Bending the arc of climate change

“At any given moment, you have the power to say:  this is not how the story is going to end.”

-Unknown

As our time in Peru comes to a close, I can’t help but reflect upon my experience with COP20: the fascinating people I have met, the eye-opening events I have attended, and the incredible Peru experiences that I have had.  I am incredibly, incredibly grateful.  Truly, how many high school students go to a school that is accredited to not only attend, but fully participate in such an impactful and significant event as the Conference of the Parties?

Not many.  Not many at all.  As a result, we have a unique perspective that is highly valued within the UNFCCC.  Particularly at a time when young leaders are needed and youth voices are being sought out, we are able to feel like we are fully a part of the legislative process.  As a result of our direct participation, we were able to immerse ourselves in the full realm of climate change. 

This is a complex issue, and it is up to our generation to solve it.  Without youth mobilization, without individuals and organizations dedicated to the climate change crusade, it would seem easy to keep on living the way we have for generations.  However, we do have people—Al Gore, Leonardo DiCaprio, those from the Sierra Club and the Nature Conservancy to name a few—willing to do whatever it takes to fight this battle.

From there, it is all about awareness; in order for action to be taken, we must spread the word.  Climate change is serious.  Climate change is real.  Climate change is broad beyond our wildest dreams.  From human rights to the impact of the meat industry, it takes many voices to learn about all parts of this issue, and many voices to make a change.

While the Lima Call to Climate Action was not a particularly strong breakthrough, it will still make a difference.  The fact that 192 countries came together, united in the fight against climate change, is enough to demonstrate that it is possible to make global change and preserve and enjoy the environment for the generations to come.  

What the COP has given me

Two weeks have never done as much for me as what my time at the COP20 conference has. I have learned more in the past two weeks about scientific disciplines, international affairs, and economics than I could have ever hoped to have learned from two weeks in the classroom.  My entire idea of how the world is run has been irreversibly changed. The way I look at solving problems is different; I understand more clearly the importance of group work and the value of all perspectives. COP20 not only taught me the facts, it taught me a whole host of various ways to address issues, work in a team, and work to make a real visible difference.

Regardless of what the negotiations led to, I view the COP as a success. The fact that 192 countries came together to work with one another on resolving an issue that affects the whole world  is no small feat. The sessions I sat in on and the speeches I heard served to paint a picture of a world committed to change and solutions. No longer is the world as encumbered by the burden of dwelling on the differences between people. The world is ready to work, to get things done, and to forge a more promising future.

Final thoughts - the COP process and youth

Attending the United Nations Conference on Climate Change is an amazing experience that few people get the chance to do. Many people have asked me if I had fun. No, I did not have fun. The conference is not meant to be fun. Climate change is a real issue and should be taken very seriously. That is what the conference is about, taking climate change seriously and trying to find a solution.

However, these conferences don't often end with a clear solution. There are often too many cooks in the kitchen to come to a decision. Developing countries battle with developed countries so that the differences between them can be acknowledged and so they aren't held to a higher standard than they can achieve while still trying to develop their economy. Developed countries battle with major corporations to try and get them to comply with carbon emission limits. There is always a battle.

Through all these battles and stand-stills and cease-fires comes one good thing. It paves the way for youth. Youth have a unique voice in this issue because they are the ones that will be dealing with climate change in 50 years, not the people who are making policy now. Unfortunately the majority of youth today have no idea what climate change is and are completely unaware of how it will impact their future lives.

My main takeaway from the conference is the importance of educating youth. At our partner school,  Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a sixth grader helped the school install its first green technology, solar water heaters for their pool. A sixth grader. Education has no limits, As Patricia from "In the Time of the Butterflies" said, if you expect a kid to be more mature than they may or may not be, they will strive to be that way. Education of youth about their environment and how it's changing should be as fundamental as reading and writing because it directly impacts their future, and they have the power to change it.

A Brush With Fame

We are happy to share the unique experience of Naomi Quispe, a delegate from our partner school, Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  

Life occasionally gives you opportunities that are unique, some of which are quite unexpected, therefore it is hard to be prepared for them. One such opportunity came on Saturday, when my classmate Yosuke and myself were wandering around the venue searching for talks to attend to after lunch. We were looking for an event in Zone C when a friend of mine (a volunteer at COP20) told us that there was going to be a talk in room C7 with the Peruvian Minister for the Environment Mr. Pulgar-Vidal and perhaps Ms. Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, because he knew I had missed the talk with her the day before.

Naomi and the Peruvian Minister of the Environment

We went into the room and Yosuke convinced me to sit all the way in the front row! I was really nervous; I could not believe that we would be basically face-to-face with the Minister. Also, we did not really know what the talk would be about, so we just waited until Mr. Pulgar-Vidal arrived.

