Summary of the Current status/situation
On Saturday, three months since the meltdown and the Fukushima nuclear plant, Japan was awarded the Fossil of the Day for reiterating their position to include all technologies, including nuclear, in the Clean Development Mechanism - CDM. That same day there were demonstrations against nuclear power in Japan. It is clear that the government needs to listen both here in Bonn and to their citizens calling on Japan to become a leader and persuade other countries to exclude nuclear form the CDM.
With only 5 days now left in the current negotiating session there is much work to do this week if we are to see substantive progress for a successful climate conference in Durban later this year. The UNFCCC is not immune to ‘Monday morning blues’ and some of the youth gathered outside the Maritim Hotel this morning to energise the delegates in an effort to ‘increase ambition’! Having had a ‘day off’ from negotiations hopefully delegates have come prepared to move forward and remove the blockages that held up proceedings last week – however, the start of the week sees NGO’s closed out from a number of informal consultations that are taking place although at least they are no longer bickering over the agenda!
While last week was quiet on the actions front it looks like they will be jammed into the week ahead! The youth constituency gathered here in Bonn have a number of activities planned to raise ambition, highlight the benefits of a financial transaction tax (FTT) as an innovative source of money for the climate fund, Push Europe to a 30% target for green house gas emissions and search out the ‘superhero’s here in the talks! We hope to supply video and pictures of all of these during this week.
What is happening?
There is discussion around mid term financing (from 2013 – 2015) and what this practically means as no country has a commitment to finance beyond 2012. This is an opportunity to highlight what other countries are going to do in terms of scaling up their financial contributions beyond the fast start finance period and to highlight the use of innovative source from both public and private finances. Meanwhile, although the climate fund has been established, it is empty and needs filling.
The Climate Action Network gave their press briefing today and focussed on the week ahead and what was required from the negotiations this week as well as discussing finance and NGO participation in the process. The press conference can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/iLHFXe .
Great news today from Italy where there has just been a referendum that resulted in 95% vote against nuclear power http://referendum.interno.it/.
Message for the day
You may be aware that the International Financial Transaction Tax campaign is about to launch their Global Day of Action on June 22nd. Currently there are over 20 countries involved and more are expected to sign up this week. The campaign itself has made some incredible progress in allowing supporting governments to push forward with the idea through international negotiations.
The FTT is really ‘A tiny tax on finance, but a giant leap for the climate fund’. With an eye towards the G20 in November and using the upcoming EU Finance Ministers meeting on the 15th June and the European Council meeting on the 23rd-24th June as a focal point the campaign aims to ensure that the FTT is up there to help assist developing countries to alleviate poverty and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
To help you out the Financial Transaction Tax Campaign have produced a step by step guide
toolkit which is also available in French, Spanish and Portuguese as well as English from: http://www.makefinancework.org/IMG/pdf/eng_mediaonline_packfinal.pdf
The GCCA encourages partners to get involved where they can and the toolkit provides all you need to participate in the Global Day of Action, from stunt ideas, to online mobilization, as well as directing you to information on the policy background and press briefings.
Tomorrow we will be participating in an action at the Maritim in Bonn to draw attention to the FTT as well as a follow up press conference which will be live streamed and can be found at: http://bit.ly/kOkElT
What you can do today?
Keep spreading the word about the Power Shift campaign by European youth networks and upload your green CV at: http://pusheurope.eu/
Other materials:
Photo’s from this morning’s action at the Maritim in Bonn: http://www.flickr.com/photos/
adoptanegotiator/sets/72157626826115489/
Coverage from the demonstrations 3 months after the Fukushima disaster: AP: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/signup/Article_2011-06-11-AS-Japan-Earthquake/id-
497edea632444bd7a13c437b49ecf4d4
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/11/984196/-Fukushima-Three-Months-After:-611-No-Nukes-
Action
In a slightly alarming story from the UK it appears that there are suggestions for climate change to be excluded from the UK Cirriculum: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/jun/12/climate-change-curriculum-government-adviser
After news of more earthquakes in Christchurch our thoughts go out to the people of New Zealand: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/13/us-newzealand-quake-idUSTRE75C08S20110613
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