Trent Hardman, Climate change intern

While the Copenhagen climate summit has brought leaders from across the world there are also a whole lot of people who came to Copenhagen to draw attention to the importance of getting a good deal and to report back to the world on the progress made.

I’m part of that group and so I’ve joined up with a group of ‘climate debt agents’, who dress up each day in a red suit, dark glasses and a hat and take to the streets.

Our main job is to draw attention to the fact that rich countries have a climate debt that they owe the world’s poorest countries. The people who are suffering the most as a result of climate change are those who are least responsible for it. Saturday 12 December was a big day for us all as we joined 100,000 marchers in Copenhagen to ask for climate justice.

We danced and chanted the whole six kilometre route from Parliament Square to the Bella Centre where the climate negotiations are currently taking place. At the Bella centre demonstrators handed over twelve large recycled boat sails decorated with climate images and slogans. These were given to the head of the UNFCCC Yvo de Boer and the President of the climate negotiations Connie Hedegaard, who thanked demonstrators for making negotiators aware of the ‘high price’ of not reaching an agreement. Unfortunately, we couldn't see this happen because we were right at the back behind thousands and thousands of other marchers!

 Trent Hardman, climate change researcher

Eighty young people came along and about 30 of their questions were heard. I asked Gordon Brown why Europe hasn't announced an ambitious 30% reduction in greenhouse gases. Currently it seems that all countries are waiting for each other to make the first move.  The talks are next week and we are running out of time.

To get the ball rolling one group will have to announce big reductions first. Why can't it be us? He didn't completely answer the question but said he hoped we would get a 'politically' binding treaty at Copenhagen and a 'legally' binding treaty at least six months after talks in Copenhagen.

Attending the Question and Answer (Q&A) with me, were: Ashley Browning and Ben Judge of Crispin School in Somerset and Zak Sharif and Sousna Begum from City and Islington College. Here are their thoughts...

Ashley's blog:

I really enjoyed the Q&A time with the panel. Unfortunately I didn’t get chance to ask my question, due to the debate being really structured, which meant extra questions could not be heard.

This was my question:

Given the history of broken promises, poorer have countries become deeply distrustful of climate pledges by richer countries, how would your government ensure that any pledges made were not hollow? And what measures do you propose to take to help rebuild this trust between the countries?

It seems obvious to me that without trust between all of the countries present at Copenhagen, there is no chance of a final agreement between them. Even if there was, the agreement would be fragile.

Personally, I feel that Copenhagen is the last chance for the world to turn climate change on its head and really make a difference. I think that the wealthier countries should be prepared to give what is necessary to the poorer countries, as well as coming to a mutual agreement on cutting carbon emissions.

More finance should go to facilities and organisations that help people cut their carbon emissions. Copenhagen could be a great success if Britain can do all of these things as a direct result of the climate change summit.

Many amazing questions were generated at the debate, and I hope me and Ben can take our new found knowledge and inspire people like the young people have me. I have always been passionate about climate change and this was my chance to really show that, I hope I can go on and get more involved in the future. I hope that I can inspire more people to take action against climate change, because it has become such a huge problem, and many people won’t accept it, but at the end of the day it’s all of our faults.

There are so many ways to get involved, all of which are fun and some may even save you money. I say to anybody that doesn’t do their part for the climate, get involved! Hopefully after Copenhagen the world will realise how big a problem climate change actually is, and people will make positive contributions to the planet.

I feel really proud to be part of such a big event, even though I can’t go to Copenhagen. I feel that I have done my bit; now it’s up to the world leaders to make the right decision.

Ben's blog:

A variety of questions were asked – ranging from Carbon Capture and Storage technology to international funding for poorer countries – all of which challenged the three ministers. Personally, I thought that the answers given were thorough and honest but politicians being politicians, drawn out. It was clear to see that the questions posed to the ministers had been well thought out and on several occasions the complexity of the issues raised by the audience members over-whelmed the panel members. 
Unfortunately, there weren’t any opportunities to ask extra questions off the cuff; it seemed that all the questions and answers had been carefully selected and rehearsed, as well as being vetted for any sensitive climate issues. This was a real shame as I had a whole host of questions which I would have liked to pose to the panel.
 