When the talk began, we realized that this would be a direct Q & A with the observers of the conference in order to discuss the events and how they were run in the first week, or just general questions about certain points considered in terms of environmental sustainability. We were taken very much by surprise, and while we rushed to think of relevant questions for the Minister, as this was a very rare opportunity, we thought of asking our peers and teachers through Whatsapp, the messaging system we are using to stay connected at the COP. We received an almost immediate answer from Yoca Arditi-Rocha, sustainability consultant for No Planeta B, who told us to ask about the implementation of net metering in Peru, the system that allows people to produce their own energy in their houses and if able to produce surplus, then it can be released back to the energy grid and receive remuneration. This system is in place in various countries such as the US, but has not been pursued here, and Yoca’s question was as to when it would be available in Peru. 

Yosuke and I finally decided that he would ask the question (I was way too nervous) and he did so in the calmest way possible! When he first said, “net metering”, the Minister did not know what Yosuke was referring to, so he explained what it meant. In the end, the Minister was not able to answer the question.

It was very interesting that Mr. Pulgar-Vidal could not give us an answer, and as Yoca and our teacher Ms. Rumble both said, it was a wake-up call for the Ministry of Environment that there are people that do know about these systems and that they should be implemented here in our country.

Overall, I believe it was a very positive experience (we took pictures with him afterwards!) and we were able to catch the Minister off guard. This opportunity was very valuable for both Yosuke and myself, and we feel quite fortunate to have been able to experience it.  

-Naomi Quispe, Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt

“It always seems impossible until it’s done”

-Nelson Mandela

Climate change, much like any global issue, is not easily solved.  From the protection of small island states to the broad task of financing solutions, tackling it on an international level requires a great level of ambition.  Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States and powerful climate activist at the forefront of the environmental crusade, is surely not lacking in this determination.  His efforts to spread public awareness have not gone unnoticed, and regardless of an individual’s political views, are to be greatly commended.  We, as the COP20 delegation from SES, had the opportunity to absorb his enthusiasm first-hand; Gore’s presentations this week have provided great motivation, as the next generation of leaders, to follow in hot pursuit of a better world.

               

On Wednesday, Gore gave a presentation resembling an updated version of “An Inconvenient Truth”, synthesizing the most recent climate data into an engaging presentation focused on mobilizing people of all walks of life to do something about climate change.  After reviewing the data for human causation, Gore focused primarily on climate data for developing countries such as Peru.  Presenting the extreme weather events that have occurred across the world in relation to climate change, he stressed the importance of taking action and making our voices heard.

Al Gore introducing his ideology at the first presentation.

Gore’s Thursday presentation took on a different form; this time, members of non-governmental organizations were able to ask their own questions.  From methods of environmental education to views on human rights, Gore’s knowledge and involvement was nothing short of incredible. 

Despite the mounting evidence of climate change, Gore’s genuine optimism shone through in his opening statements.  Beginning with renewable energy, he created an analogy to the cell phone industry.  While first seen as little competition, quality and demand began to grow rapidly.  In a similar way, we are now at the tipping point of renewable energy; we are at the point where we are beginning to replace the old system.  Our ability to mobilize youth, band together, and speak out in the fight against fossil fuels is why Gore was adamant that “we are going to win this…we are going to prevail…the only question is how much human suffering will go into this…but there is no question that we will win.” 

Al Gore answers questions at a special briefing for NGO representatives.

As the discussion continued, Gore discussed the great opportunity that we have at hand; the fight against climate change will require collaboration, sacrifice, and hard work.  Even beyond the realm of climate change, these elements will create a more peaceful global community.  Linked with what Gandhi called "satyagraha" or the “truth force”, we, as the youth, have the opportunity to make a fresh assessment of the reality in which we are living.  Maintaining a commitment to integrity, we can more clearly define our views, consider why on earth we can’t do something, and gather others.  This system of collaboration, supported by Gore, is a great opportunity to be gained from the horrible issue of climate change.  As we move forward, the promise of continued success provides hope that we can truly change the world.

A morning at the leader factory.

Luscious gardens, palm trees, expansive green courtyards, inviting facilities and extraordinary students. This is what one is confronted with upon entering Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt. FDR is our sister school in Lima, and is the only other high school beside SES on earth accredited to attend COP conferences.

