The Inside Scoop from Mr. Saint-Jacques

Posted on 03. Dec, 2010 by joannadafoe in Canada

Canada’s lead negotiator took time out of his extremely busy schedule today to talk about negotiations and the week ahead. As we are now into day four of the meetings, I wanted to get a Canadian point-of-view on meetings. Here is a sense of what we talked about today.

Joanna: Can you explain the negotiating schedule and structure the following days?

Delegates have until Tuesday, at the latest, to wrap up work under the Kyoto Protocol and Long-Term Cooperative Action track as well as contact groups (issue-specific negotiations).

Joanna: The Canadian Delegation list came out yesterday with 60 members on the team. Can you tell us a bit about who is on the delegation this year?

The delegation is divided into roughly three groups. Some of the delegation will not arrive until next week and some are only here for week one. One group of the delegation is the Minister and his entourage; the second is the core delegation which includes federal officials, Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Agriculture Canada, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; and third is members from provinces and territories.

There is no formal constituency representation this year, like last year as well. Consulted with interest groups before leaving for Cancun including Aboriginal and environmental groups, which allows for different perspectives to be included in delegation.

Joanna: A less orthodox question, but I want to know what inspires you in this process?

The end goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to receive a balanced package agreement is source of inspiration. As an important problem, moving closer to solving climate change is motivational.

Joanna: In the Kyoto Protocol plenary yesterday, Japan announced that it “will not inscribe its target under the Kyoto Protocol on any conditions or under any circumstance.” I was wondering what Canada’s position is on Japan’s announcement, does it align or disprove of this announcement?

The Japan announcement came as a surprise in plenary because delegations were not informed of this statement beforehand. However, Japan’s announcement could have been anticipated because they have been making this sentiment clear for a long time. While the announcement came as a disappointment for some, it is also useful to receive this news at the start of a negotiation than the end. The important task now is to find out how to anchor pledges into the Copenhagen Accord, which notably is made up of countries that account for over 85% of world’s emissions. Japan is also a substantial contributor to fast track financing so this announcement brings clarity to their position.

Joanna: Anything for readers back home?

Expressed the hope of all delegation members to see good results in Cancun. Everyone on the delegation is really keen and trying to propose text and make compromise.

Joanna: Today is youth and future generation’s day at the UNFCCC. The purpose of this day is to remind negotiators that they are meeting to secure the fate of future generations. This t-shirt is on behalf of young people as a reminder of our collective purpose here in Cancun to safeguard our future.

Happy to receive shirt and represent the interests of youth, and as a father of children.

Tags: climate, COP16, featured, Japan, Saint Jacques, youth