![Opening Day of COP22]()
by admin | Nov 10, 2016 | MYD2016
(Bab Ighli, 8th November 2016) COP 22 was officially opened on a chilling rainy day in the city of Marrakesh. Opening remarks from Marie-Ségolène Royal (COP21 President) and Salaheddine Mezouar (COP22 President) addressed the right of development of the vulnerable communities in Africa, besides repeating highlighted that sustainable development is very required in Africa. Patricia Espinosa (Executive Secretary) and Hoesung Lee (Chairman of IPCC) also delivered opening speech, reiterated that COP22 will be an Action COP, where mechanism in Paris Agreement shall be clarified and translated into action.
The Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP), Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) and the Ad-Hoc Working Group on Paris Agreement (APA) has also kick-started. With that, the focus on COP22 is very much related to determining targeting period of the respective parties, clarification of adaptation and Loss and Damage, as well as Green Climate Fund.
The Malaysian Pavilion has also been set up in Zone D to showcase not just the rich natural resources in the country, but also some of the latest action plan and strategy addressing climate change for instance, The National Ecotourism Plan Malaysia 2016 -2025 which highlighted ecotourism top-spot in Malaysia, and the ecological approach to manage tourism activities in these areas.. A number of programs such as climate finance, renewable energy, and waste management are also being scheduled to take place throughout the 2 weeks at COP22, with Minister of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment arriving on 14th Nov 2016 to officiate the launching of the Malaysian Pavilion.
The first day of Malaysian Youth Delegation 2016 at COP22 was wrapped up with several sessions with youth constituency such as YOUNGO and environmental Civil Society Organisations (CSO) like Third World Network (TWN) and Climate Action Network (CAN), followed by a feast at the welcome dinner. The sessions with CSOs has thus far provided in-depth insights to the youth delegates especially matters on Transgenerational Inequality, the dispute between Global North and Global South, Climate Finance and Technology Transfer as well as understanding the gap between GHG emission and emission trajectories.
Photo Credit: Manila Bulletin
Written by Kelvin Diong
Edited by Elaine See
![The Transition of COP from the Global North to the South]()
by admin | Nov 10, 2016 | MYD2016
Photo Credit: Yahoo News
The twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties (COP22) serving as the 1st meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1) commenced today with the election of Mr Salaheddine Mezouar of Morocco as its President. The Bab Ighli village site witnessed a transition of from French to Moroccan Presidency today. COP22 is widely speculated to be the COP of Action.
The divide of Global North and South can be clearly witnessed across all preceding COPs and will be visible at COP22 as well. The Brandt Line was developed to represent geographically the richer and poorer nations. According to the model, with the exception of Australia and New Zealand, most of the richer countries of the world are located in the Northern Hemisphere whilst poorer countries are located in the tropics and the African continent, which falls on the Southern Hemisphere. However, over time the North-South divide was deemed less accurate with countries such as Malaysia and Argentina have above global average GDP. Yet, Malaysia remains as one of the very few counties from the South voicing out at the climate negotiations organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The Paris agreement focusses on developing countries in the south and how they take action for climate change adaptation and mitigation whilst promoting developed countries in the North to support the developing world financially. The baton was passed from the Paris; the global North to Marrakesh, the global South to host COP22 accordingly.
Morocco has a unique geographic location, representing not only the Arab world but North Africa as well. In a region renowned for its use of fossil fuel, Morocco aims to be driven 52% by renewable energy in 2030 and has embarked on its journey of achieving it. In one of the world’s most water-stressed areas, Morocco is powering forward with its action plans to combat climate change. In a world driven by western politics, these years climate negotiations have been shadowed by the US elections.
Climate change is a global phenomenon that affects mankind regardless of country, race, and religion although its immediate effects are witnessed mostly in the global south. In a week where the world’s attention is focused on the US elections, lie the global south; the most vulnerable to climate change hosting one of the most important climate negotiations the world will ever witness.
Written by Dulanga Witharanage
Edited by Elaine See
![Day One of COY12]()
by admin | Nov 8, 2016 | #PowerShiftMsia, MYD2016, UNFCCC, YOUNGO
I first need to start writing this article by thanking the French youths who directed us to the Twelfth Conference of Youth (COY12) venue. Dulanga and I arrived at Cadi Ayyad University only to find out that we were at the wrong building. Whilst trying to find our way through, we bumped into Eve and Ludovic, who were also making their way to COY12 and tagged along.
