegates flew to Barcelona, emitting hundreds of tonnes of dioxide and spending over 100 days worth of their time (in total), for an session which had no agreement at all. 

Even Copenhagen was better than this.

German statement

Final vote session

Numerous representatives had reservations and questions during the voting. The adaptation group's proposal was accepted by consensus with the additional footnote from Bolivia. However, delegates could not agree to the mitigation proposal. Grenada and Tuvalu proposed to remove the mitigation section from the protocol which was rejected by the President. The countries rejected noting in the protocol that they disagreed with this part.

Having announced the break, President consulted the experts. In the meantime, countries continued discussing proposals. After the technical break, President announced that the protocol will be replaced by non-legally binding call.

The trading part was accepted by consensus. President proposed to take mitigation part as not legally binding ESADE accord which was rejected.

The most problematic countries..

Tuvalu and Genada being the most problematic countries of the negotiation. They think that the promise that lowering down to 1.5 degrees is short term promise to make them negotiate. According to the statement of Tuvalu Representative they are here to survive, if they don't agree on 1.5 degree Tuvalu will disappear and they'll become refugees in Australia

Photo source: www.saawinternational.org

From the break:

German delegate doubts in the agreement and worries about this family situation after hurricane.











Australia and Switzerland explain their positions.






Papua New Guinea persuading fellow AOSIS delegates.

Latest press statement!

"We are very pleased to announce that we have reached a very satisfactory multinational agreement on the further development and implementation of the Carbon Capture and Storage technology. We believe that this technology will bring us a large step further in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. We will take action on this independently of any agreements reached today, but we invite all interested countries to join us in our efforts."


/Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Venezuela, South Africa, Mexico, Saudi Arabia/

Canada under pressure

France and China announced that they will consider serious measures against Canada, Australia and New Zealand if they do not reconsider their position. There are rumors that China thinks about organizing an attack on the Canadian representatives. Some sources have mentioned involvement of Israeli secret service.

Photo source:nzm-virux.blogspot.com

German representatives working and posing during lunch

Proposal by Chair of Mitigation Working Group

The mitigation group has prepared the final proposal after long discussions. Detailed results are as follows:

• the parties agree that no more than a 2 degrees increase in global temperature;
• financial contributions are to be made from developed countries to countries facing severe problems with climate change adaptation;
• the parties are willing to commit to taking extensive measures in technology trading, green and sustainable development, and emission reduction attempts.

Negotiations continue through lunch

Canada, the US, France, and Switzerland continued to negotiate over lunch. Canada described themselves as a 'small' country, and continued to argue with Switzerland after the other delegates had given up and gone for lunch.

France told Canada they were threatening the whole negotiations by refusing to cooperate, which Canada strenuously denied.

Mitigation group at a deadlock

The last minutes of working groups' meetings are not too fortunate for the mitigation group. The representatives still cannot reach any agreement. Most of them still try to force their own ideas and do not express a will to compromise. Number of delegates in the room is changing every minute. The most often heard words are: no, not acceptable, higher costs, objection...

Which countries will take climate change refugees???

Climate change refugees don't have any right to choose which country to go to. Countries have to decide itself who to take and who not to. India is willing to take Bangladeshi refugees, Australia and New Zealand is willing take AOSIS refugees. Countries don't agree with the proposal that they are obliged to develop bilateral agreements with neighborhood countries. US representative comments "If we agree with it, it means that we have to take the whole Mexico"

Chinese Representative isn't sure if it will take Muslim refugees or not, as they already have some problems with Muslim populations.

Trading Working Group: summary of agreements

Trading Working Group agreed that:

- CDM is to be continued;
- this document will be signed independently of Barcelona Protocol;
- aim to reduce bureaucracy, increase efficiency;
- introduce framework to allow non annex I countries to invest in other non annex I countries.
- strive towards less regional inequalitiies
- CDM will not include nuclear in CDM
- CDM will include REDD

A representative of the Mitigation group interrupted this summary to announce that if we all reaching an agreement on emissions target, then the distinction between annex I and non- annex I over. 'CDM is no option' everything should be JI.' Delegates are now discussing the difference between JI and CDMs.

Secret consultations

During the break, a number of representatives decided to secretly consult external experts and the President, Mr Elmar Friedrich. Will these informal talks increase chances for the consensus or cause suspicions of the other countries? In the meantime, chairs are recalculating the model with new results.

Swiss press statement

"The Swiss delegation is highly disappointed with the EU representatives' action of declaring lack of cooperation to the public media before consulting with the relevant involved parties. It now doubts the EU's devotion to the alliance with Switzerland and to the common goals of striving for a binding agreement to emission reductions and the "2 degrees Celsius" target.
Switzerland would also like to apologize for any aggression expressed in the former meeting, and would like to express its appreciation to the Chinese delegation's willingness to make compromises in promoting the global target of sustainable growth. It is highly looking forward to reaching an agreement."

