They’re Meeeeelting!
Posted on 07. Oct, 2010 by astark in U.S.A.
glacier in front of the UNFCCC conference center
This morning, Greenpeace China hosted a side event in front of the conference center, featuring a rather despondent looking polar bear atop a rapidly melting glacier. The event highlighted the fact that while the negotiators are sitting and talking inside the conference center, we are already seeing the effects of climate change. It showed that even though UNFCCC talks feel like they are perpetually stalled, there is still an urgent need for action to avert the most devastating effects of climate change.
The event also highlighted the active participation of Chinese environment NGOs here at the negotiations. Based on conversations, it seems that although the NGO movement is a relatively new phenomenon in China, environmental NGOs in particular have really risen to the fore, putting pressure on other delegations and even their own government to respect the environment and pursue a sustainable development path. Our fabulous Chinese tracker Amily recently posted a letter from a group of Chinese NGOs addressed to the US delegation, urging them to act more aggressively on climate change, here at the international talks and domestically. Here’s her post.
Hopefully I’ll have more to say about China-US tensions and points of agreement later today.
sad bear
