Of Course, US Can

by admin | Nov 25, 2016 | MYD2016

America.

If you have not heard of the Climate Action Network (CAN), now you have.

Donald Trump winning the US Presidential Elections was a huge buzz, as soon as you step on the bus to the COP22 venue, *EVERYONE* was talking about it.

CAN even dedicated 15 minutes of their highly punctual and tight daily meeting schedule to discuss the outcome and delegates’ perspective on the US Election. It was a breakout session, where delegates were required to get into groups of 10 people for a short sharing session and discussion.

CAN Daily meeting

To wrap up the quick breakout session, Tina Johnson of US CAN, took the podium and expressed her views as an American in the Civil Society Organization. She reminded us that although many are against Trump, we must keep in mind that a lot of people are celebrating as well.An example that is widely referred to in this situation is BREXIT. Many expected otherwise.

She imparted with us a very empowering message – we might be down, but we’re definitely not out.
There are many concerns that surround nations across the world. What are the implications of Trump winning the US Election? Is the US going to pull out of the Paris Agreement? How is this going to affect the developing countries? What about the Green Climate Fund?

These are the many questions left unanswered, and to be found out during the second week of COP22, when the High-Level Ministerial meetings take place.

Written by Jasmin Irisha Jim Ilham
Edited by Choy Moon Moon

First Day at COP22

by admin | Nov 25, 2016 | MYD2016

I expected to walk into COP22 as a wide-eyed squirrel because of the overwhelming importance of the issues as well as the delegates and participating NGOs. In fact, it was not as scary as I thought it would be; most people we spoke to were genuinely interested in the work we do as the Malaysian Youth Delegation and were happy to enlighten us on the projects they work on or their countries’ perspectives.

Moon Moon and I collected our badges earlier and headed to the Malaysian Pavilion straight to check it out. I personally thought it was a good effort on Malaysia’s part considering it was our first. During our engagement with Ms Syarina over lunch, it was evident that the team behind the Malaysian Pavilion are passionate and committed people, which I think bodes well for Malaysia’s presence in future COPs.

During our engagement with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on both counts, it appears evident that they are eager to work with us to increase the youth’s participation in COP and perhaps even, climate policy. We intend to make use of the Malaysian Pavilion while connecting and meeting with other organisations.

The Opening Plenary was an exciting experience, even if only because of the novelty of sitting amongst various NGOs and listening to live speeches through the translating headphones.

Nachatira and Kelvin at the Opening Plenary

I found the CAN Introductory Workshop to be useful, as we were briefed about what to expect and how best to access materials and resources from CAN. I found most of what was shared to be familiar as our MYD 2015 buddies had prepped us about them beforehand, i.e. how to keep updated with daily news and what are the many NGOs involved, etc. What I found to be interesting, was their presentations on climate financing and its issues, that I will be writing about more in the upcoming article.

It has been fascinating to hear the various perspectives on politics, priorities and in general, the negotiations by the NGOs and national delegates that we have spoken to thus far. It stretches from the cost of renewable energy in South Korea to crises faced by small island nations and their efforts in adapting to climate change, to climate justice from the point of view of a Malawi delegate. Although I attempt to maintain my interests in specific areas such as adaptation and intergenerational equity, I am curious as to how all the other elements such as mitigation, climate financing, technology transfer, intellectual property rights and politics are interwoven.

It has been a privilege just to experience the smorgasbord of information and opportunities to access such resources with other great minds. It is exciting that COP22 has something that each of us is personally interested in, and we often meet other like-minded individuals who are more than happy to share their thoughts and ideas. I am personally awed by the spirit and conviction that most people I met today have in regards to climate change, and this has renewed my hope that collectively, Paris Agreement could indeed be the salvation our planet desperately needs.