Overall, the hour spent was excellent – a lot was covered and everyone present managed to get a clear picture of what the British Government intends to bring to the table at Copenhagen and what they will hopefully bring back.

Of course, there are doubts from many over what the talks in Copenhagen will actually achieve but having heard Ed Miliband speak today, it seems that he is going to Copenhagen with the intention to secure a deal which will begin rapid and united action across the world against climate change. Whether this intention will materialise is another matter.

Sousna's blog:

Today I went to a conference tackling issues on climate change. We had to engage directly with a panel of top-level UK government’s ministers including Ed Miliband and Gordon Brown.

I found this fascinating as it helped me understand what they will be doing in the future with climate challenges, and although I didn’t get a chance to put my question forward they did address the issue I had wanted to raise. It helped me understand what they are doing for people in low economic countries, like Bangladesh, which is where my family are from.

I was glad they gave us the opportunity to have a say in something that could help and benefit the environment in the near future.

Overall I think this inspired me and helped me understand more about climate change.

Zak's blog:

I found today’s event very helpful. Many of the questions that the students had asked were touched upon if not answered fully. In addition, I am very pleased that my question was answered sufficiently and that it gave me an idea of what they have planned and will hopefully do in the near future. They had mentioned that they will start to introduce environmental issues in the curriculum at schools in order to prepare the next generations.

Although I was pleased with the answer I had received to my question I also feel let down a little that they did not mention any policy to get youth from the local areas involved in helping to improve the environment.

Overall, the event had enlightened me and was very empowering for me as a student; to get the chance to question the highest ranked politician in the country. Finally, I look forward into seeing what changes are made and decisions made at the conference in Copenhagen and hopefully they’ll all be positive.

 Trent Hardman, Climate change researcher

On 10 December, I’m off on a two-day train journey from London to Copenhagen to catch the second half of the climate change summit where countries will come together to try and agree a global response to climate change.

Once I get there I’ll be blogging regularly to tell you all about what’s happening in Copenhagen. If I happen to chance upon any world leaders, I’ll be sure to question them vigorously on your behalf! If not I’ll be doing my best to understand the daily developments and explain them to all of you.

What's the big deal?

The Copenhagen talks are billed as the big opportunity for world leaders to create a replacement treaty for the Kyoto Protocol which runs out in 2012. Given that it takes years for these kinds of treaties to come into force we know just how important it is to achieve a new global agreement by the end of the year. But with this deadline just around the corner how much do you think is still left to work out? Well, it turns out, a whole lot of stuff!

We still don’t know how or by how much rich countries will reduce their emissions. We don’t know whether poor countries will receive aid for adapting to climate change problems or if saving rainforests (our planet’s lungs) will be part of the treaty. We’re not sure if leaders are going to put a tax on aviation to encourage us all to take fewer flights and so use up less carbon. These questions and many more are going to be part of a very long list of things that will need to be discussed this December.

At this late stage there are many who doubt that a good deal will come out the Copenhagen summit, but I’m still optimistic.

This is partly because I’ve seen that this summit has galvanized so many people around the world to show how much they care. Just watch the video from the 350 demonstrations. Our leaders owe it to us to give it their best shot at reaching a good deal before the talks are over.

One thing I’m particularly excited about is that going to Copenhagen gives me a chance to report back to some of  the teachers and learners I have met this autumn (I’ve been busy doing workshops and mini-Copenhagen summits in schools - find out more here).

And don’t forget, you and your school still have time to get your voices heard by sending in messages to Ed Miliband or coming to the The Wave on 5 December in London or Glasgow.

 Trent Hardman, Climate change intern

Last Wednesday European environmental ministers attempted to regain their status as top climate change combatants by promising to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by up to 95% by 2050. They also reiterated their earlier commitment of a 30% cut in emissions by 2020 if a favourable climate deal is struck in Copenhagen this December.

The meeting of environmental ministers left everyone in high spirits. Andraes Carlgren, Swedish environmental minister and chair of the meeting said, "This should be seen as a clear message to the world."

Just a day before this, the EU finance ministers had met about the deal in Copenhagen and Anders Borg the Swedish finance minister described it as having a “disappointing” outcome.

