Liveblogging the Cancun Climate Change Talks (part I – archive)
Posted on 10. Dec, 2010 by adoptanegotiator in Liveblogging
Happening now: Click here for more recent liveblog updates
5:47pm, the Moon Palace, Cancun
Texts are out and feedback from NGOs seems not to be too bad. The tracker team is looking for perspectives now. We’ll see how parties react.
Leela is reporting that the Indian’s are confident that they’ll play the role of constructive mediators. A stocktaking session is about to start, so we’ll be listening close for signs of progress.
4:00pm, the Moon Palace, Cancun
Impromptu press conference by Brazil in the halls of the Moon Palace. Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado sounds hopeful.
3:15pm, the Moon Palace, Cancun
After a press conference by the Climate Action Network, Alden Meyer talks about the state of play with OneClimate’s Adam Groves.
3:10pm, the Moon Palace, Cancun
There’s a buzz about the Moon Palace as the latest version of the negotiating text for the Kyoto Protocol track is released. Still waiting on the Longterm Cooperative Action text. From Alex:
Mass chaos surrounded the document center at precisely 3:00pm, when the new texts were expected to be released. I was nearly smothered in the crush but unfortunately only the KP track text had been released, so we’re still waiting for the LCA track text.
Elsewhere, Laura caught some pics of Delegation meetings as they with to get the text in hand.
2:52pm, the Moon Palace, Cancun
Whispers in the halls are saying they don’t expect the talks to close until somewhere between 4 and 6am Saturday morning. Even still, none of us are clear about what the outcome might be. Andrea Cinquina wonders how long we’ll have to wait?
2:10pm, the Moon Palace, Cancun
Meanwhile, Alex keeps feeding us updates on her US Delegation tracking efforts:
The U.S. delegation had an outdoor meeting on the Moon Palace terrace around noon. We’re not sure what they were discussing, but we do know that all of the parties now have a copy of the final text that will be discussed this afternoon when the stocktaking plenary begins. NGOs, press and everyone else should be able to get our hands on it around 3:00pm.
Also in Alex’s last post:
The Guardian reports that negotiators were able to reach a broad agreement on a green climate fund. Vidal’s intel. confirms statements that we’ve been hearing from developed country negotiators who say that they are very close to a deal on the green fund.
2:01pm, the Moon Palace, Cancun
There was a bit of ruckus in the halls of Moon Palace as an unauthorized action threatened to block access to the plenary halls (actions must be sanctioned by the UNFCCC or participants loose their badges and are thrown out). Anna Collins is reporting:
They were from climate justice groups and they were calling out the unfccc process. They were bringing into the process the voices of indigenous people, of vulnerable people, of the people who this process should be about.
They remained for about 15 minutes before being forcibly removed by security.
Climate Justice demonstration in the Halls of the moon Palace
See more of Anna’s pics of the scene.
1:10pm, the Moon Palace, Cancun
Leela Raina just posted a state of play as best she understands it from what we’re hearing.
1:00pm, the Moon Palace, Cancun
The Supreme Master is here! Wow. Apologies for including this here, but it’s a bit of an inside joke among UNFCCC meeting attendees. And we’re locked out of the interesting meetings until the next Plenary gets underway.
As best we can make out, the Supreme Master is the leader of a vegan cult advocating for a global meat ban to save the planet. She has her own TV station and lots of followers who serve free vegan food outside the venue (be it Cancun, Bonn, or anywhere else). Until now, we’ve never seen her in person.
Alex and Juliana with the Supreme Master
12:21pm, the Moon Palace, Cancun
TckTckTck partner’s have worked hard to craft messages to the governments responsible for progress at this conference. The results are starting to come in. This is from Oxfam. Click the image for more pics from their message.
Oxfam message to governments in Cancun: "Lives are on the line"
12:15pm, the Moon Palace, Cancun
Important procedural stuff is finally underway. It’s not where we’re expecting fireworks, but you can check it out the COP report backs live here. In the mean time, as old people continue talking, young people are getting ready to….
12:00pm, the Moon Palace, Cancun
Andrea Cinquina just summarized the EU presser from earlier today
According to Connie Hedegaard, “we don’t have enough to keep us below 2 degrees, we are still at 60% of what it should be done”.
Joke Schauvliege, from the Belgium presidency said that EU came here in order to achieve a balanced package with all elements, including difficult issues like mitigation and transparency…
On the EU position:
The EU reminded how is not wise to go into details right now, because they are still working, but there are some promising elements to succeed and to compromise.
On compromise:
For the EU the science and UNEP advice must be reflected in the text that is hopefully going to be agreed by the end of the day. The pledges in the Copenhagen Accord are just the beginning, not the end of the story.
On the KP:
The Kyoto Protocol as it is is not enough. We tried to find solutions with both Japan and Russia yesterday. We know their position but in an international process parties need to be flexible. We spent the night in consultations, everyone knows what is at stake, Japan and Russia know too.
On a question about loopholes on LULUCF:
There has been progress on LULUCF. Later today we need to look at all the text together and see where compromises are necessary between different elements.
On a legally binding outcome:
Our wish has been to get a legally binding deal done in South Africa. How realistic it is to get it in South Africa will depend on how it will end today. The more we get done in next few hours the smoother the path to Durban will be. We want to make major steps in Durban.
11:40am, the Moon Palace, Cancun
Waiting waiting waiting. Just announced that President’s informal plenary is postponed until later this afternoon.
And one from Alex. Jonathan Pershing just walked up to her to say “Keep Tracking”. We’re hoping it’s a sign of good news to come.
Heads of the U.S. delegation Jonathan Pershing (left) and Todd Stern were just huddled outside of the Moon Palace, waiting for the stocktaking plenary...
10:54am, the Moon Palace, Cancun
Connie Heidegaard just wrapped the EU press conference. Pressed on the future of the Kyoto Protocol, she mentioned the frank views of Japan and Russia. Japan is the target of an impressive advert in the Financial Times today, since they’ve come out strongest against a future Kyoto commitment. Russia came out in an intervention last night. Canada is also a culprit on that front. Hedegaard reminded the press of the EU’s position on the future of the KP (it’s pretty good); still, we with the EU was pressing Japan, Canada and Russia.
Alex took this shot of Hedegaard leaving the presser:
Here’s Connie Hedegaard, EU climate commissioner, speaking to another negotiator while surrounded by press just a few moments ago.
10:25am, the Moon Palace, Cancun
NGO’s are working hard to respond to what will doubtless be a difficult day. What sounds like very impressive media stunts are happening now along the beach at the hotel. In the mean time, the President’s informal plenary - where we’re expecting all the action - is postponed for the 2nd time. Now scheduled for 11a. You can watch people gather around their seat’s here.
Not too many people in that camera shot. Where are the negotiators and Ministers? Andrea Cinquina and Anna Collins caught them, paparazzi style, in an energetic conversation outside.
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Kris
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be veg
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Mic raw