COP24

December 3rd - 14th 2018

Last updated Monday 17th December 2018

Final Day & Round Up

COP24 underachieves:

(Scroll down for daily reports)

COP24 lasted the extra day (28 hours to be exact) and the agreed text, of more than 150 pages, that comes from the 195 nations in attendance is full of loopholes. This, though was to be expected as this entire process is voluntary. It is true to say that there is a greater degree of transparency, built in compliance mechanisms and a plan for financing the developing nations. The point being ignored is that Climate Change is happening at a much faster pace than our response to it. It's three years since the Paris agreement and now we have the rule book, where as we should have expected that at this meeting we would be getting positive reports about how countries are achieving their respective reductions in GHG emissions. In fact our GHG emissions have risen in the intervening three year period.

We are currently on track to achieve at 3 degree rise in Global Temperature if we continue as we are. COP24 agrees to help build a capacity for the developing countries through loans. The commentators have cited "peer pressure" as one of the drivers behind future reductions. I'm not so sure if this will work. Ireland are currently ranked one of the worst countries in Europe and we have been desperately trying to renegotiate our 2020 GHG commitments. Richard Bruton, our newly appointed minister with responsibility in the area of climate change has been in attendance at the COP and has promised a plan to be published in February that will give a clear indication of a scaled-up ambition by Ireland to meet its obligations on tackling climate change.

It was not good to see the downgrading of the Human Rights provisions of the Paris Agreement in a year that celebrates the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. It jars with the SDGs which have a human rights framework remit. It is still obvious to all at the COP that trade still trumps climate change. There is also real concern for countries where there is no civil society permitted (e.g. China), the impending change of government in January in Brazil (Jair Bolsonaro). Some felt that the "ambition" was too low, that our diet should move from meat to plant and that all fossils fuels must now remain in the ground. We should remember what the Saudi Oil Minister of the 1970s said "The Stone Age did not end becuase the world ran out of stones".

But there are positive things happening. To get 195 nations to agree on a text is extremely positive. The COP underpins the need for the achievement of the SDGs and recognises that by localising the SDGs we indeed have some of the tools that may assist in achieving our targets. The SDGs promotes community action. The US were more involved than was expected (some think that they are keeping a good eye on China, or perhaps leaving a door open to reappear at the table later). The rule book is a real win for the multilateral and now it must be backed by political will and commitment. All countries are mandated to state their plans and will be measured by how well they achieve against their target. A real positive of this COP was the rise of the young NGO and the platform given to the Youth Voice articulated so well by Greta Thunberg of Sweden. She pretty much had the last word at the COP which was fitting given that David Attenborough had the first word as the oldest and holder of the Peoples Seat. I'd say he's only keeping it warm for Greta Thunberg.

KATOWICE - Fifteen-year-old Swedish teen Greta Thunberg started her environmental advocacy work as a solo act, when she refused to go to school in August in order to pressure her government to take more drastic climate action.

She has since inspired some 20,000 more students around the world to do the same, and on Saturday (Dec 8), she joined scores of other activists in a march calling on leaders and people all over the world to do more to combat global warming as the final week of the United Nations (UN) climate change conference - or COP24 - began in Poland.

If you wanted to read a little more of the COP 24 then I can refer you to An Taisce reports who sent a delegation to the COP and attended all side events.

Reports from COP24:

Polish Coal for Soap and Cosmetics Exhibition - Ian Lumley's report from COP24
Some Positive News from COP24 - Ian Lumley's 2nd Report
Professor Sweeney's 1st report from Katowice
Professor Sweeney's 2nd Report from Katowice
A Comprehensive and Hard Hitting Report from COP24 by Ian Lumley

COP24 is the informal name for the 24th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

Scroll down to see a daily report of what is going on at COP24 as well as some of the other highlights.

As Presentation People we have an agreed commitment to the the Sustainable Development Goals and to Care of the Earth and it is in this context that we would engage with all that continues at COP24

You can also keep up with live updates from COP24 here

December 10th 2018 IRELAND’S PERFORMANCE in taking action against climate change has been ranked the worst in Europe, according to a new report. Existing climate mitigation efforts will not enable Ireland to achieve either its EU 2020 or 2030 targets domestically. You can read the full report here

We have an agreement that was hammered out in Paris and yes the US have pulled out of this agreement. In fact their rationale doesn't apply now and betrays a rather narrow view intolerant of all the scientific evidence that they depend upon in so many other fields of their work, Poland hosts, and Poland's own record on fossil fuel consumption is very poor. We are in trouble and climate change is running faster than our attempts to mitigate an acceleration. "We are off track".

