Today a youth working group managed to successfully get a text passed in a UN contact group (a small group that meets about a specific issue).  They were lobbying for improved education, training, and awareness about climate change.  To succeed, they approached official delegates, including those from the US and the Dominican Republic, to request that they bring up points on the behalf of the youth (since we can not speak in these meetings).  So after a not-so-controversial UN discussion about the text, it was passed by the contact group and will be submitted to a larger body, such as the Subsidiary Body on Implementation, and, if approved at that level, it will become an official COP decision.

After witnessing this event, I attended a meeting about the legality of COP decisions, of course a complex topic.  It revealed the complex issue of whether to keep the negotiations on two tracks, Kyoto Protocol and Long Term Cooperative Action (ie non Kyoto), or to make them one track, meaning that all countries would be signed onto the same new treaty.

It seemed that civil society involvement was the topic of the day (I attended two meetings about it anyway).  The second was focused on increasing the participation of NGOs in the UN process through interventions (input during UN meetings) or improved information sharing.

I later attended a YOUNGO policy working group meeting, which we had outside of the Moon Palace, in the cool sea breeze.  We intend to submit our policy proposals to spokescouncil tomorrow to get the approval of YOUNGO.  The reason for this is so that actions can be based on a solid YOUNGO policy and we will have a consistent foundation to use while lobbying.

I was so glad to see Lindsay after another exhausting day at COP.  She and I had tacos and guacamole together and made a pitiful attempt to catch up on what has happened in each other’s lives.