Convention on Biological Diversity – COP 12. Pyeongchang, South Korea

by Michelle Pazmiño // A drum performance at the Opening Ceremony marked the first day of what is going to be a series of meetings where representatives of different Parties negotiate the present and future of earth’s biodiversity: the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Self-evident, this means intense work, hours of being seated at the plenary room,...

Also our business

by Sarah “Adaptation is also our business,”as stated by Andrew Defrancesco which was the title of a side even this afternoon put on by members of the EU. The room was packed, and as we sat in rows and sweated, the presenters made some interesting and important points. According to IPCC predictions, the Mediterranean is going to be one of the areas of the world most affected by climate change....

This is not political gloss-over

by Sarah I feel pretty confident saying that some of the statements delivered in this morning’s high level segment by NGOs had the blood pumping through the veins of the room. Prior to the youth speech- which was delivered by three of our wonderful, intelligent, and inspiring number and ended in all of us calling loudly to pull together (”Harambe!”)- two African women in particular had a...

Canada rhymes with Rona?

by Virginie Yesterday morning, I arrived at the conference center slightly disheartened: little or no progress has been made on the issue I have been closely following, namely post-2012 or the Beyond Kyoto “bubble”. Nonetheless, we had a big day ahead with opportunities to listen to Kofi Annan, Sir Nicholas Stern (lead UK economist and author of the Stern report) and the ministerial...

Engaging climate leaders

by Juan The past few hours have been intense. We have been engaging leaders from around the globe on their position on climate policy. While I write this blog, some Canadians friends meet with the high commissioner of Canada in Kenya and Rona Ambrose. An hour ago we held at meeting with Nicholas Stern to question some of his ideas on the Stern Report, while others were meeting with the Minister...