Between the big flop in Copenhagen last December and the next round of U.N. climate talks in Cancun, there are a bunch of “intersessional” meetings of the UNFCCC (the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), like the ones going on right now in Tianjin, China. These intersessionals are intended to move the ball down the field and, ideally, get the actual text that’s being negotiated into some kind of manageable shape to be dealt with in the two crazy weeks at the end of the year. In reality, they usually wind up involving lots of posturing and arguing over procedure. (Last year, the negotiating text actually got longer during the October meetings in Barcelona, the last before the COP15 in Copenhagen.)
That doesn’t mean that there’s nothing going on in Tianjin right now worth paying attention to. Earlier today (Monday morning in Tianjin time), an American youth climate advocate delivered a smart and impassioned speech to the entire gathered UN assembly. The “intervention” (as it’s called in the UN’s strange vernacular) was given by Alex Stark of Washington D.C., who is “tracking” the negotiations for TckTckTck.org (and who just so happens to be my successor in that role). Alex’s remarks resonated at the talks, and so I wanted to reprint them here in their entirety:
Thank you chair for giving the youth the floor. My name is Alexandra Stark, and I will be 62 years old in 2050.
I have a few questions for all of you gathered here:
What did you feel after the Copenhagen meeting?
Were you frustrated and disappointed? This is how many young people around the world felt.
Were you running short on hope? I ask because I asked these questions myself.
We went back home feeling puzzled and desperate. It seemed that perhaps everything we worked for had not resulted in anything–especially if everyone is simply pursuing their own interests.
But in fact, I was wrong! The global movement that came together for Cop15 is actually growing. More and more people are seeing climate impacts in their own countries and that is causing even more people to become involved. More and more organizations are making efforts; more and more individuals are participating. Youth are particularly active. This coming Sunday, we will take part in the global work party on the 10th day of the 10th month of the millennium’s 10th year. Just 6 days from now, we will take action alongside over 7,000 groups in 183 countries.
When I consider all that’s happening, I know we’re not defeated. Copenhagen’s disappointments have motivated us to keep going. We still must achieve our goals for an international agreement in line with what science and justice demand; but with a growing global movement we can do this.
Climate change action is no longer just the talk of some politicians, but more and more the missions and actions of every individual in the world. The youth are leading through our actions, and these talks must catch up. Thank you.
In response, TckTckTck’s (and MNN’s) Karl Burkart wrote the following:
Normally these 2 minutes NGO speeches are politely tolerated by UN negotiators waiting to get on with the day’s business, but in this case Alex’s talk had ripple effects. The LCA (Long-term Cooperative Agreement) chair took the time to formally comment on her remarks, and later in the day the chief EU negotiator said, ‘If you need a reminder about what we’re up against, listen to the youth delegate’s statement.’
I will add that, as an American, I’m awfully proud knowing that Alex was elected by all of the YOUNGO (or international youth NGO community) to give this intervention. It’s important for the rest of the world—activists, advocates, negotiators, and leaders alike—to know that there is a strong and vocal American climate constituency.
If you’re curious about what’s happening in Tianjin, in the lead up to the Cancun talks, I would definitely recommend following along at TckTckTck and through the awesome (and, yes, I’m biased) international Adopt-a-negotiator project.
Photos: Leila Mead/IISD