We had the privilege to visit FDR yesterday morning. The event FDR had planned were two presentations by keynote speakers Maria Van der Hoeven, Executive Director of the IEA or International Energy Agency, and Joseph Robertson the Global Strategy Director from the Citizen’s Climate Lobby. Before the speeches began we were given a tour of the campus by an FDR freshman named Valeria. She showed us some of the sustainable systems FDR had implemented around the campus. First she brought us to a rooftop where we saw solar powered water heaters that were used to heat the FDR swimming pool. They also have a windmill on top of their library which is used to power all of the computers the library uses. A lot more is on the way because FDR recently won 50,000 dollars from the Zayed Future Energy Prize in the United Arab Emirates to finance additional sustainable development projects. They are truly leaps and bounds ahead of most schools in incorporating renewable energy. 

The speakers that we saw later in the morning were excellent. First Ms. Van der Hoeven from the IEA gave an incredibly engaging presentation on the world’s GHG emissions and what has been done over the years to understand the issue and attempt to solve it. She did an amazing job of inspiring the crowd, which was mostly high school students, into taking action in the future to make a difference in the fight against climate change. The second speaker was Joseph Robertson from Citizen Climate Lobby which is an organization that gives the general public a voice when it comes to climate change issues and policy decisions. He also gave a remarkably interesting presentation that detailed what had been done to establish the CCL and what they were doing to give common citizens a voice. Both the presentations were COP worthy, and were put on for FDR students and us is a cool, comfortable auditorium, which was welcome break from the steamy temporary structures at the COP.

Over all it was a superb morning. The student questions addressed to the speakers were extremely intelligent and interesting and the campus was beautiful. What’s more, some of the student projects taking place at FDR are very complex and impactful especially for being run by such young people. This gives me hope for the generations to come and what they will do in the future. Our visit to FDR that morning made me realize that there are some seriously committed and able young learners out there that are completely capable of changing the world.

One of FDR's beautiful open areas.

SES COP team with representatives from the UAE (right) our wonderful host Allana Rumble (center) and Valeria and FDR student (Center).

FDR's solar powered water heating system.

FDR's library windmill.

Sub-National Climate Change Sucesses

So what are we doing to help stop climate change? I'm sure that question has probably run through your mind a couple times over the course of this blog. I recently attended a session where that question was (at least in part) answered. Present at this side event session were heads of Environmental Departments from California, Oregon, Montana, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.

All of these positions are part of state or regional governments. On the national scale, for the United States especially, the federal government is dealing with many different viewpoints and interests. Representatives from states like Kentucky, who's economy is largely based on coal mining, don't want other states switching to renewable energy or natural gas. Other states are concerned about impacts on their economies.  For example in California, with an economy based largely on agriculture, the impacts of climate change have produced a decade-long drought.

These opposing viewpoints make the federal government come to nearly a standstill on climate change decisions. This, however, gives state governments the opportunity to take environmental protection and mitigation of climate change into their own hands. Many states have taken this opportunity.

California is working with Oregon and other states along the west coast to create an electric-car friendly highway, so people can own electric cars and get where they want to go without having to search long and hard to find a charging station. This comes along with California's vow to have a million electric cars on the road by 2025. Montana exports 50% of the energy it produces, and passed a law in 2007 that any coal plants that are opened in the state must capture 50% of carbon released. It is probably because of this law that no new coal plants have been opened in the great state of Montana in recent years. Regional leaders from Canada are working with states from the US to create a common price point of carbon credits, so that credits can be purchased internationally at a competitive rate.

Regional leaders are stepping up and they are trying to create more awareness for their people as well. David Rosenheim, Executive Director of The Climate Registry, stated it very nicely: "We don't speak about the health impacts enough. We don't talk about the fact that people will no longer be able to support their families doing what they do now, because the climate around them will change and job opportunities with it." What many people don't understand is how climate change will impact them, and so they continue to fail to take action,. If we can raise awareness on how climate change will impact peoples' lives, then more people will stand to take action. The reason they take action will vary from person to person, but the overarching reality is that they will take action.

The "False Dilemma"

“Men argue. Nature acts.”

-Voltaire

Society, in many ways, is run by economics.  The simplest things—trips to the grocery store, going on vacation, and even our future plans are often decided based on the cost involved.  Now consider, in comparison, a world where great effort was put into funding a global initiative to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in favor of alternative energy sources.  These new sources would, of course, require a great deal of innovation, and in turn, money.  In many ways, all of this seems crazy, even impossible; it may appear in the real world that we have to choose between promoting economic growth and fighting climate change.  As it turns out, according to a high-powered panel discussion that I attended today, this way of thinking couldn’t be more wrong. 