Whereas EU finance ministers on Tuesday failed to come to an agreement, the environmental ministers ended with an uplifting press conference. The finance ministers have had to say that they will continue their discussions (or arguments?) this week.

The real problem seems to be that EU finance ministers were unable to resolve disagreements about adaptation funding (the money Europe will pay to the developing countries to ‘adapt’ to the climate change impacts – such as droughts, floods and sea level rise – for which the developed countries accept that they have the most responsibility).

The European Parliament suggested Europe’s contribution to adaptation funding should be at least €30bn each year by 2020 but the talks ended without the finance ministers agreeing on how much each European country would pay.

This busy week of highs and lows highlights that a good deal in Copenhagen is going to be extremely difficult to pull off due to the huge number of issues a post-Kyoto deal must address. The Copenhagen agreement needs to include firm commitments from Europe and other developed countries to reduce their carbon emissions as well as money for funding adaptation for those hardest hit by climate disasters.

More about the EU's finance ministers http://www.endseurope.com/22426 [please note this article is only available in full after subscribing to ENDSEurope]

More about the EU's environmental ministers http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/oct/21/europe-carbon-emissions

 Trent Hardman, Climate change intern

Destruction of rainforests is resulting in huge carbon emissions – roughly one fifth of the annual global total! These emissions must be reduced if we are to slow down climate change.

So who is going to solve this immense problem? Well, Brazilian supermodel, Gisele Bundchen, of course. Gisele, recently named goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme, has moved deforestation back into the climate change debate by standing up and telling reporters that Brazil needs to do more to preserve its rainforests.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva or “Lula” answered the supermodel’s concerns by explaining that he is committed to ending deforestation. He was able to point to his proposals to limit sugarcane production in the Amazon and other sensitive Brazilian ecosystems as a main example.
 
Clearing the rainforest to plant sugarcane is certainly a problem but the largest cause of deforestation, according to Greenpeace, is clearing the land for cattle to graze. They have found that four-fifths of the cleared land in the Amazon has been turned into enormous cattle ranches.

To stop deforestation of the Amazon they turned to the people.

Tens of thousands of campaigners were able to put the screws on shoe and food companies including Nike, Addidas, and Clarks, to pressure large cattle companies in Brazil to stop clearing land. And it worked! The large cattle companies have promised to stop buying cheap land in the Amazon. 

 Trent Hardman, Climate change intern

The UN climate summit in New York last week featured an impressive line up of world leaders. And all eyes were on the US and China – the world’s two largest polluters – in the hope that they might step up and make some big commitments.

So where do we stand after the UN event? Two of the world’s largest polluters, US and China, seemed to be making the right noises about climate change. Both stepped up, acknowledging the problem and saying that something must be done.

Unfortunately, US President Barack Obama’s speech lacked force as he did not declare any specific emission reduction targets. The President of China, Hu Jintao, did a bit better when he promised that China would decrease the rate that emissions are created. But he also failed to specify a target. Sandwiched between these two speeches was the candid speech of President Mohamed Nasheed the President of the Maldives who has the most at stake if the US and China don't come to an agreement in Copenhagen.

President Obama is still waiting for the US Senate to pass the domestic climate policy into law and until that has happened there is not much more he can do. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid recently said that the timetable for action on the climate change bill could be bumped back all the way to next year which might leave Obama with his hands tied for Copenhagen this December.

The Chinese President, Hu Jintao, promised to limit the rate at which China’s greenhouse gas emissions are rising by a “notable margin” which is welcome news coming from a country that may soon surpass the United States as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, but many were hoping that a game plan for reaching the “notable margin” would be announced.

Both Obama’s and Hu’s words of commitment to ending climate change make the event a diplomatic success. But for many in countries already hit by climate change disasters the nice words ring hollow.

President of the Maldives, Mohamad Nasheed, told the developed countries that he was tired making yearly speeches about his country (which is threatened with being completely submerged due to rising sea levels) and of playing the “allotted role as the world’s conscience on global warming.” When everyone knows that people in the wealthiest countries, “are not really listening.” For President Nasheed the “current political deadlock” is inexcusable.