Day 6 — COP17, Durban: Saturday, December 3, 2011
Today the big Global Day of Action march we held under beautiful skies with the people’s colors, chants, signs and songs. I walked the 4.5 kilometer route with everyone, talking to as many people from as many organizations and places as I could, asking them why there were here and that their best vision was of a future world in their lifetimes. It will take weeks to sort all this material out, but I can report that the march felt good, was upbeat, and was determined to tell the world that global civil society has little faith in the COP process so far, that we want the rich countries to assume their responsibility of committing firmly to large emissions cuts on a rapid timetable, as climate science itself says is required at this juncture in humanity. The route passed the US consulate, where much anger was expressed at US policy on climate, which I certainly see as the main stumbling block to the COP process. We passed in front of the entrance to the ICC, where Cristina Figueres, the Mexican negotiator who presided over COP 16 last year in Cancún, told us that one of the first things she did when she arrived in Durban was to attend a children’s play, whose message was: “Do more. And when you have done all you can, do more.” The insulting irony of her words may have been lost on her, but not on the crowd, which met her mostly with a dignified silence. The march proceeded to the beach, where an afternoon of music and celebration was held. Marches were held all over the world on this day, including in at least 20 US cities. One of the values of such a march is the opportunity to meet climate activists from all over the world, and especially from South Africa. And the realization that it will take much, much more than this to achieve the results we seek, that this was but a small step on a large journey of hope.
The BBC reported on the COP so far:
“In London, former UK Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott said the approach of [rich nations including the US, Canada, and Saudi Arabia] was ‘appalling’. Halfway through this summit, some progress has been made, but a few countries including the US, Canada and Saudi Arabia are holding out on important issues such as the future of the Kyoto Protocol.
Fourteen years ago, Lord Prescott played a leading role in the UN summit in Kyoto that brought the protocol into existence. Speaking to the BBC, he was scathing about nations trying to delay progress now. ‘Let’s have a reassessment of it by 2015,’ he said. ‘But if you don’t finish in time for the ending of Kyoto Two, which is next year, 2012, then, you know, it will actually wither on the vine and that’s what Canada and America wants – and one or two other rich countries.
‘It’s a conspiracy against the poor. It’s appalling. I’m ashamed of such countries not recognising their responsibilities.’
The European Union wants talks on a new global agreement covering all nations to start as soon as possible. It is backed by most of the world’s poorest countries and small island states vulnerable to rising sea levels. But even if resistance from the US and others can be overcome, it is hard to envisage anything being agreed that can start to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions before 2020. And that is the timeframe science suggests is necessary if the most dangerous climate impacts are to be avoided.” BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16021217
John