And the Fossil of the Day goes to…

Posted on 11. Dec, 2010 by Juliana Russar in Adopt a Negotiator, Brazil

We’ve just watched the last Fossil Cerimony of CoP-16 that featured 3 Fossils, Colossal Fossil and Ray of the Day.

Below you can read the Fossils and Ray of the Day as presented with some pictures of the ceremony.

Third place - Venezuela and Saudi Arabia

“Venezuela and Saudi Arabia receive the 3rd place Fossil for blocking a report on innovative sources of financing for climate action, in the finance group of the LCA. The report of the Secretary General’s Advisory Group on Climate Change Finance (AGF Report) is a treasure trove of ideas and analyses of innovative sources of public financing that can support developing countries with urgently needed adaptation and emissions reductions actions. Perhaps Venezuela and the Saudis don’t realize that there are developing countries elsewhere in the world that can’t count on oil exports to pay for their luxuries and meet the needs of their people. The report may not be perfect, but if parties start from scratch next year looking at financing sources without input from this report, they may have to reinvent the wheel and it could hold delay progress for years, if these same countries use all the tricks at their disposal to disrupt progress.”

Second place - Russia

“Russia earns the 2nd place Fossil. Oh, what a miserable year to be Russia. From severe heat to dust storms raising awareness of climate impacts, it was a tough year for anyone wanting to avoid cutting their greenhouse gas pollution. But, you managed to pull it off, endangering the Kyoto Protocol by failing to inscribe your pledges under the KP text. For that, you get a 2nd place Fossil and our continued shame.”

First place - United States

“The United States of America earns the 1st place Fossil. The Fossil goes to the US for blocking important text to ensure effective accounting measures for developed country emissions targets. The US has held hostage all the other building blocks to an agreement in MRV/ICA. Its refusal to accept good accounting measures for its own (highly inadequate) actions is ironic and hypocritical.”

Colossal Fossal for the year - Canada

“Canada wins the Colossal Fossil for the year. In Fossil terms, today’s winning country is building a dynasty. Day in and day out, it gives 110% in the battle for fossil supremacy. It blocks, avoids, delays, and fakes — and its emissions simply never stop growing. Its tar sands sector is truly among the global elite, an all-star of greenhouse gas pollution. Please welcome the New York Yankees of Fossils (or as we say in Canada, the Montreal Canadians): 2010’s Colossal Fossil is the country we’ve come to know as “Can’t”nada. This is Canada’s fourth Fossil victory in as many years. So despite an overall record of climate futility, Canadians should rest assured there’s at least one thing here that Canada is really, really good at.”

Ray of the Day - Mexico

“As we saw in Copenhagen, transparency is not a given in the UNFCCC process, although it’s supposed to be. Nor is intransigence a requirement, although we see it much too often. The role of a successful host country is to avoid these pitfalls and push Parties toward a good and mutually agreed outcome, not just to save face, but to truly advance the process. Mexico showed this and more, deeply involving itself in leadership of the negotiations and demonstrating fortitude in the face of countries many thought could never agree. For good process and transparency, strength, and perseverance, your leadership earns you only the second Ray of the Day awarded in your home city.”

Tags: Colossal Fossil, CoP-16, featured, Fossil of the Day, Ray of the Day, UNFCCC