Youth Opinions on the COP 15 Climate Summit

Ambika Chawla*

*Email: ambika_tierra@yahoo.com

In the eyes of many young people, the outcome of the COP 15 UN climate summit falls short of what they hoped would be achieved in Copenhagen-- ambitious, legally binding targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions and consensus on how to move forward with a climate treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which phases out in 2012. 

The main result of the COP 15 climate summit is the Copenhagen Accord, a political framework drafted by Brazil, China, India, South Africa and the United States, which sets a goal of limiting global warming to 2 degree C. The Copenhagen Accord fails to outline specific, legally binding actions to prevent dangerous climate change. Rather, it is based on the approach that governments make voluntary commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in line with their domestic laws and regulations. Initially, countries were expected to pledge their emissions targets by the end of January 2010, with developed countries implementing their targets by the beginning of 2020. However, the UN recently dropped the January 31 deadline, as only 20 of the 192 countries have submitted proposals to reduce emissions. 

COP 15 did make some headway in regard to climate adaptation policy and financing, recognizing the need to scale up financial support to help countries in the developing world cope with harmful climate impacts. “We recognize the critical impacts of climate change and the potential impacts of response measures on countries particularly vulnerable to its adverse effects….and stress the need to establish a comprehensive adaptation programme including international development support,” stated the Copenhagen Accord. It outlined that rich countries will contribute to adaptation programs the amount of $30 billion for the 2010 - 2012 period, and $100 billion a year by 2020. Governments decided that the majority of these funds would be channeled through a ‘Copenhagen Green Climate Fund,’ which will support mitigation, adaptation and technology transfer projects in the developing world. 

Yet, the important details have yet to be hammered out. There is still no agreement as to how to manage the Fund. U.S. negotiators are asking that the World Bank act as the main overseer of the Fund, while developing countries are hopeful for a new, democratically elected body, which would be under control of the Conference of Parties. Developing countries are also pushing to have direct access to the Climate Fund, arguing that experience has shown them that there are frustrating delays when it comes to accessing large donor funds.  In terms of deforestation, Australia, France, Japan, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States collectively agreed to provide $3.5 billion to slow and halt deforestation in developing countries.  The funding will go to developing countries that develop REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) projects. Yet, similar to the Green Climate Fund, there was no agreement as to the mechanisms required to properly monitor and manage the fund for REDD. And, in the view of many representatives of environmental and indigenous groups, the combination of scaled up funds and limited controls could in fact increase the risks and pressures on forests and forest people in developing countries.  

Young people will be affected by the outcome of the COP 15 Climate Summit. The failure on the part of governments to agree on an ambitious, fair, and legally binding climate agreement will impact the well-being and livelihoods of the world’s youth. Fortunately, youth from all parts of the world are increasingly taking bold steps to protect the climate. In Copenhagen, there were an unprecedented number of youth activists from all parts of the globe; they organized educational and cultural side events, lobbied their respective policy-makers, web-blogged on a daily basis, held skills sharing workshops in order to learn from one another, and took part in the colorful and noisy protests in the streets outside of the Bella conference center. While many considered COP 15 a failure at the official level, it could be considered a success at the informal level, as thousands of future leaders had the opportunity to share information, ideas, and develop collaborative partnerships.

Over 1,500 youth leaders from more than 100 countries gathered in Copenhagen to attend COP 15. They represented national, grassroots youth organizations as well regional coalitions and international organizations, such as 350.org, various agencies of the United Nations, World Wildlife Fund, and Peace Child International. The Copenhagen conference was the first time that youth, united under the banner YOUNGO, were formally accredited into a COP meeting as a constituency. As a result, they were able to participate as an official stakeholder in the UNFCCC process, sharing their climate policy positions with policy-makers and negotiators. Collectively, they pushed for a goal of limiting temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees C and mechanisms to ensure that youth have a voice in decision-making processes on climate policy. Copenhagen offered young people with a unique opportunity to learn from one another, build alliances, and strengthen an international movement for intergenerational climate justice.

At the end of the conference, UN-Habitat circulated a questionnaire form to youth delegates active within YOUNGO, to learn more about their opinions on the Copenhagen conference. What do young people think about the outcome of COP 15? Are they happy or disappointed with the Copenhagen Accord? Did they feel that their concerns were adequately addressed by decision-makers? What are their hopes for the next UN climate summit, COP 16, which will take place in Mexico? Youth activists from India, Botswana, Fiji, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, China, Mexico, Barbados, and the Bahamas provided insightful, knowledgeable, and often impassioned responses. It is important that policy-makers hear their recommendations and develop ways to support their inclusion in decision-making processes on global climate change policy. Here is what an Indian youth has to say: 

  1)    Name: Prakhar Goel

Organization: Indian Youth Climate Network

Country: India

Age:19

1) What did you think about the outcome of COP 15?

I am very disappointed with the outcome of COP15. The Copenhagen Accord came as a surprise to everyone and it was sad to see the way the negotiations were handled. In international negotiations we look for transparency, and this was lacking in Copenhagen. In conclusion, I was disappointed and unhappy with the outcome.

2) Do you think the concerns of young people were adequately addressed by decision-makers attending COP-15?

I was happy to see the large role which youth played in the whole negotiation process. The youth constituency is doing a great job. I think decision-makers were affected by the actions which were done by youth. But, since the COP 15 process failed, decision-makers failed to meet the expectations of young people.

3) What do you hope for from COP 16?

I hope that in COP 16 we do not face the same problems.  I hope that the plenary sessions will not be suspended, that protestors will not be hit on the road, and that important decisions will not be made at the last moment. I hope to see the world uniting around a common agreement, an agreement with a vision towards the future, rather than focused on protecting self-interests.

4) Did you enjoy yourself in Copenhagen?

COP 15 was my first exposure to the UN climate negotiation and I enjoyed it a lot. I had a great time. I learned a lot and gained a greater understanding of the issues. The youth activities and events brought a lot of fun during my stay.