Day 4 Policy Updates: Loss and Damage text

by Nathan Thanki In general negotiations continue in "contact groups" and informals which are by and large closed to observers (though try your luck!) and in informal-informals and bilaterals in the corridors. In the contact group on loss and damage, chaired by ministers (rather than negotiators) from Sweden and St. Kitts, the G77 proposed a draft text yesterday (Tuesday) which was supported...

Day 3 Policy Updates: Contact Groups

by Lara Shirley There has been a general breakdown of bigger negotiations into smaller contact groups, which are often closed. COP In Finance, all agenda items were discussed. However, long term finance proved to be the most contentious. Philippines on behalf of the G77 stressed the importance of clarity in the pledged 100 billion per year by 2020 and urged scaling up of finance from the Fast...

Day 2 Policy Updates: Welcome to COP

by Bogdan Zymka and Lara Shirley Since these were the first two days of COP19, not much exciting has happened: only a couple contentious discussions in various forums. In the COP (Conference of the Parties), the G77+China strongly emphasized the need for a finance roadmap and strong mitigation targets calling it "an implementation COP". Definite finance targets are on track to become a key...

YOUNGO Intervention to CMP Plenary on Adaptation Fund

by Surya Karki and Nathan Thanki Intervention delivered by Surya Karki on behalf of Youth NGOs; Thank you Mr. President. My name is Surya, and am speaking on behalf of the youth constituencies. I am from Nepal where I have seen firsthand the impacts of climate change. Droughts are impacting agriculture, the main source of income for people in my village, and people are going hungry as a result....

Philippines Solidarity Action COP19

by J. Taggart Wass After Monday’s empowering speech by the Philippines lead negotiator Naderev ‘Yeb’ Sano and his decision to fast in support of his home country until a meaningful COP outcome was in sight, the youth of COP 19 decided to show solidarity for Yeb and the Philippines by participating in a voluntary fast for climate change.  Just as lunch was in session Anjali Appadurai,...