Felipe Calderón, former president of Mexico and Chairman of the Global Commission on Economy and Climate, presented this morning on what he calls the “False Dilemma,” the common belief that we have to choose between opportunities for economic growth and opportunities to combat climate change.  Calderón stresses the importance of a balanced mindset; with the help of innovation, it is certainly possible to improve in both ways and at the same time.

Calderón believes in the value of immediate action.  It often appears that making great changes now will destroy the economy and place society in ruin, yet, he stated, we also cannot afford to create another civilization after forcing the current one into utter destruction.  Essentially, financing climate solutions is much more than choosing between making a sacrifice or not; it is our job to consider the sacrifices we will have to make in the long-term if we don’t do our best to tackle climate change and its ramifications.

On the path towards impactful and universal climate change legislation, we need a plan.  Whether regional, national, international, or a combination of some sort, Dimitri Zenghelis, Co-head of Grantham Research Institute, reminded us of the significance of any step in the right direction.  What drives innovation, he asked?  History—the stock of knowledge.  As we continue to build that stock and make wise decisions for the future of the world, we build a base of motivation for future legislation.  As stated by Isaac Newton, “if [we] have seen a little further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”  Every stage of change is development on the path to the greater good.

As one would expect, financing climate change solutions will require monetary sacrifice and a high level of collaboration.  However, making changes now for the well-being of the environment has great potential to spur economic growth and provide a base from which we can grow.  The balance between combating climate change and allowing economies to prosper is more attainable than we tend to think; really, changing the world is priceless.

A COP 20 break

Lima is a cool city. There are lights everywhere, wonderful food, and a lively night life. But Lima is more than that. Lima, along with many cities in South America, was built on top of thousands of years of history. Most people know the Incas, but what about the societies that preceded them? There were at least four societies that existed before the Inca, and many more societies existed along side the Incas until they were assimilated by the Inca culture. On both Saturday and Sunday we took advantage of the amazing history of Peru and traveled to see artifacts of these lost cultures and how they lived.

A gourd made by a pre-Inca society depicting two Alpacas fighting

A pottery depiction of how Inca Royalty traveled

The Incas developed a numbers system in which each string was a different color, representing different things, and each knot on the string represented an amount of that subject (i.e. people, farm produce, etc.)

The Inca Temple of the Sun, where sacrifices were  made to insure that the sun stayed shining over the land

We also shopped at a food market where we bought things we couldn't name, and attended a showcase of the Peruvian Paso horse and its incredible gait.

Just one stall of many at the Food Market

A family Hacienda, the Peruvian Paso is their pride and joy

The Peruvian Paso's famed gait, said to be so smooth you could have your morning coffee on horseback

And at the end of the day today, we went to the Inca Market to buy souvenirs for those back home.

The Inca Market: an overhead view

What COP 20 is really all about

The majority of our time as student observers at the COP20 conference is spent in side events and delegation pavilions watching small scale sessions. These sessions cover various topics such as carbon capture and storage, REDD and private business’ stake in climate change issues. However all these specific topics are not the primary focus of the COP. The core goal the COP seeks to accomplish every year is an impactful one which carries with it implications on a global scale.

The primary focus of the COP is negotiations between UNFCCC countries toward reducing worldwide GHG emissions. Hence the name COP or Conference Of the Parties. Meetings take place between member countries over the course of the conference, during which each party voices their concerns about climate change, their proposed efforts to combat it, and the interests they want to protect when a decision is made.

The history of the COP has produced a few important agreements, the foremost of which being the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted after three years of negotiations in Kyoto, Japan at COP3 in 1997. The protocol was an emissions reduction strategy eventually adopted by 192 countries that carried with it larger reduction targets for developed nations and more lenient targets for developing countries. The emission reduction strategies and targets varied from country to country, however the overall goal was to mitigate climate change by lowering GHG output on a global scale.

The Kyoto protocol has since expired, and wasn’t implemented and followed very closely throughout its 20 year timeline. Since its expiration, efforts have been under way to put in place a legally binding emissions reduction treaty that is applicable and acceptable to all UNFCCC parties. The new agreement is intended to be finalized and signed by Parties in Paris in 2015 at COP21. This year the focus in Lima is to clear the way for an agreement in Paris by having countries declare their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC). INDCs are what each country plans to do at home to work towards solutions to a variety of climate change related issues. These contributions differ from one country to another because each country has unique circumstances. It is hoped that all Parties will present their INDC by early 2015 so that an agreement can be reached at COP21.

The negotiations taking place between Parties at COP20 regarding INDCs will ultimately determine the success of this year’s conference. We have spent most of our time in side events researching climate change and its solutions. These efforts are modest in comparison to the decisions the negotiations at COP seek to turn out. In the second week of the conference the primary negotiations begin to pick up speed so we, and everyone else involved for that matter, are eagerly awaiting to see what this year’s negotiations will produce, and to see if the stage will be set for a monumental decision to be made in Paris in 2015.

