Reflections from COP19, Friday 22 November

The end of COP19 and continue the fight for the green world. Around 195 countries ended a two-week meeting in Warsaw on Saturday evening to agree the outlines of a deal meant to be agreed in 2015 to combat global warming. Last day of the COP19, the press conference with United States of America said about the last advance of the last two days with others countries. Most of the important actions are been made by countries, even been a global problem as the carbon on the atmosphere are. The first agreement of the world related with an international law. There symbols the success in these COP19 is the difference that each one can do, the mayor areas are the discussion and negotiations of the big agreement.

In the IPCC press briefing on message was that we will have to adapt to sea level rise. We have the chance to decide in each world we want live, with less the 2°C or more than 4°C, the green house emissions are one of the key points the a sustainable climate.

Are the COP just business and good luck or real change? The politicians look like they are discounted from the society, and the delay in the decisions and actions for one world community is absolutely important. What the climate crisis need is transparent process. Some of the main decisions and talks at the U.N. climate in Warsaw were:

♦ The good news that was presented in the plenary room during the afternoon was the Red++ that USA, Norway and United Kingdom putted US$ 280 million. The developed nations promised in 2009 to increase their aid to poorer countries to help them cope with climate change to $100 billion a year after 2020, from $10 billion a year in 2010-12. But in Warsaw they rejected calls to set targets for 2013-19.

♦ Related with loss and damage the talks agreed a new “Warsaw International Mechanism” to provide expertise, and possibly aid, to help developing nations cope with losses from extreme events related to climate change. The exact form of the mechanism will be reviewed in 2016.

♦ In the way to 2015 countries agreed to announce plans for curbs on greenhouse gases beyond 2020 “well in advance” of a summit in Paris in December 2015 and “by the first quarter of 2015 for those in a position to do so”. It called the submissions “intended nationally determined contributions” – the word “intended” hinting they are open to change. Many developed nations had wanted the word “commitments”.

♦ For the pre-2020 the conference did not outline new targets for more near-term action to reduce emissions. Japan announced during the conference it had scaled back its 2020 target, aiming now for a 3.1-percent increase from 1990, compared to its previous promise of a 25-percent cut.

♦ The markets talks on how to set up new market-based mechanisms to curb emissions failed because developing nations refused to advance the process unless rich countries take on tougher emissions targets. Talks will resume in the first half of next year.

♦ About the monitoring details were finalised on how countries’ emissions reductions will be monitored, reported and verified.

♦ The clean development mechanism the conference agreed on a measure that could boost demand for the ailing mechanism, encouraging countries without legally binding emissions targets to use carbon credits called Certified Emission Reductions (CERs). A proposal to implement a floor price for CERs was removed from a technical paper while a wider review of the CDM by a technical board was pushed to talks in Bonn in March 2014.

♦ About the deforestation the conference agreed a multi-billion dollar framework to tackle deforestation. The fledgling Green Climate Fund will play a key role in channelling finance for projects to halt deforestation to host governments, who in turn must set up national agencies to oversee the money.

Today at the COP19 one of the main questions for me was what must the 2015 treaty do? What has Warsaw delivered? As it was write in the official web about the climate change, difficult questions – simple answers; but the question after all is how much we advanced to understand the climate negotiations? The current problems such as the last tragedy in the Philippines, this is just the beginning of what awaits us if we do not make a concerted effort to prevent from climate change. The concert is that the world needs climate justice. And after all these days here it is time to go, thanks Warsaw▄

Reflections from COP19, Tuesday 21 November

Today at the UNFCCC COP19 had the news about the polish Presidency of the COP19 Climate Summit remains unchanged. By taking a decision on change on the post of minister of environment of Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the same time reassured the position as the President of COP19.

The other discussion was the NGOs like Greenpeace, Oxfam left the conference. This initiative basically drew the attention of the member states. Because they were not only NGOs, were also the G77 and China that threatened before and are some delegates who are on hunger strike. Today China pronounces that “we understand why NGOs left the conference and we show our complete solidarity towards them”. Today for example there was a demonstration of empathy for some member states. This demonstrates the urgency of taking concrete action on mitigation and adaptation.