Jasmin, Eve, Ludovic, Dulanga
Eve and Ludovic are two cyclists from France who cycled to Marrakesh to attend COP22. They took a boat to cross the border from south of France to north of Morocco and cycled all the way to Marrakesh by electric assisted velo cargos (cargo bikes).
When I asked them on what prompted them to cycle all the way just to attend COP, they replied by saying that they wanted to make a statement and explore alternative mode of transportation rather than flight, and also cycling reduces the carbon emissions tremendously as compared to flights. You can check out their Facebook page here.
After we registered and gotten our badges, we attended the first session organised by YOUNGO. The session had a really good participation turn up. The session, conducted by David Tong, was on Introduction to UNFCCCC and Introduction to YOUNGO.
The session provided good insights on the UNFCCC negotiations via perspectives by YOUNGO members who have been directly involved in the process. David provided useful advice for first-time COP goers and also those who have attended before.
The best part about COY is the people that you meet. As we break for lunch, we made new friends from Green School, Bali and I Change Before Climate Change (ICBCC), Morocco.
Some students from Green School Bali are part of the programme called EarthBound, which is a four months exchange programme that provides the opportunity for the school children to be involved in excursions and experiential learning in regards to the environment and climate change. They will be attending both COY and COP. However, due to the age limit set by the secretariat, they are only able to take part in the Green Zone as you have to be above 18 years old to be allowed other access. They are working on a petition on this, to lobby for all ages all access at COP.
The ICBCC are a youth organisation that comprised of university students who are actively involved in environmental awareness and climate change education. They organise and participate in conferences to raise awareness and educate youth on climate change.
After attending COY, we took a break to catch up on work and update social medias.
We sat together with presenters for tomorrow’s session on Climate Change Activism. They are two teachers from Denmark, from the DNS International Teacher Training College. Every year, they would bring students to attend COY. They strongly believe that it is important for the youth to be involved not only in negotiations, but in making a change. In their session tomorrow, they will be providing interactive tools for youth to engage in participatory climate change awareness and action.
It was a very insightful coffee session as we get to hear on the views from the educators themselves on what they think of having climate change education incorporated in the curriculum. Indeed it is still at its infant stage in Malaysia, however slowly but surely more people will be aware of the dire need to be more proactive in tackling climate change.
Dulanga and I had a pretty bad luck hailing cabs to get back to the hotel and ended up walking back for one hour. Even though we had a tiring second half of the day, being reunited with Kelvin, another MYD delegate who just arrived from Malaysia, and Lastrina, our sister from the Singapore Youth for Climate Action (SYCA), made the journey back worthwhile as we catched up with each other and look forward to the days ahead.
Written by Jasmin Irisha Jim Ilham
Edited by Chang Zhun Yan
by admin | Nov 6, 2016 | MYD2016, UNFCCC
This three minute video explains all you need to know about the 2015 Paris Agreement and how it will help to address climate change and promote the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The Paris Agreement enters into force on 4 November 2016, creating binding commitments. The video highlights the need for further ambition by governments and businesses.
The Paris Agreement in a Nutshell from Track 0 on Vimeo.
This three minute video explains all you need to know about the 2015 Paris Agreement and how it will help to address climate change and promote the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The Paris Agreement enters into force on 4 November 2016, creating binding commitments. The video highlights the need for further ambition by governments and businesses.
![Women Empowerment and the Climate Agenda]()
by admin | Nov 5, 2016 | MYD2016
It is rare that you see a women majority on a panel discussion. Audience applaud if there is at least a woman representative on a panel discussion, which meant that the organisers respect “diversity” and “inclusion”.
This is something I can relate to, having being invited and participated in a number of panel discussions this past one year. More often than not, I was the only girl in the panel. I can also safely say that I am always the youngest in the panel. Which had me thinking that there is a serious gap that needs to be addressed, both woman and youth participatory in forums and discussions.
Nisha Onta (second from right), Knowledge Management Coordinator of Women Organising for Change in Agriculture & Natural Resource Management (WOCAN)
I had a chance to discuss about this issue with Nisha Onta (second from right), Knowledge Management Coordinator of Women Organising for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WOCAN). Nisha is a gender and climate change expert who has engaged in research in South Asia and South East Asia related to climate change adaptation, livelihood diversification and gender and climate change.
“The main theory of change that we believe is working with collectives. Work with women’s group, provide them training. Implement strategies to scale up the issue, such as advocacy. Gender issue is a critical agenda. Ensure that plenary and sessions make a priority to discuss gender,” said Nisha.
She also added that it is important to network and be part of women organisations. It is imperative to have that support system, knowing that you are not alone in this cause.
Written by Jasmin Irisha Jim Ilham