An Indescribable Experience: The Visual Aspect of our Adventures

There are truly no words to describe the experience that we have had during our first week in Peru.  From our immersion in unfathomably rich cultural diversity to the immense motivation that has resulted from this grand call to climate action, here are some pictures worth thousands upon thousands of words. 

The incredibly breathtaking ocean views from the Miraflores area of Lima, Peru. 

The iconic towering palm trees of Lima, a clear signal of the climate separation between the northern Midwest and the sub-equatorial region in which we currently are.

The rocks on the Miraflores beach--as truly unique and diverse as the people and ideas we have encountered at COP20.

The "Plenary" room, the main meeting room at the COP where most of the international decisions/agreements are made.

The warm days and cool evenings are a welcome break from the unrelenting extremes of the north.

 Our wonderful host and FDR teacher, Ms. Rumble presenting gifts to the Secretary General of the UNFCCC.

 Sarah Dupont, producer of the award-winning film "Amazon Gold" presenting a petition with over 7,000 student signatures pledging to do their part to combat climate change.

Yoca Arditi-Rocha, Executive Director of No Planeta B, presenting gifts to the Secretary General.

Frequent evenings at the conference center provide opportunities for the attendance of evening side events.

"No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts off from its youth severs its lifeline."

-- Kofi Annan

Spirits are high as “Young and Future Generations Day” continues at COP20.  Rallies, calls-to-action, and presentations on youth empowerment organizations are widespread as we pause to remember the importance of inspiring the next generation of world leaders and activists.

The Youth Climate Action Project, a simple grassroots mobilization project composed of many small Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations, is at the forefront of youth mobilization.  The creation of projects and events dedicated to inspiring and empowering youth is the focus of the organization, including everything from theater opportunities for political advocacy to student versions of the Conference of the Parties.

Despite the varying viewpoints regarding methods of mobilization for youth leaders, one theme reigns. There is no individual who can combat climate change on their own and the process of creating a completely sustainable way of life is not attainable within the short term.  Youth are not just the leaders of the future.  Youth are leaders now.  Creating a space that allows their voices to be heard is the pathway to empowered citizen engagement and hope for a bright future.

Change is a matter of attitude; the more we know, the more we care, and the more we care, the more effort we put in to making changes.  While not every student can experience a Conference of the Parties first-hand, there is a plethora of simple grass roots methods of mobilization that provide smaller student conferences, rallies, and discussions aimed at learning, growth, and motivation.

I spoke with a woman yesterday who is involved in an organization that provides theatrical opportunities to students, providing an outlet for their voices to be heard in relation to their views on climate change and human rights.  No matter where an individual is located, no matter how small their voices may be, opportunities are available 

There is a dire need for youth mobilization; the generations before us have left both a great burden and an extraordinary opportunity.  While the movement towards a sustainable future will continue to be a very difficult task, the need for collaboration is forcing us to collaborate for a more connected global society.

Meeting Christiana Figueres

Along with our partner delegation from Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Lima, SES COP 20 delegates had the exciting opportunity to meet and visit with the woman presiding over COP 20 and all the work of the UNFCCC, Ms. Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

SES COP 20 delegate Amy Bendtsen meets Ms. Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

FDR student representatives present petition signatures to the  UNFCCC Secretariat.  

FDR and SES representatives and filmmaker Sarah Dupont meet with Christiana Figueres. 

UN Mitigation Programs and Human Rights

In COP20 side events the atmosphere is most often the same. The meeting rooms consist of plain black walls, a white panel at the front of a hundred plain black chairs and a projector screen to display power points. The content of the sessions however, is never as dull as the room in which the sessions are held. A recent session that Amy and I attended taught me more in an hour and a half than I could glean from a week’s worth of research on the same topic. The presentation panel consisted of six experts discussing UN environmental policies, finance and human rights. The panel members were professionals of all kinds, including lawyers, university professors, researchers and even a executive board member from the UN CDM or clean development mechanism. The CDM is responsible for developing, implementing, supporting and financing sustainable development projects and emission reduction projects across the globe in an effort to lower world-wide GHG emissions.

The session dialogue concerned human rights abuses committed during UN CDM endorsed projects. An example of these abuses was given by a university professor from Guatemala who detailed the various human rights violations committed by construction workers, private security personnel and police hired to construct and protect a dam in the north of Guatemala. The project was registered under the UN CDM in an effort to prevent the dependence on hydrocarbons in a developing part of Guatemala. The abuses included the unlawful detainment of those who protested the dam, the militarization of the area in which the dam was being constructed, and the death of five people two of them children.