Sir David Attenborough launched the Peoples Seat and had the challenge of opening COP24 . As a Presentation Justice Desk our voices were added to the millions of others who asked David Attenborough to shape our views into his address some of which is included on the left.

Climate pilgrims head to Katowice from the Vatican

Like Pope Francis, most marchers on the pilgrimage base the commitment to ecology on their faith

The group of pilgrims about to leave St. Peter's Square to walk to Katowice in Poland. (Photo: The Catholic Climate Movement to march on Sat. December 8th)

After starting out from St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, a group of pilgrims from all over the world is preparing to enter the city of Katowice, where COP 24 is being held, after walking for 1,500 kilometres to draw attention to climate disruption.

"If one is a believer and one believes the world is created by God, it must be terrible to see human beings destroying God's creation," Guterres as he thanked the Pope for his wise interventions at the COP24.

THE PROBLEM

Animal agriculture is one of the world’s largest contributors to climate change, responsible for 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions – more than the entire transport sector. This means more than cars, planes, trains, and ships combined. Yet, thus far, this has barely been discussed by world leaders and policy makers. Have a read of their petition here

This strong impassioned plea from Arnold Schwarzenegger asks for the local indigenous leaders to be listened to and included.

Day 1

The first thing that hits the guests arriving in Katowice was the smell of the Coal Smoke that was hanging in the air from industry. The Just Transition that is necessary world-wide can be smelt here in Katowice and so all felt the urgency. It took 20 years to agree the Paris Agreement but it is not legally binding. COP24 will agree the rules around reporting and achieving the agreed goals. Some the meetings will be very technical. But what of expectations? Are they realistic? The Ultimate Goals is to stop Carbon Pollution, All countries that have signed up to the Paris Agreement have pledged to commit to carbon reduction in the period from 2020 to 2030.

Turkey delayed the beginning of the COP 24 by demanding to be recognised as a developing country.
Countries have been asked for updated plans on how they plan to reduce the Carbon Emissions for the period 2020 - 2030
The G20 countries have declared that the Paris Agreement has been declared irreversible. Still the US are out.

Day 2

Big names arrive into Katowice to speak and to set the tone and their messages fell into the two Themes.

Just Transition (looking for slow change to renewables as advocated for by the Polish Presidency
Small Island Communities are asking for a much greater degree of urgency and need commitments yesterday.

Behind the scenes there are a lot of formal and informal negotiations. The Obama administration were pivotal in writing the Paris Agreement and they are still involved despite the fact that they don't work for the US Government and refer to themselves as the Climate Diaspora. Their continuing and generous involvement is very encouraging. Barack Obama built a bridge with China at the time of the Paris Agreement around Climate Change and this is now a concern that relations with China may interfere with the necessary work on the reduction of Carbon Emissions. The Trump administration is at the COP24 and they are looking for "Robust Rules" and again this is to be encouraged.

China's emissions are growing at an alarming rate and this needs to be taken in hand.

Day 3

A preliminary text will be circulated at the end of Day 3 and this will begin the process of bringing all to a common space for publication at the end of the conference. The real negotiations will begin now. There been very few world leaders showing up and this is because of the technical nature of this COP. It has been disappointing that Emmanuel Macron couldn't turn up after he held the One Planet Summit last year. In fact "Les Gillets Jaunes" who have been protesting against the 1.56c / litre carbon tax on petrol have had a victory when Macron relented on the implementation of this tax for the moment. However the protest movement continues and in typical French fashion they announce that "the French people are not just after the crumbs. They want the whole baguette. Political achievement of the Paris Agreement will be difficult.

The top scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported at the COP 24 on the 1.5 degree limit is indeed needed and how we are very far away from changing this. Today is the feast of Saint Barbara, who is the Patron Saint of Coal-miners, and the trade unions explain how they are not being included in any planned "Just Transition" to renewables. "In Katowice you can smell, see and taste the pollution" and the message is to try to reach out to all users of coal and to raise awareness of climate change and environmental protection.

Day 4

Expected today is the response to the drafted text and one of the most contentious issues: Financing climate action and the responsibilities of the developed countries to assist the developing countries by donating $100million p.a to the green Climate Fund. What has also been pointed out strongly is the fact that the developing countries just cannot budget 5 years in advance and this is being considered. India has been very critical in this respect. You can see more on their views here

Japan is the biggest donor to the Green Climate fund and so they feel they have the greatest responsibility to see where this money goes and would hope to appoint a CEO but all are not happy with this. Russia, is classed as an economy in transition (UN definition) meaning that they are not expected to contribute to the fund but they are anxious to become involved.

