March of the 800

So this is what 800-strong storming out of an international conference looks like.

“We are walking out in frustration and disappointment - at the talks here in Poland rich industrialised countries have done nothing to cut emissions or provide real finance to tackle climate change. We also walk out in solidarity, with those communities and countries who stand to lose so much from climate change, and for whom these talks have done so little. Enough is enough.” - Susann Scherbarth, climate justice and energy campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe

Among the NGOs and Social Movements associated with yesterday’s (November 20, 2013 | 2pm) walk-out are: Aksyon Klima Pilipinas, ActionAid, Bolivian Platform on Climate Change, Construyendo Puentes (Latin America), Friends of the Earth (Europe), Greenpeace, Ibon International, International Trade Union Confederation, LDC Watch, Oxfam International, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, Peoples’ Movement on Climate Change (Philippines), WWF.

Our very own AaN Olga (Ukraine) and Raquel Rosenberg (Brazil) have personally joined the walk-out together with other youth delegates and are blogging somewhere in the misty city of Warsaw. We are with our girls in full spirit!

If I were a world leader, this would scare me. Actually, this should scare just about any government. This was the first time environmental groups have voluntarily stormed out of a UNFCCC conference in the 19 years of its conduct.

The 800 represent a portion of the hundreds and thousands - millions! - of citizens around the globe supporting the various organizations and movements with a track record of tested and proven mobilization capacities. I come from a country that has peacefully brought down a dictator and his tyrannical government - I understand and appreciate the potency of a frustrated and angry civil society.

But there will be many who will call this move ‘walking-out of the fight’. I say, these courageous men and women have left to fight where there is still room to fight - in the hearts of their respective nations.

Let it be clear, however, that the protest is against the unyielding governments and not the people that those governments SHOULD be representing. More importantly, the groups are walking-out of COP19, NOT the UNFCCC process because they still do believe that the UN grounds remain the best arena to solve the climate crisis.

Philippine Climate Commissioner Naderev (Yeb) Saño who has become the heroic figure of this years COP expressed his solidarity.

“It has been very difficult for my delegation negotiating with the typhoon at the back of our minds. It is also very frustrating to see the lack of urgency in this process.

Over the last two weeks, we have been dismayed by actions by developed countries that lowered their emission reduction targets even as they continue to block progress on finance and loss and damage. Political will seems to be going in the opposite direction.

To those who walked out of this conference, we thank you for your support. While we physically cannot join you, we are with you in spirit. We share your anger and frustration.

To those who are left in the conference center, we are seeing this sense of frustration spreading not just in Warsaw but all over the world. We must heed the call for serious action and urgency.”

COP President Korolec released an official statement following the walk-out:

“I regret the fact that some NGOs decided to leave the COP19 climate conference to express their disapproval towards the extending negotiations.

Activities of non-governmental organizations are often thought to draw attention towards the issues perceived by them as important. This is how I would understand this decision.

The climate conference and non-governmental organizations share common goals – all of us want to ensure effective climate protection.
Non-governmental observers have always mobilized negotiators to greater efforts and ambitions.

Today in the morning after all-night negotiations, we have achieved considerable progress on climate finance. The talks about the shape of a new global agreement were also held throughout the night. I am convinced that we are getting closer and closer to the final success.

I hope that the voice of NGOs will remain present in the discussion on how to solve the most important problems of our planet.”

There are still many more from the NGO community who have chosen to remain inside the Warsaw Stadium to see the talks to the end. The AaN team (minus Olga and Raquel) under the Global Call for Climate Action, for instance, continues to track the talks. It remains important that civil society retains presence during these final hours (days, looks like it).

I could not give an apt description of the current status of the various agenda and the texts as of press time as they seem to be changing rapidly every few hours. I anticipate unsatisfactory results but hopefully one that will be able to at least move the process towards the Lima and Paris.