After this claim was presented other panel members took turns explaining the shortcomings of the vetting procedures and safeguards that allowed things like this to happen. The CDM has registered 7,000 projects world-wide, the majority of them in developing countries. The governments and/or private companies that are responsible for carrying out these projects are often negligent in dealing with these human rights violations, or are directly responsible for them. The UN has a series of safe guards in place that it uses to vet government agencies and private companies that are responsible for these projects. However depending on what agency or body of the UN these entities are getting funding from or which body of the UN the project was first submitted to for consideration, the safeguards the parties responsible for the projects are subject to vary greatly.  This makes for grey areas and loop holes in the way these projects are run and delays the UN’s ability to step in and take action when human rights violations are reported.

It was the general consensus of the panel members that there is a need for a more coherent and universal set of safeguards and regulations for projects that are endorsed and funded by the CDM, Green Climate Fund or any other UN body.  Enacting this recommendation would not be a simple process. Imposing a brand new set of universally applied rules and safeguards would step on a lot of toes in route to adoption. However, because the problem is human rights abuse reported under the UN’s watch, action may move faster than it otherwise would on different issues.  

Indeed progress and reform are on the way. One panelist, a lawyer with the IBA or International Bar Association, had just written a report on the topic that included a number of solutions he believed would come across as fair to all stakeholders involved. The report contained a series of policies that would help expedite the UN’s response to abuse reports. More hope was offered from another panel member who held a senior position on the board of the CDM. The CDM has already taken steps to remove red tape that slowed or even prevented the UN from taking action to put a hold on or discontinue  projects that had committed human rights abuses. The UN was founded on the idea that protecting human rights is a fundamental global concern. For this reason their efforts to resolve this issue are not surprising and have begun to take shape.  

           

Innovative REDD+ Programs

Presenters describe a REDD+ case study implemented in the region of Madre De Dios in Peru

Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest has been steadily increasing over the past decade as urban developments push farmers and ranchers farther outwards. The demand for beef has also increased in South America, thus resulting in an increased need for grazing area. The increase in population and new infrastructure also has put a greater demand on farm produce and timber. In Brazil, the Amazon regions' population grew 23% from 2000 to 2010. These factors have pushed people right up against the edge of the Amazon forest, and beyond.

The loss of this incredibly diverse space is a tragedy of its own, but the removal of the forest cover also puts carbon into the atmosphere. It significantly limits our means to capture carbon out of the atmosphere, as then there are fewer plants to absorb it through photosynthesis. These combined tragedies have driven some non-governmental (NGOs) organizations to try and stop the destruction as a means to combat climate change.

REDD+ is one such organization. REDD is a UN program that stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. REDD+ partners with many smaller organizations, including the Rainforest Alliance and the Nature Conservancy whom I heard speak at a COP side event. These two smaller organizations described case studies they had done of areas in Peru, Ecuador, and Mexico. The organizations came up with a plan on how to encourage local people to halt deforestation in their region.

These organizations developed an educational system that was a fun and integral part of rural life. One way they did this was by showing environmental videos to people who don’t have ready access to cinemas, making it a fun community event. They even took it a step further and taught the young people of the regions how to make documentary videos and still-shot films about environmental-related issues. Radio broadcasting was also used, as that is a quick and easy way to spread information. Another way is through education on more sustainable harvesting practices, increasing yield of produce while also protecting organisms such as Brazil nut trees from damage and promoting increased yearly yields.

These techniques resulted in thousands of people becoming more educated about environmental issues and what they can do to help slow environmental degradation. This education also helped the people to understand the value of the forest around them and how they can live in harmony with it rather than see it as something to be conquered. The success of the methods described in these case studies has given REDD+ hope that they can significantly slow deforestation, and they are now working on further implementing these strategies at the national level in multiple countries.

“The laws of life are written into every atom, molecule and heartbeat. We are immersed in the sweet law of unfolding mystery called life.” 

-Bryan McGil, Simple Reminders: Inspiration for Living Your Best Life

Our COP20 team has certainly “hit the ground running” here in Lima.  Through the transition from our typical school days at the School of Environmental Studies in the suburbs of the Twin Cities to attending the first day of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, our little COP20 team has found ourselves immersed in cultural diversity, climate change analysis, and the ocean breezes of Peru.  The immersion, unlike anything we have ever experienced, is possibly the best global life lesson that we could ask for.

Henry, immersed in the sea breezes of Peru.

