Me handing over the AOSIS Youth Declaration over to Ambassador Lima (Vice-Chair of AOSIS)
1) What did you think about the outcome of COP 15? There was no outcome at COP 15. The Copenhagen Accord was not acknowledged by all of the 191 countries. There was no Deal. The Copenhagen Accord is a piece of paper where 25 countries decided to write down what they think is best for the world. The accord was not negotiated—it was jammed down the throats of the rest of the world. I did not expect great things to happen at COP 15, but I really did not expect such an undemocratic, non-transparent, and unjust negotiation process to take place. Maybe it is me who was naïve in thinking that our world leaders are better than this, but I was sadly mistaken. The only good thing that happened at COP 15 was that the island nations stood up for themselves. Some say we blocked the process. The vulnerable countries were the only ones who really had anything to lose, so if we were being handed death sentences, of course we should be fighting for our survival. We did not block the process, but were left out of the process as were many other countries. The last 36 hours or so of the negotiations was a sham. How the UN could let something like that happen—I am still at a loss of understanding. This cannot be the way we decide for the world—the countries cannot be left out of the decision-making process. We need to re-prioritize. COP 15 was another trade negotiation meeting where real people were forgotten.
2) Do you think the concerns of young people were adequately addressed by decision-makers attending COP-15? Explain.
How can we even be asked this question when from the second week, the NGO’s and civil society were at first restricted, and then removed from the Bella Center and the process? How could our concerns have been adequately voiced when our futures were being decided for us, but without us? No, the decision-makers did not provide adequate space within the negotiations for young people. Ban Ki Moon even cancelled his high level session with youth, and we were not even warned, but we were waiting patiently for him. He did not show up. So no—youth were not valued at COP 15.
3) What do you hope for from COP 16?
This depends on what the agenda for COP 16 is. Will the leaders, in light of Haiti, take a stronger stand on climate change in Mexico, or will it be another trade negotiation meeting? If people like Stern keep on harping on about how it is about numbers and not people, then we will never be able to make it anything but that. The reality is that though there are real people suffering, in real countries, and they are not responsible for what is happening, nor can they alone stop it. I really do wish we could do this without the rest of the world, but we cannot. So, with some optimism, I hope that by the time we get to Mexico, the global movement against climate change has grown so much, that the leaders cannot ignore us. I hope that the global people’s movement flows out into the streets and pushes governments into action. Results will come from people acting—not from our political leaders. Most leaders have no gumption.
4) Did you enjoy yourself in Copenhagen?
In light of the results, I did not enjoy COP 15. However, I value the experience and enjoyed working with the youth movement—being at the forefront of this fight. I enjoyed learning from my colleagues at 350.org—absolutely amazing and talented people.
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