/Ms Lital Shlimovich, Switzerland/

Major breakthrough - China's new proposal

The previous calculations occurred to be inaccurate. After amendments, China's position changes and it agrees for the 2.0 degrees goal now. The crucial discussions relate to deforestation numbers now.

Photo source:travelagentchina.blogspot.com

Few details from adaptation room..

Bangladesh asks for innovative techology in return it can offer fruit, rice and so on, if there is technology available for avoiding floods, disasters, they are ready to do everything in this terms.

Plenary clarifications

• The EU offers technology transfers and nothing more without China's commitment;
• China decided to rethink their position;
• Switzerland questions full consensus;
• Bangladesh and Maldives express gratitude for the technology but suggests it is not enough.

"Our reductions will not save our country and we are sorry about that!"
/the EU speaker to Maldivian delegate/

The best definition of climate change refugees

Every country has different definition of climate change refugees.

The best one belongs to Brazil, which is approved by other countries.

"people who leave their habitats, immediately or in the future, because of sudden or gradual alternations in their natural environment related to at least one of these impacts of climate change: sea-level rise, extreme weather events and drought or water scarcity."

Russia is missing....

Starting yesterday Russia hasn't attended neither working group meetings nor plenaries, causing a confusion. It seems that Russia doesn't want to negotiate... or today's rumors are true and it's honeymoon of three, they are enjoying the city instead of participating in the negotiations and making their contribution. It seems that Russia's representatives aren't strong enough to present their position...

Chinese delegate leaving

Stirred Chinese delegate decided to leave the debate protesting against Swiss behaviour.

Swiss delegate hitting out on China

After a fierce discussion, the Swiss represenative lost her temper. The result was immediate...

The EU's statement to press....

The EU expresses their concerns on the way that Switzerland has addressed China in the mitigation working group. The EU wants to stress that it appreciates the Chinese progression in its acknowledgements to emission reductions. Furthermore they would not like to be associated to the reaction of Switzerland as it is not going towards the same direction negotiations have taken so far.

China blocks negotiations

Chinese representative, Daniel Roos: "We are a perfect country for CDM projects. It is relatively cheap to cut emission in our country but we still have to feed our 1.3 bln people. Please think about absolute numbers. We will engage in some CDMs in Africa."
Switzerland suggests that the debate should concentrate more on human life. China answers that it has never agreed to any fixed commitments. In reply, the Bolivian representative shows that in the first time in the history, his country will commit.

Photo source: afro-ip.blogspot.com

Chinese forcing Tuvalu to 'sign own death warrant'

China's static stance in the negotiations is causing increasing frustration within the AOSIS and Swiss delegations. China has been very unwilling to commit to emissions reductions, citing high growth as the principle reason. They currently propose to peak emissions in 2030.

Citizens of Tuvalu are being offered a safe haven in Australia, but Grenada insists they do not want to be refugees. Grenada will not sign the proposal as it stands, as they claim it will 'sign their own death warrant', and Switzerland supports this decision.

China implies to dislocate inhabitants of Maldives

The Chinese government proposed to find a new place for the Maldivian population. The EU strongly protested about this selfish behavior. Ms Andrea Fix from Maldives looked really worried during the session. In the meantime, Chinese representative paid a visit to the external expert to check his numbers.
The majority of delegates work hard to convince China for further commitments.

The waste of time....

Climate Refugees vs Technology transfer

The binding agreements already exist about climate refugees, but it seems that the representatives have no idea about it and they are just wasting time discussing how much money is needed and what contributions they countries have to make instead of discussing the main issues and negotiating..

New proposal developed!

New proposal developed in the adaptation group: Annex I country contributing 0.25% of their GDP to GCF starting in 2012, China and Brazil 0.1% from 2015. These conditions for the funding will apply until 2020. GCF after 2020 would be renegotiated and will work after 2020 with higher funding. Latest contribution starting year of India would be 2020.

China run out of power - Maldives help!

China is facing a power outage. Technology transfer from Maldives helps to solve the problem.

Is it a sign of a new energy coalition? The respective representative of China run out of power for his laptop. Having lost the connection to its government, China's representative could not continue the negotiations and was to leave the room in search of the power source. Then the rescue came! The Maldives saved the debate with the power cord!