At the plenary room with the Ministers Mr. Pithaya Pookaman from Thailand talked about cooperation. During the afternoon the plenary room the ministers talked about harmony between development and environment. The climate change is on the conscious in the declarations. The Mr. Dion Taufitu, Associate Minister from the Meteorological Service (NIUE) talked about efficiently communication and implementation related with climate change.

The Joint High-level Segment was one opportunity to listen some many experiences of impacts of climate change, Bangladesh talked about loss and damage and the importance of choice. In Portugal with Jose Moreira da Silva, Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy from Portugal said about the importance to advance in the development of the next steps for Paris. Overall Portugal is leading on renewable energy, will soon lead on energy efficiency and green fiscal reforms and will set more ambitious mitigation targets.

The summary results of the Climate Change Performance Index 2014 made by the Observing, Analyzing, Acting (Germanwatch), indicated the global ranking of the Portugal it is in 6 position; Brazil 36 and Poland 45.

The pronunciation of Timor-Leste, emissions very low, however we have high vulnerability and we are experiencing several extreme weather events. Parties need to reaffirm commitments on mitigation of emissions and take decisions to support capacity and adaptation measures▄

Reflections from COP19, Wednesday 20 November

Today at the COP19 the press briefing with the European Union stated remember about the reflections about the historical responsibility and also putting that it is a moment to agree and negotiate. How we can maximize the investments from the found create in the COP.

In the plenary room the Minister of El Salvador Mr. Jaime Miranda remembers the importance to create a system to finance and support vulnerable countries that suffer with climate change and landscape change. The Minister of Peru, talked about what the society waiting for the COP in Warsaw and what deals. The emergency its global, and that´s why it is very importance for actions for adaptation for many years. What we want for 2020?

Only a global response can mitigate the complex situation of climate change. The Minister of Angola Maria de Fatima said about the low price of the Carbon in the market and the desertification process that is suffering. The state of the Australia is clearly not helping the negations to flow adaptation services. The Greenpeace, AA, WWF, FotE, CA, Oxfam  press room talked about democracy and a reflex of the society in the decision by the politicians.

Good video about scientific aspects of climate change and its impact on climate with my friend Environmental Engineer Ricardo Costa made during the COP.

During the press room with Japan the themes of the banks taking money out of this movement. Some of the developing countries have to have on efficient technology power plants for provision of energy, there are some thinks on the side. Loss and damage was the language in many discussions and specially in the Bangladesh relating migration and climate change▄

Reflections from COP19, Tuesday 19 November

Today here in Warsaw, Poland at the 19th annual Conference of Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) we stated a very intense week. Social development is associated with climate change. The experience of the events like COP gives the best orientations looking for 2020.

At the press room with the Blue Green Alliance Foundation discussed environmental, business and U.S. climate action plan. The emissions in US are down, renewable energy are double, and others many efforts. Another importance fact is the indicative of USA and Canada. It is address the climate change. The experience of USA and the investment is importance and had created many jobs. This approach with economical, shows regards actions climate plans, managing the politics with a low carbon. For the USA view in the last years dramatic changes in energy had became grow, natural gas was 71% and a trend of this process it´s support by national actions. Obvious it is crucial what is doing USA with one of the second historical emissions, the dynamic it’s changing with a momentum where the plans move for face out public finance to implement green gas lines. USA politics support actions to reduce. And we should not where a lot of flexibility from USA in the COP.

The COP19 can provide a driver international agreement. Really, the COP19 it is also about 2015 and 2020 that are getting most of the attention, and right fully so. In Copenhagen in 2009, international parties committed to reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions that have a deadline of 2020.

The ministers had arrived today at the stadium; let´s see what they will play. It´s necessary more clarity and balance before after and before 2050. The applicability to all the countries is a key concert. It is a high expectation for this ministerial meeting at COP19.

A chocolate cake without chocolate, it´s how is called the finance negotiations here in Warsaw, negotiations of a new system for that the developing countries asking by this mechanism are being blocking by Australia and Japan.

Loss and damage are on the face people here say. During the afternoon we had the high-level segment with the presence of H.E. Mr. Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland; Mr. John Ashe, President of UN General Assembly and Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Can some seconds make our memory see our short history in the universe and that we are just guests in the planet. The plenary section started with a very inspiring song and draws on the sand and light. We all hope that this will touch and heart of all the ministers and people involved at the COP19 that we just have one house and we need to build how we want live. Because I care!