An opportunity arose today, on the first day of the Conference of the Parties, to participate in a panel and small group discussion involving engagement of the public in climate change policy, primarily focusing on the empowerment of youth.  Finding ourselves, as high school students, in the spotlight of this issue, we were able to provide personal experiences regarding productive measures for inspiring youth to tackle the issues surrounding climate change and its effects. 

The number of voices and opinions was outstanding; the delegates that attend these conferences truly want to be here and share their opinions.  The discussion, despite its far-reaching nature, often transitioned to the controversy over the effective governance of climate change issues.  Individuals from ENGO, Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations, often promoted the “bottom-up” approach, focusing on small activist organizations to empower youth and involve them in rallies and government events that help them to find their voice and hopefully, find the inspiration to take action.  Other individuals, primarily from larger organizations focusing on finance, promoted the “top-down” approach, with the goal of taking action on a larger governmental scale to bind constituents to carbon reduction mechanisms.  The bottom line, as in many areas relating to global issues, is that a global balance and international cooperation is the key to widespread change.

When planning my list of events this morning, the engagement of the public in climate policy session was not necessarily the event that I would have expected to be especially empowering or eye-opening.  However, being thrown into a group of people separated by international borders, occupations, and opinions, the ability of our group to maintain a respectful, lively, and motivational conversation was a great way to kick off the conference.

Without the opportunity to learn from others, collaborate, and unite towards a common goal, the idea of climate change often seems to have a lingering detachment.  Throwing ourseleves into opportunities for direct participation helps to bridge the gap between borders, between languages, and between focuses, and continues to provide inspiration and hope for a more sustainable future.

First impressions of Peru, Lima and the COP 20 venue.

Our plane touched down jarringly at about 1:30 AM this morning. None of us had a real idea of what things might look like beyond the confines of the aluminum tube that had brought us across seas, deserts, mountain ranges and at last, to the humid Lima airport, four thousand miles from home. We negotiated customs with relative ease and learned that the beagle, in all its ferocity, is Peru’s canine of choice at the airport for keeping unwanted produce and food items from entering the country. We were finally ushered into a cab and the cab driver, with the assistance of Mr. Johnson, bested the trunk and our bags in a life size game of Tetris, slammed the truck triumphantly, and we were off.

Quickly we were plunged into a vivid, humid subequatorial city. I rolled the window down to better appreciate what Lima had to offer from an olfactory and auditory standpoint as well as a visual one. Nostrils were flooded at first by the industrial soup of diesel and gasoline exhaust that, due to the thick wet air, were made all the more pungent. The hydrocarbon stew eventually gave way to fresh sea air. The sound of the surf and the smell of ocean air was extremely reviving after 8 hours in a tube. The further we drove the more agreeable the sights and sounds became. We found ourselves coming out of a web of houses to face an enormous wall of blackness that the driver informed us was the Pacific ocean. The cabby brought the car up to higher speeds as the road grew long, straight and free of speed bumps, the smells grew less intense, and the world outside the car began to fly by. We arrived at the hotel at approximately 2:10 AM and after fighting through a slight language barrier to get checked in, we were in bed sleeping like rocks.

The morning began with a simple hotel breakfast and a quick preparation for our trip to the conference center. The bus ride was a breeze and the sights of an average day in Lima began to bombard us as we rode the bus through the city. Lima is a much less mysterious and much more colorful place during the day. After passing through a few check points chalked full of  Peruvian policemen we were in and out of the conference center, fancy new credentials in hand, within ten minutes.

 After the bus ride back to the area we were staying in, we followed the advice of a local and dined at an very refined yet inexpensive restaurant named Panchita. After eating as if we were hedge fund managers for the price of your average toaster we traversed the fourteen blocks to the hotel on foot. On our way back we happened across an art show set up on the sidewalk. Beautiful paintings of the sea, of farmers in  their fields and everything in between occupied an entire block. This however was by no means the most interesting aspect of our walk. We came upon a park called John F. Kennedy Park. While the park is named after the American president, it had less to do with JFK than it had to do with cats. Everywhere in this park cats abounded, sleeping in piles amongst the flower beds, sprawled out in rag doll like fashion in the middle the grass. Dozens of cats all called this park home.

A few hours later, after we returned to the hotel and rested a while, we went out again to explore the area. We went to the local mall which is built into the side of a cliff overlooking the bay. After a short walk through the mall we went on a hunt for iconic things to photograph and a smoothie stand. Both were discovered with ease and our mission was complete. Now after a long day spent getting our bearings and adjusting to South America and all its vivid characteristics we are eagerly anticipating jumping into the melting pot of COP 20 tomorrow morning Wish us luck and good night all.

Significant problem, Extraordinary opportunity

“The significant problems that we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.”

