The atmosphere has become somewhat tense around the Bella Centre as we wait on the arrival of state leaders. By all accounts, negotiations for a successor-treaty to the Kyoto Protocol have slowed down as parties dispute the breadth of necessary emission cuts and funding that should be transferred to help developing nations combat climate change. Unfortunately, security considerations have prompted the UN Secretariat to restrict NGO’s access to the conference center. This has coincided with several scuffles by groups assembled outside of its doors. While they make for dramatic television, these events should not be interpreted to broadly represent the conference’s participating civil society groups. Our delegation - like many other NGOs- has never endorsed nor participated in actions that are not sanctioned by the UN Secretariat. More significantly, however, these events should not distract us from the purpose of this summit.
Over the past two weeks, I have served as our delegation’s spokesperson in YOUNGO, which is a stakeholder constituency that facilitates the activities of accredited youth delegations. While differences between groups have inevitably arisen, YOUNGO’s spokes-council sessions have usually managed to operate along principles of consensus-based decision-making. Participants have consistently endeavoured to resolve disagreements before voting on proposals. They have also striven to ensure equitable gender and geographical representation in all council meetings. I am hopeful that state leaders will be able to demonstrate similar qualities and working habits over the conference’s remaining days and that youth groups will continue to play a constructive role in UNFCCC processes.
No comments:
Post a Comment