The Prime Minister of Poland cited during his speech the accident in Fukushima and the climate change it’s a fact and evident. In the speech of Mr. Ban Ki-moon, that we are sharing responsibility and also mention the victims of Philippines, to science is clear the human influence on climate change, and sited the places that hi visited this year like Sahara or Greenland where he his climatic conditions put in risk social security. The scale of ours actions in the COP is not sufficient, but he also sees some hope in low carbon future. Voices of civil society give support the scientific recommendations, the IPCC had make a very clear report about the climate change phenomenon.

Success in Paris means solutions and negations, in the crucial time for your country and your neighbor. In the speech of Mr. John Ashe, he said that we are not strangers in these negotiations with the same arguments. Just one human family in the same circumstances, we must reach a deal in 2015 by the necessity of all. Climate change play an important role, we all faced. It is necessary be realistic for a sustainable developed. We who are ONU family must reach a agreement.

The real implementation witch knowledge and experience of the countries we can use good solutions. The world is became frustrated under the convection, they recognize the share responsibility. What had changed? As we approach 2015, do not for yourself do it for the next generation, yes will do something. Africa continent suffers with climate change while had a small contribution on the emissions of carbon at the atmosphere▄

Reflections from COP19, Saturday 16 November

This first week the main discussion and subject was the recent disasters event in Philippines. While the representative from Philippines was crying in Warsaw, during the COP19 in Warsaw, the ONU was checking the number of affected people 10 billion people affect by the strong storm Yaines, 660.000 was without house, it is like all the city of Lisbon was without home. What is not clear yet it is how the “stung storm” in create an impact for the next two years in Paris, when negotiators will have to deliver a new global climate agreement, which entered into force in 2020 and will be valid for all countries.

Publication on the Internacional New York Times.

Publication on the International New York Times.

“We are here worrying and we can fix this we can stop the madness right now right here. In the middle of this football field, and start to change”, said the representative from Philippines Monday asking help that was doing hunger-strike in solidarity with his country and people that are looking food.

The ambition for actions on climate change is clear and could not be clearer than during these week shows the need of action to reduce the emissions of CO2

Reflections from COP19, Friday 15 November

The open plenary started with some discussion and the guiding questions were how could capacity-build be reflected in the 2015 agreement? And what institutions arrangements would be required for capacity-build in the post 2010 period?

Guidance of cooperation is required for be the future more visible. Explore ideas that can reflect for a more coordinate ability for a adaptation actions that can contribute activities to face the climate change.

The speech from Philippines was on big moment at the plenary that focus on the mechanisms for access in order to active on adaptive process. The small delegates from Philippines got a big attention and reflection during this meeting. Balance and support finance it is necessary to make more acceptable the adaption progress, followed by the message from the speech from the European Union. Just a network can support these project.

Reflections from COP19, Thursday 14 November

At the plenary room the discussion about the strategies of technologies transfer, started asking how could technology development and transfer be reflected in the 2015 agreement? And what institutions arrangement would be required in the 2020 period for technology development and transfer?

How to incentives sustainable practices polices that influence the climate change. In the cities 7milion people are moving to cities every month, 6.2 billion people by 2050. Integrate transport and urban planning can contribute in shaping these cities.

The Brazil disasters were cited during the World Bank pronunciation, as one part of the puzzle, relating climate change and finance losses. The case economic damages caused by the natural disasters. Cities and climate change should look also see the need finance projects.

Sustainable transport and climate change benefits, it was the first COP that dedicated a special space for transport and cities. Road safety, air pollution is one of the problems, but what can be done is the question. Better access, how can we avoid the necessity, as in Stockholm, rapid buses, and public bikes; as in Wuhan 94.000; electric vehicles.    Individual cars are a simple of freedom after 90´years and this obstacle for many solutions.

It is urgent mechanisms regarding technology transfer in order to face the climate change. How can be done? We really hope that progress was make▄

Reflections from COP19, Wednesday 13 November

Today at COP19 in Poland there are several important events, a little window of the reality. Evidence of loss and damage from climate change is already happening, says the UNU report, at the press release from Institute for Environment and Humana Security (UNU-EHS), and the press with Dr. Koko Warner presented how the risks are associated with climate change, loss and damage. It is crucial because threats their losses post to sustainable development ad food production. It is happing every where? In the counties where they have research and project it suggest this, but in the same is necessary more understanding of the impacts of climate variability.