The Pacific Islands had a chance to input today to outline their unique challenges as small island nations. People who live in these islands may wear several hats, the ministers of education may be a fisherman who works during the day. Small islands with small populations have to live differently and they need the assistance of the developed countries and not just their finance. There is only one Pacific and they have only one chance.

Day 5

Outside of the talks Trump has been castigating the Paris Climate Agreement as being fatally flawed. There has been strong reaction against. The US sent a representative of indigenous peoples who attended and spoke of civil rights and social justice issues. Vulnerabilities are obvious, some people spend their whole lives fighting for what is their obvious right and have achieved much but now there is this global issue of Climate Justice that should unite rather can divide. For many in the US Hurricane Katrina (below) was the painful wake-up call that Climate Change is real, is happening and needs to be studied so that all can learn and to understand that by coming together we can alter the trajectory of inevitable destructive path we are now on.

Day 6

The Social Science of Climate Action involves exploring the rules of the Paris agreement rule book and how and when countries report on their progress on the carbon emissions. Saudia Arabia and China are anxious to push back to this monitoring until 2041. This is not going down well.

What is happening in France has a long history of protesting against taxes that are they feel levied on the poor. This movement now evident in France comes from a huge distrust of the experts and the politicians and many feel that this has been coming for 20 years. Contained in the Paris agreement is a strong social science content in the report that was to be used as a guide to introduce and legislate for the rules of the Paris Agreement. What was great to see was that the Irish example of the Citizens Assembly was quoted as an ideal way to engage, inform and inspire climate policy and this is seen as being in stark contrast to the French model that seems apparently not to have included the people.

December 8th 2018

Day 7

What the White House wants to achieve? It's the start of the second week and is getting much busier. Wells Griffith, a lower level official at the Dept of Energy and is currently Trumps energy adviser. He spoke of the use of coal and natural gas. There was laughing protest demanding that all fossil fuels should stay in the ground. The White House is publically criticising the Paris agreement and the value of US jobs over the environmental degradation is the key message. Trump support fossil fuels and antagonises at the COP24. Trump will never support a carbon tax. An Australian official sat at the top table during the White House submission and what is the significance of this?

Some of the big oil companies came out tepidly in favour of the Paris Agreement. Exxon Mobil are positioning themselves to become the world's leading Natural gas producer. Trump however did leave the door open to come back to the table but as yet there is no real effort to re-engage. Until such time as Climate and Trade intersect then Trump will remain on the outside. December 10th 2018

Day 8

Can Talanoa help the climate?

Ministers have been telling their Climate Stories from the Pacific in the style of Talanoa, and this concerns indigenous peoples and this year the COP hosts more indigenous groups than ever. There are workshops on reading the weather, biodiversity, local communities and protecting environments.

Talanoa is a traditional word used in Fiji and across the Pacific to reflect a process of inclusive, participatory and transparent dialogue. The purpose of Talanoa is to share stories, build empathy and to make wise decisions for the collective good. There was a buzz as the ministers were expected. There were many countries who have taken to the Talanoa process, e.g. the Netherlands and Israel who have committed to removing coal from the energy chain. Talanoa demands an informality, no notes, back and forth, discussion and the guard was down, each statement was to build upon another. The process of Talanoa was moderated by a Pacific Chief. This gives way to citizen mobilisation, conversations around leaving fossil fuels in the ground, carbon entanglement (being locked in because business depends upon carbon usage) that need to adjust. There is an aim of just transition through dialogue, sharing each others experiences. Politics has no place in Talanoa, and this makes the conversation, frank, honest and true.

So what came out of the Talanoa conversation, experiences in electrifying the city of Oslo, citizen engagement in Malta. Talanoa includes and offers a space for sharing, a mixing of idea and it offers Civil Society a platform as equal as that of the Ministers. Talanoa also gives weight to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Antonio Gutteres is expected back at the COP24 tomorrow Wednesday 12th December to "knock some heads together" so that there will be some movement towards a common statement at the end of the COP24

(Interestingly when the Indigenous Peoples wrote of their closeness to the forests and their ongoing care and protection of the environment, they called for greater recognition of this being given to indigenous peoples, China refused insisted that the text be changed as to mention indigenous peoples in China is to speak of Tibet, Taiwan, Uighir. China doesn't recognise indigenous peoples within the Chinese borders. And they would consider a move towards recognising indigenous peoples in China as an affront to their sovereignty. The text was changed!