-Albert Einstein

Here I sit, in a classroom plastered with posters of the Great Lake Wetlands, immersed in my normal world of essays on environmental management, running in the regional park system after school, and Caribou Coffee visits with friends. Nine days from now, I will be boarding a plane for Lima, Peru, a country, continent, and hemisphere that has never felt my footprints or been the subject of a picture on my iPhone. In this completely foreign land, we will be immersed in one of the most pressing conferences the world has ever seen.

It must have been a year ago that I first heard of this opportunity, visiting a foreign country to immerse oneself in the culture, stay with a host family, and attend one of the most influential conferences in the world. Being a lifelong climate change believer and activist, it seemed like a natural fit. Yet no matter how many documentaries I watched or how many articles I read, it still didn't seem real—that a high school of three hundred fifty students in the Twin Cities suburb of Apple Valley, Minnesota could be one of two high schools on Earth to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Flash forward to three months ago, I sat around a table with other prospective delegates eating ice cream from the local gelato shop. Looking around the table, I thought, each one of us is privileged to go to not only a life-changing and eye-opening school, but also one that is safe, runs effectively, and provides a peaceful atmosphere in which to learn. In other words, no matter how many times we study biodiversity, pond ecosystems, and the work of Thoreau, no matter how much our perspective of the world has been altered by the School of Environmental Studies, there is a certain lingering detachment from many of the issues that we study. We don’t deal with the melting polar ice caps in our everyday life, we don’t watch the habitat degradation of the polar bears first-hand, and we certainly don’t reside in the Rainforest, thus it is difficult to fathom the complex issues that surround our earthly systems every single minute of every single day. So why am I going to COP20? Why on earth would I want to attend an event that removes this detachment and puts all of the issues surrounding the most pressing issue on earth out on the table and eliminates all doubt that we are in grave danger.

This is where one would expect me to say “To learn more about climate change” (insert scripted tone here). However, between the research that I have done and the realization that this conference is not really meant for “learning” in the traditional sense, I would say that traditional education is not my objective in Lima. Rather, my objective in Lima is to voice the importance of my values and listen to those who are crying out for help with their own. As an 18-year-old residing in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota, my values and perspectives are very different than those of the rest of the world. 

For one, I value the park systems. Regional, state, and national, they are all meant to remain in their natural state forever. But how can they if we are doing everything we can to destroy their natural systems and change the climate of their habitat?  Can we even claim to be taking care of them?  What would happen if our beloved Boundary Waters becomes so warm, is destroyed so much by sulfide mining and CO2 emissions that we drive such a vital and valued part of our state into utter destruction?  

This is the reason to go to COP20. The values we have, the values that are experiencing such loss, all need a voice—a vote—in order to encourage widespread global change. Climate Change is a scream for international collaboration; a voice from one is a voice from many. Speaking out about “my” BWCAW and "my" Lake Superior and “my” park systems and “my” open wild spaces gets people talking and inspires thought and collaboration and solution proposals. The more voices we hear at the conference, the more change will be inspired. The more changes that are inspired, the more we learn about how we, 18-year-olds from Minnesota, can speak out and cause change ourselves. There is no way any one person, community, or country can completely stop climate change, but someone, everyone needs to throw themselves out there and give it all they have. Why not us?  After all, if we don’t, who on Earth will?

An introduction and some initial COP 20 thoughts

My name is Henry Cannon, I am 18 years old and live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and kayaking. I worked in a bike shop as a bike mechanic over the past summer. Before I worked with bikes I worked in a solar panel factory every summer and sometimes during the school year, assembling solar panels for the company TenKsolar.  

The reasons I am going to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) are numerous, though the primary reason is to refine my understanding of climate change issues and what is being done on the global level to combat their causes and effects. The topic of climate change has seemingly always been present in my life. Having worked in solar I greatly appreciate the energy potential of alternative energy sources, and the jobs they create. Another reason I decided to attend the COP conference is that Minnesota is in the top five of states predicted to be most significantly impacted by climate change. Minnesota is at the crossroads of three natural biomes and in recent years has seen these biomes recede and change shape due to temperature and weather conditions never before seen in the state. I have watched first hand as weather conditions in my state have become more random and unpredictable. Temperatures across the state have risen by one degree Fahrenheit in the south to two degrees Fahrenheit in the north in the past thirty years. When you see the results of a global problem in your own backyard you're driven to fight the problem through whatever means available. I am counting on the COP conference to give me the knowledge and tools required to begin to implement positive change in my home state and the world as a whole. For far too long we have been neglecting our duty to preserve and protect the only spaceship we have, planet Earth.