On the press meeting with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the provisional statement on the state of the climate 2013 observed. The previous results show as warmer year and a warm trend. Changes in the sea ice extend is evident in the Arctic and is continuous melt of the ice since the last decades. Annual sea level rise in the Pacific is where is most observed and warmer r water it is higher the average from the last decade. The combination of extreme winds and waves are making the cost communities more vulnerable.

COP19, Poland

COP19, Poland

How does the climate change affect extreme events, in these context the wind speech’s and storms like the recent event in Philippines are observed more frequently.

It is still difficult link extreme events and climate change.

At the IPCC press meeting with Thomas Stoker, Jonathn Lynn and Renete Crist, about the report of Climate Change 2013, on the key questions it is how to prevent and how many parts of CO2 change the temperature before we reach the dangers level, it is necessary consider the scenarios. Regarding the ocean energy balance, it was observed the water salt had changed and also the ph of the ocean. Where did the energy go half of it associated with reduction a atmosphere and internal variability of the climate system.

It is crucial changes and decisions that are so relevant to procedure in order for a sustainable climate with less impact of events such as natural disasters. Time is not on our side but the question is if we are all together to support these decisions▄

Reflections from COP19,Tuesday 12 November

The day started with very intense meeting and the soul of the morning it is “real ambitious”. Perhaps the next actions under the Kyoto Protocol are showing the reasons for these ambitious actions, with difficult questions related of the influence on the climate change.

A lot of conversion and discussions with effort by the parties to progress a better scenario of climate change. It is time now for decisions in order to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The responsibility of every us to find mechanisms to face the climate change and collaborate with each other in order to have a bather balance in order of everyone have capacities to deal with the impacts of climate change, as the natural disasters.

The pronunciation of commission of Small Islands on the plenary room during the morning showed the climate security problem driven by climate change, one dimension of the security issue is natural disasters. Pacific island countries are among the most prone natural disasters globally. Climate change is expected to increase the severity and frequency of tropical storms according the last repost from IPCC from 2013.

The African Group was regarding the need for a permanent mechanism: “We don’t need to wait for the disasters to happen”. It should be remembered that many of the consequences of climate change are long-term, especially in terms of access to clean water, food security and human health. The G77 and China have given a veiled ultimatum that an agreement on a loss and damage mechanism is crucial for the success of the whole COP19.

At the plenary room during the afternoon was presented the results of the report from IPCC2013, the report had three main messages: climate change is happing; humans’ actions have influence and we need act urgently. The Philippines make a question for IPCC panel about the effect of ocean warming on tropical cyclones. There is also a demand for increased capacity building in relation to climate modelling in developing countries.

It is crucial changes and decisions that are so relevant to procedure in order for a sustainable climate with less impact of events such as natural disasters. Time is not on our side but the question is if we are all together to support these decisions.

Reflections from COP19, Monday 11 November

Today it is important National Independence Day here in Poland and is my first day at the COP19. The United Nations Climate Change Conference COP19 have 52 counties participating; it is possible to fell energy and importance of this event and the day. I am taking my train from Toruń to go to Warszawa and there a lot of station controlling documents.

When I first entered the he Conference Centre at the National I was both amazed and happy to see the excited faces of the diverse range of people from around the world. By contrast, the atmosphere among the participants was one of frustration, especially regarding the small island delegates.

We start the week with speaking about the importance to provide solutions for the adverse effects from the climate change, which are more emergence than ever. I hope this event will be an opportunity to remember that just with a global solution we can face the climate change. We hope the results of the work of this week in the COP19 will find a way for a more sustainable climate.

COP19, monday 11 November

COP19, monday 11 November

It is difficult not to mention in a conference about climate change the disasters caused by a strong storm a few days ago that acrossed the islands of the central PHILIPPINES. The winds reached 190m.p.h and the estimative at least 10,000 people many died, and while is happing COP19 people are suffering and without food. The potential for hazards as a response to climate change shows how potential can be the influences of anthropogenic actions.

At the plenary room a very emotional speech from Philippines in the afternoon make everyone to remember the recent hurricane where people during this conference are suffering the consequences of climate change. This presentation had been followed by a minute of silence.

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC-Gd5ufiwc&feature=youtu.be