Written by Nachatira Thuraichamy
Edited by Choy Moon Moon

Biofuels and Its Impact on the Global South

by admin | Nov 12, 2016 | MYD2016

It’s day four of the Marrakesh Climate Negotiations and the global North is already exercising its power in most platforms including informal consultations. The Paris Agreement which came into force on the 4th of November, encourages countries to lower emissions in an attempt to maintain less than two degrees of temperature increase.

The European Union as a block of politico-economic united states has a vast range of up-to-date technology and information to help its transition to renewable energy to ensure lower emissions.

Fossil of the Day

Today at COP22 the EU voiced its ideas during the Agriculture Negotiations. The EU is pro biofuel. Biofuels are liquid fuels that have been derived from other materials such as plant matter or waste plant and animal matter. Biofuels are mostly used to aid clean transportation mechanisms. Biofuels are renewable, clean, inexpensive, flexible and carbon neutral.

However, the increased use of biofuels calls for more crops to be grown for the purpose which can result in a potential reduction of food crops, which can lead to a potential inflation. Loss of habitat for biodiversity will be inevitable as demand for biofuel hikes.

Therefore, the climate movement is skeptical of the use of Biofuel. The EU however, is pro biofuel. They are aware that biofuels does not result in any ‘Reduction’ of emissions. As the demand for biofuels increase, the illegal land claims, displacement due to loss of land and increase in food prices worldwide is expected.

EU voiced its opinion on expanding the use of biofuels in areas where agriculture takes places now. Financially strong public and private investors have been buying and renting arable land in Africa and southeast Asia known as Grab Lands. The EU’s expression of interest in biofuels refers to investments or opportunities for development as they put it, in the global south which already face tight nutrition situations; which will cause problems for the local populations. Southeast Asia faces more food insecurity than any other geographic region in the world and the interest of the EU to use the said lands for biofuel will create turmoil in the most vulnerable economies.

The EU should reflect on itself and power forward to decarbonise itself without replacing the fossil fuel problem with food insecurity in the global south. Actions of the EU today earned itself the Fossil Of The Day. Fossil of the Day awards were initiated in the 1999 talks in Bonn. Members of the Climate Action Network (CAN) at the climate negotiations vote for countries that are speculated to do its best to block the negotiation process from moving forward. Quoting CAN at COP22 during the Fossil of the Day Awards, “Fossil of the day goes to… The European Union for peddling biofuels and acting like the person with all the gear but no idea”.

Written by Dulanga Witharanage
Edited by Chang Zhun Yan

Noteworthy Day

by admin | Nov 11, 2016 | MYD2016

(Bab Ighli, 8th November 2016) The second day of COP experience has been eventful, in fact, noteworthy. The day was started with check-in to our base, the Malaysian Pavilion, with conversation held with the national negotiators on consent to shadow them in action. The morning agenda was followed by observing the internal coordination meeting of G77 and China bloc.It was also a lucky day as the MYD2016 catch Dr Gary, the lead negotiator of Malaysia in action, deliver a talk on climate resilient at the Malaysian Pavilion. The presentation of climate mitigation and adaptation strategy from 11th Malaysian Plan gives an overview understand to the crowd about Malaysia’s effort in addressing climate change enhancing inclusiveness towards equitable society as well as transforming urban and rural area to have minimal impact on ecosystem services and low carbon emission.

He pointed out the possible influence on shipping industries with policies like IMO and ICAO being implemented full-fledged.

Malaysia is also anticipated to reach major peaking in near future, with the expectation of major changes in infrastructure provision in the country. The introduction of aerobic rice production which does not generate methane is a key program to resolve 2 issues, climate change mitigation and adaption as well as the coherent use of water resources. He concluded the presentation by reiterating that the strategy is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The afternoon of the day was rather packed, scheduled with back to back events. Firstly, it was truly a refreshing experience at the informative Climate Action Network (CAN) daily meeting. CAN members closely following negotiations and consultation each report and update status on respective area such as Ad-Hoc Working Group on Paris Agreement (APA), Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA), NDC implementation, Modalities and Finance, Non-Marketed Approaches as well as science on global stocktake.