Angela Merkel calls back her delegate

Great surprise in the EU coalition! The German representative in the mitigation group agreed to support extending the use of nuclear power. Is it a sign that influences of France are growing in the EU group?
The latest anti-nuclear protests in Germany showed that the society is strongly against this source of energy. More than 100,000 anti-nuclear protesters demonstrated across Germany. Angela Merkel had bo choice but to call back the delegate who agreed to voted for the nuclear power plants.


Photo source: boetschiklatscht.blogspot.com

India not trusting Germany?

India relates to the call back of the German representative. Indian delegate expressed a fear that commitmment made by Mr Antxon Hauet may be not accepted by his government.

The immediate reaction of the French delegate: "There was a simplification in the press! These are third generation nuclear plants which the high level of safety. Only these specific plants will be supported. It is a necessity, not a long-term measure."

Mr Hauet: "I do not push for the nuclear energy to be regarded as a renewable energy source. It is only a necessary transition mean. We are not supporting long-term nuclear energy strategy!"
We are awaiting German government reaction.

No Technology transfer in India??

China and Brazil had agreed to start contributing 0.1% of their GDP, while India refuses to do so. The US representative Eugenia Tarasova commented : "You're not willing to contribute at all, but you make it look nice by saying that you'll start contributing from 2030. So, no participating no technology transfer in India"

Opening Plenary

The adaptation working group chair announced that it is impossible to agree over the number of 1.5 degrees. Therefore, the issue of climate refugees will be discussed. There is a call for all countries joining this comittee as the refugees will have to find new country of residence.

The respective delegate from Brazil (WWT): "This is the last day of the negotiations. My recommendation is to be open-minded, to try to reach the conclusion together. Otherwise, we all loose."

The chair of mitigation working group expressed condolences for the German representative.

BREAKING NEWS: Hurricane Mercedes hits Germany, killing 118.

This is the first time in history we have seen such a powerful hurricane in Europe: a fact scientists attribute to the increase in temperature in the air near the Earth's surface. The powerful hurricane swept its path of destruction across southern Germany, devastating the Baden-Württemberg region, bringing the German auto industry to it's feet as the BMW and Daimler plants were destroyed.


Mr Jalal Koubaiti, German auto-mobile tycoon, has a residence in Stuttgart, and it has been confirmed that his family are among those who have died in this freak weather event. Mr Koubaiti, who is currently at the UNFCCC negotiations in Barcelona, has been informed. He was delayed at the UNFCCC negotiations because of the funeral.

Debriefing I

During the CEMS Model UNFCCC, students have an opportunity to simulate the negotiations. It leads to some observations which reflect problems and opportunities of real debates and communication processes between countries.

Students' opinions - what poses a problem:

• The topic is complex;
• There are many climate-friendly NGOs, which are not too active during debates;
• Too many countries from the EU are present (they will have to reach agreement anyway);
• It will be easier if other delegates were my close friends;
• It would be easier to be from one school;
• From some schools there were no position papers; content and layout vary significantly;
• People do not want to resign from their position;
• Delegates do not realize that changes will affect all countries.

Students' opinions - what helps delegates:

• Press coverage :)
  
• Chairs helped a lot during the group work (i.e. agreements on common understanding);
• Countries were eager to discuss the funding;
• It is good that we can already agree to 2.0 degree;
• "If the climate was a bank, it would have been already saved".

Students' opinions - what can happen tomorrow:

• All countries need to rethink their positions;
• New technologies, new mechanisms;
• Creation of global government;
• Top-down approach should not take place.

Breaking news: Hurricane Mercedes sweeps death through western Europe

Strong winds destroyed the coastal areas of western Europe, killing 48 people with the number expected to rise throughout the night. The hurricane, thought to be due to increasing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, whipped the coast of the France with up to 170 mph (280 kph) winds. It destroyed dozens of homes and ripped roofs and walls from dozens more. It cut power supplies in a few regional cities and laid waste to hundreds of millions of euro worth of crops.

Check out http://www.pewclimate.org/hurricanes.cfm for more info about hurricanes and the link to climate change.

Best quotations from the afternoon plenary session

• "You kind of miss the opportunity to grow." Mr Daniel Nagy, Papua New Guinea
• "The only good thing about Chinese goods is that they are cheap." Ms Petra Podracka, Greenpeace, France
• "We now talk only about China and Brazil, not India and Russia - they are not here? So they will have to accept what we agree on." Mr Thomas Mollnhuber, USA

The need for developing new model..

" There is no need for adapting a new model as we have already set specific targets and have exact numbers" commented the representative of Switzerland on the new model presented by climate change expert Mr  Fukuyama.

Common boat

"We are like people in the boat rowing in a different directions. We are going to drown. They will drown..."

Mr Jalal Koubaiti, the respective German delegate, convinces respective representatives to rethink their positions.

