For this blog post, I’d like to give an overview of what I learned this week during Week 1 of COP 25. The major themes I noticed running through many of the side events, press conferences, and a few of the negotiations, was the role of people and communities in the negotiations. Additionally, throughout the week, I heard time and time again how people intending to attend the COP in Chile were not able to adjust plans to attend in Madrid due to resource constraints. These themes and commentaries kept reminding me of accessibility issues with the COP and UNFCCC. Who’s able to join the discussions? Who’s invited to join? Are all the people that should be involved in discussion and negotiation actually involved? All of these questions, and a few more, are also repeatedly brought up via the climate change strikes inspired and led by many youth climate leaders.
This experience has been incredible. The opportunity to participate and observe negotiations and interest groups has helped me gain an understanding and appreciation that I may not have gotten as comprehensively through readings, videos, etc., alone. At the same time, it brought to light some of the problems with UNFCCC not always at the forefront of discussion.
The UNFCCC has very established processes for negotiations. This is important in the sense that once people understand these processes they can deeply engage in the process and work to find the best (or at least a better) outcome when it comes to climate action. A problem is that the processes are complicated, so it takes time and educational resources to be able to engage meaningfully.
Another problem I noticed while at COP 25, was engagement of youth and indigenous communities. It is great that stakeholder groups not traditionally included in discussion have been brought to the table through side events and press releases during COP 25. However in my opinion, there is massive room for improvement. I think these groups need to be given a platform to formally engage in the negotiations. That being said, I think the large public climate demonstrations of over 500,000 people in Madrid (and around the world) sent a message of urgency and a message that notified party delegates at COP 25 that the world is watching and expecting ameaningful outcome from this conference that is more than just words and promises.
Through this week of wonderful experiences, I also noticed a larger than expected presence of fossil fuel companies. I think cooperation and exhausting every available solution to address this climate emergency is necessary to reduce climate risks as much as possible. But, I think allowing fossil fuel companies to have a platform that was a noticeable as it was at the UNFCCC and COP 25 is unacceptable. These groups have had the power to exert their voice, opinions, and practices in a way that has significantly harmed the earth since at least the 1970s. The fossil fuel industry has had many a chance to address the many negative climate impacts caused by their practices, and instead lead many misinformation campaigns and chose profit over people. Now it is time to choose people over profit, to engage with the groups that have been most affected by climate change, and come up with solutions that deal with climate first and money second (and I do write this opinion with a background in economics).It’s time to acknowledge we are already experiencing losses because of the climate emergency and there isn’t really a “winning” outcome for anyone, but that doesn’t mean we can minimize those losses. Yes, 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming is bad, but 2 is worse, and 3 is even more so. This is the moment for party delegations and individuals to have the courage to act when we know there isn’t a winning outcome. I will add that this is just my opinion and I do think that some parts of the UNFCCC are engaging the right audiences and stakeholders, but as I’ve learned this week, we need everyone on board not just a fervent few.
Overall I think this was a unique and very privileged opportunity to be able to observe COP 25. I am grateful to the Nicholas School for the Environment and Duke University for creating a space where I can learn and engage with professionals at the international level on climate change solutions.