December 11th 2018

Day 9

The mood has changed in ambition. The Polish President last night came in and said that things were not moving fast enough and they announced that they were going to take over and they have nominated pairs of ministers to work on certain aspects. Antonia Gutteres came to town to add to the push, the Talanoa dialogue ended with a call to action. There is a "High Ambition Coalition" made a real difference when they came to the Paris agreement and they have called all to engage and engineer solutions what has apparently stalled.

Saudi Arabia, USA and Russia are stalling climate talks happening now. We've got 24 hours left to convince a coalition of champions to face down the climate bullies and win a deal that keeps climate hope alive. Let's support the high ambition coalition and ask them to fight to the end.

What can we do to achieve our emissions targets. The answer is a combination of creating / growing carbon sinks and take avertive action that would mitigate against an GHG Emissions. The Science can show the way and provide the information and scientists will not name any country and spell out what they must do to improve. That work is for the countries themselves to lead the way and change lifestyles and choices. Saudi Arabia, and Solidarity (Polish Trade Union) are still standing off and questioning some of the scientists and indeed rejecting the fact that a scientific consensus exists. The Scientists were asked a simple question "If you were to keep the increase in temp to below 1.5 Degrees what would you do?" It was their answer that doesn't align with fossil fuel rich countries who perhaps struggle to find a just transition. If you would like to see a change the make your feelings felt here. Dec 12th 2018

Day 10

UK and Canada powering past coal alliance which goes around the governments to align themselves with sub-government interests local authorities and mayors. The UK are hoping to host the climate talks in 2020 (as are Turkey and Italy). There has been much talk of Carbon trading (article 6) across borders. The amounts involved are billions of tonnes and resorting to "accounting tricks" to give themselves permission to miss the Parish agreement targets. One person not happy about this at all is Greta Thurnberg who is calling for an all out Climate strike tomorrow (Friday Dec 14th) encouraging all ages including, and especially those in school to strike for their future. Greta is being hailed as the breakout star of this COP. She explained "this is our last chance to do something and that we are now facing the greatest catastrophe that humanity has ever faced. We will no longer be able to achieve the necessary targets by playing by the rules. The rules have to be changed and we just don't realise that yet."

"Once we start to action hope will be everywhere," Greta Thunberg.

Greta Thunberg and her Ted Talk from 2 days ago. "No-one is acting like there is a crisis".

Rachel Kite (UN) and climate activist: "The IPCC report took away all places to hide", "we must acknowledge that which works and delivers and then scale it up to make the difference climate change demands." "Paris was the wedding and we celebrated and three years on and we are into the marriage and we have to make it work". The movers and shakers at this COP are the environmental ministers who must look at how economies are powering ahead irregardless of the affect on our climate. There is a groundswell all over the world that demands more of governments and business and it has been captured so well in the article in the Financial (Dec 9th) Times by Pilita Clarke that you can read here (a must read)

Day 11 Only 12 years left to change.

A deal is emerging and is looking quite strong although it is taking more time that has been allotted and may indeed creep into the weekend. 144 pages of a text are hammered down at this stage but the quality of the rules laid down is what remains unknown. The most positive aspect so far is the fact that all remain more than committed to the Paris Agreement. This text is the operating manual for the Paris Agreement. Those who turned up to negotiate have had their knuckles wrapped several times. There are however some sticking points, the ambition signal, the global stock-take (mitigation). Just saying what you are doing is not enough there must be validation of the affects of this mitigation. This is really complicated. This is 193 countries trying to realign their economies to go low carbon and this is why the negotiations are so difficult. The "High Ambition Coalition" developing countries with the EU and Canada are demanding action and a rule to for action to take us to 2024. As the tension increases the side events are extremely optimistic and are pressurising the negotiators into delivering on the text. Those who are attending from the small Pacific Islands (Dominica) are there to save their homelands and their populations, the stakes cannot be higher for them and they intend to get this message across. (Negotiations are continuing).

The Youth at COP24. Have you heard of Greta Thunberg who as a 15 year old Climate Activist has been on a Climate Strike outside the Swedish Parliament every Friday. She was a guest of honour at COP24 and her activism on Climate Justice is inspiring others all over the word.

Over 200 School Strikes to date...

A major continuing presence at COP24 is the Swedish school girl Greta Thunberg who started a one person "Skolstrejk for Kilmetet", school strike for climate.

A very positive presence at the COP 24 was the inspiring and energising presence of the Youth under the Umbrella YOUNGO

And if you would like to know a little more then you could check out the following two Guardian articles on :

COP24 Prayer Card - English.pdf

This is the COP24 Prayer Card

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