Photo source: fineartamerica.com

EU vs China's proposal

"As the EU we would like to stress that we do not want agree for the solution proposed by China. We are committed to limit the temperature rise to 1.5 degree which is our main goal.We want all countries to participate in this commitment".

Ewa Grzesiuk, UK representative

Russia, not only fossil fuels but also...

... for the second time in the history, the Fossil-of-the-Day Award goes to Russia.

"They were not only late for the negotiations. Their administration simply ignored us. What is more they were not attending the adaptation group and we really need their voice!"
/a few anonymous delegates*/

*Some delegates decided to stay anonymous being afraid of possible consequences for their countries.

US public backlash at UNFCCC negotiations

US public have backlashed at the US government's generous emission targets reductions, as announced in the Mitigation Working Group at the UNFCCC in Barclona. A Tea Party Rally has taken Washington by storm, with over 20 000 right-wing Republicans marching against Obama's proposed 20% emissions reduction by 2020, based on 1990 baseline.

Sarah Palin made a surprise appearance as the keynote speaker of the rally, to denounce Obama's strategy at the UNFCCC, stating 'This will cost our country billions. Why should America pay the price for the emissions that China will emit in the future? I care about America's future. Our future. And Obama is giving it away to make friends in countries that I didn't even know existed.".

source photo:flippopper.com

Brazil explains Chinese model and mitigation group proposals

"The main problem with Chinese model is that there are many factors to be discussed. This procedure is time-consuming and would require another peak.
We could agree on reduction targets and this was the goal of our discussion. The detailed results will be announced tomorrow. The proposal from Maldives is now 1.5 degrees but major players are unable to accept this."

Sandra von Bidder, Brazil representative

Further discussion will take place later. US and Germany are very committed to further reductions.

Photo source:joetulchin.com

Russia's abscence, or Absinth?

Russia's prolonged absence is taking it's toll on the American- Russian relations, as the American delegation complain that it's impossible to come to meaningful agreements when the Russian delegation is absent from all working groups.

Perhaps they have enjoyed a little too much of their traditional drink...

(source photo:alex-ltj.blogspot.com)

Will the developing countries get the amount of money they are asking for?

The main issue which countries will contribute money and what percentage of their GDP remains unclear. To solve the problem, the representative from Tuvalu proposed to split up in two groups and hold the discussions. USA, Australia, Canada and UK agreed to contribute 0.25% of their GDP, stating that developing countries can't oblige them to contribute up to 1%. China refused to give any funding as it considers itself developing country. According to their statement, large number of their population is below the poverty line.

Before giving the money developed countries are asking for detailed plans, how will this money be distributed among developing countries and whether is will be spent appropriately or not. Actually developing countries came up with criteria for distributing the money. Some of them are venerability index, population and so on. The adaptation committee will take care of it.

Developing countries ask for $ 200 billion while the maximum they can get is $ 106 billion, if they get 0.25% of the annex 1 countries' GDP, the amount will go up to0 $113 billion from 2015, when China and Brazil will contribute 0.1% of their GDP.

The representative of the USA is demanding Russia to be present on the meeting and contribute part of its GDP.

French Nuclear Power press release

" Renewables are not competitive yet. They will need decades to be competitive. And for the mean time, we need low carbon technology that is ready for large scale energy production. So nuclear power is the birdge technology for the period 2011-2050. We have many countries who support our opinion, for example the United States, France, and positive signs from Brazil, China and India. "  French Nuclear Industry representative

source photo: french.ac.nz

Unclear whether Switzerland is in EU alliance or not

It is still unclear if Switzerland is still alliance with the European Union- we await further details as the handshake was too quick to photograph.

Trading Working Group Press Release

"We have made significant progrress towards reaching an agreement that will enable CDMs to continue functioning independently of the Barcelona Protocol agreement. Parties agree on the framework but are still discussing the details. A finalised agreement should be reached tomorrow."- Trading Working Group Chairs

AOSIS being unreasonable?

AOSIS are making 'incredibly unreasonable' demands from developed countries, according to an undisclosed western Government source.

Tuvalu indignant with China and the EU

"Tuvalu believes China offers too little. The European Union seems not to be very committed and coordinated as well. They have problems with putting numbers in table!"
/Dominik Seliger/

Weather warning

We have weather forecast warnings of strong winds in southern Spain later this afternoon. Check out Spanish weather websites for more information.

Tuvalu and Grenada start the battle!

There was a rumor that Greenpeace left "1.5" stickers on the doors. However, we soon discovered the truth. This is the new strategy of Tuvalu and Grenada.

Tuvalu and Grenada came to the negotiations only in the afternoon due to the long journey. Their respective representatives started a media campaign "1.5 to stay alive".