day 1 of COP

Today was the first day of the COP. We left around 7:15 to take the free shuttle to the Cancun Messe, where NGOs and country booths are, as well as our own SustainUS booth. First, most of my delegation attended the Spokes Council meeting of YOUNGO (youth NGOs). Today was fairly logistical, but we had a taste of the complexity of the deliberation process. I have been looking into and supporting the 1.5 review, trying to write a policy statement for it.

It's astonishing how cold the negotiating centers are! They keep the air conditioning up so high, ironically with the doors open.

I attended a side event put on by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency about how far the Copenhagen targets are from the 2 degrees commitment, which was interesting.

In the afternoon I made it over to the Moon Palace (about a 15 minute shuttle ride away) and sat in on a CMP (Conference Meeting of Parties). Countries were giving species on behalf of groups of countries about their hopes for the conference. It's amazing to see it in real life, to hear the opinions coming from real people's mouths.

I then headed back to the Cancun Messe for the presentation of the Fossil of the Day (the worst polluter/negotiator for a reasonable treaty). First, second, and third place were all given to Canada, for their tar sands, tabling of their climate bill by a non-congress, and their failure to pursue their already weak emissions reduction.

After a short delegation meeting, I headed back with the policy working group to the Moon Palace for a meeting about policy. This meeting revealed the complications of requesting 1.5 degrees to be the aim rather than 2 degrees as a maximum rise in global temperature. Apparently we have already committed ourselves (with our 390ppm) to a 1.4 - 2 degrees increase and carbon sequestration is not yet sufficiently developed. I do not know how that proposal will be received on YOUNGO, in fact my support for it has waned, after hearing the sophisticated arguments of my co-delegates.

I'm honored to be on this delegation, they seem to have their act together.

Supper consisted of free food at a reception on the "Moon Terrace" of the Moon Palace, which was pleasant because of the sea breeze.

Took the shuttle back to our apartment which took about an hour.

Heading to bed quite desperate for rest.

-Laura