Nevertheless, there was neither Fossil nor Ray of the Day nominated. I was really amazed by the effectiveness of ad hoc working pattern and how committed and passionate these people are, dedicated their life to the climate change cause.

I’ve always been keeping an eye on the market-based mechanism, not really well-versed though so a session of Carbon Market Watch is inevitable. Social Impacts associated with Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM) were first mentioned and stakeholder consultation was deemed essential and necessary. Between CDM and SDM, CDM has been viewed as the lack of defining framework and patchwork of interpretation on sustainable development & missing monitoring requirements.

Although it has been clearly stated in Article 6 that no double counting is allowed, there are other issues such as scaled up editing and ‘Hot Air’ phenomena which thus requires clarification on conditionality, technical-corresponding adjustments to ensure accounting framework to avoid double counting, revise baseline when NDC is pledged.

The last meeting attended on the day was an Informal Open Consultation Meeting on Green Climate Fund and Climate Technology Centre and Network. Turkey being the main subject of this meeting explained the context of the development of their country, argue about their countries position as a developing country and demonstrated their strong pursuance of getting consent to be recognized as developing countries eligible to received climate funding. Although being awarded the Fossil of the Day on the first day of COP22,

Turkey repeatedly emphasizes the need of financial support to carry out mitigation and adaptation as well as loss and damage measures for the betterment of future generation. However, the status of the country as developing country but within Annex I makes it unable to receive fund at the same time not giving out any fund. Generally, Thailand, the Netherlands, Brazil, the European Union (EU), Switzerland and Belarus thinks that the Turkey shall abide by COP’s decision, which means Turkey being in Annex 1 is not entitle to receiving financial support from Green Climate Fund, however may look for other alternatives such as Global Environmental Fund. Thailand specifically stresses that informal consultation shall not overlap decision made on APA. Other countries represented at the informal meeting but remain silent include China, Japan, United States of America, Australia, Ukraine, Mexico, Venezuela, Iraq, Iran, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and Bhutan.

In short, it was a fruitful day, considering that attended meeting or discussion includes international sessions such as internal coordination meeting and informal consultation meeting, following up with national negotiators, Civil Society Organisation (CSO) meeting as well as side event providing technical knowledge or review of existing terms and clauses in Paris Agreement (PA).

Written by Kelvin Diong
Edited by Elaine See

Day Three of COP22

by admin | Nov 11, 2016 | MYD2016

Dr Gary & Kelvin Diong

(Bab Ighli, 9th November 2016) Third day of COP22. The most hectic and satisfying day. Kicked off with YOUNGO daily meeting, followed by the coordination meeting of G77 and China, spent a little time on Indian Pavilion to learn about Smart Cities, joined the Green Investment in Malaysia talk, dropped by the Low Carbon City talk, spent good time understanding Global Supply Chain, attended CAN daily meeting, participated at the Japanese Pavilion event and concluded with the informal meeting on APA’s agenda on global stocktake (GST).

First of all congratulations to fellow KL folks as DBKL has just officially launched the Kuala Lumpur Low Carbon City Blueprint 2030 in COP22. With this, Malaysia has once again express the commitment to reduce greenhouse gases.

Besides, the session of Global Supply Chain gave an idea on deforestation free economy development by using BVRIO, the tool developed to map out the supply chain of commodities. The basic principle of the tool is the production of the commodity that is associated to land use conversion or clearance.

The Youth event held at the Japanese Pavilion was special, as the session was mainly about having youth to involve in developing a low carbon Olympic in Japan.

It was also a day of overjoy, being able to observe the APA informal meeting and listened to Dr Gary explaining the importance of LMDC and G77 and China, and hence the background of bilateral consultation. It was such a tiring day that when this article is being drafted, I fell on the keyboard a couple of times. The MYD 2016 stayed back till 7:30pm, hoping to give our lead negotiator the support at LMDC closed meeting. It was definitely a day to remember.

Written by Kelvin Diong
Edited by Chang Zhun Yan