2010 Planning Meetings - Get involved

With information just in from the 350 Global team on plans for 2010, 350 Aotearoa is currently holding meetings to start discussing our strategic direction for  the year ahead.

Meetings are every other Wednesday at 6pm at various locations around Wellington. If you are interested in joining the early planning process for 2010 and would like to receive updates on specific meeting dates and locations, please email Rachel at rachelsophia86@gmail.com.

Can't make the initial strategy meetings? No worries. We're aiming to hold our first ever Annual General Meeting (AGM) in April, so as many of us as possible can talk together about what we want to get to work on for the year. Keep an eye out on the website for details, or follow the instructions at the top-right corner of this page to join the 350 mailing list to receive an email invite.

 

2010: USA and China here we come! 

350 Aotearoa spent a good part of last year focused on building momentum for a positive outcome from the UN Copenhagen climate negotiations. We set ourselves an immense challenge, by demanding nothing less than a fair and ambitious global treaty that will get us back to a concentration of carbon dioxide equivalents that is safe for our planet; no more than 350 parts per million (ppm). When I say we, I’m speaking of the hundreds of thousands of citizens who were involved in the 350.org October 24th International Day of Climate Action and other NGO-led campaigns such as Greenpeace’s Sign On campaign. So how did we go?

 

When evaluated against our aspiration for the Copenhagen negotiations, well, it’s rather depressing. The Accord that came out of the COP15 negotiations allows global emissions to continue on their exponential growth path, only diverging slightly from business as usual scenarios. The Accord successfully severed our hopes that an agreement based on science and the most important of numbers, 350ppm would emerge from COP15. The trajectory provided by the Accord will see us double the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere. We’re headed for 770ppm, and that means that our planet is set to be more than 3 degrees warmer on average than it currently is. The social implications of the Accord are similarly grim. The right to survival of those in the most vulnerable countries have been traded like poker chips. It takes remarkably little moral fibre to know that that IS NOT OKAY!

 

However, we’re not done yet. Our leaders are not done yet. And our efforts in 2009 were just the beginning of our journey to get us back to 350ppm. While we didn’t get the treaty we wanted (and the treaty that Earth needs), it is easy to see the impact that our efforts have made.

 

At the national level, both the 350 movement and the Sign On campaign were instrumental in shifting the Government’s targets from a probable 0-10% reduction on 1990 levels to a 10-20% reduction target. In building the 350 movement in NZ, we deliberately sought to build bridges and steered away from actions that would further polarise the situation. Our ethos has been to work with rather than against those who might be our adversaries. This approach reflects our longer-term vision to restore and regenerate our climate, communities and planet.

 

350 Aotearoa’s approach may not be the most conventional – we didn’t have any celebrities, we didn’t have any budget to spend on advertising (and barely a budget at all) and we didn’t set out to name and shame our adversaries. But what we did have was people power, and it showed – both at the national level and at the international level. Whenever we spoke with MPs or talked at schools, it was the stories and photos of ordinary people getting involved that made them look at us twice.

 

For every of the 160 actions organised in NZ on the International Day of Action on Oct 24^th, 2009 there are stories to be told of the lessons learnt and the new bonds of friendship built. We have a grassroots movement that reaches into every region of Aotearoa and is linked with the 350 movement that spans just about every country in the world. Well, at least another 180 countries anyway. That is something that we have never had before. And it can’t be reiterated enough how important your part in this movement is (or will be - if you’re just joining us now!).

 

It’s when we zoom out to the international level, that we get the most incredible picture of how far we have come in less than a year – as well as the picture that shows how far we still have to go. At COP15, the most vulnerable countries were more outspoken and united than ever before. Ambassador Lima, spokesperson for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), which has 42 member states, thanked the 350 movement, saying that “we no longer feel alone, because we know you support us, and we haven’t had that before”. For most of the first week of COP15, the African states were also more united than we’d seen before, as the moral conviction that survival is not negotiable became made a strong showing at the negotiations. Thanks to the efforts of civil society, it was supported by more than 100 countries in the call for the 350ppm target, because 350=survival.

 

Things changed rapidly as the heads of states arrived in the second week, and the details that really mattered were stifled by the powerplay of the wealthy and powerful nations. Survival became negotiable; and the rest is history. While we had many successes, the ultimate success of seaing a 350 deal eludes us. As we step on into 2010, I ask you to join us – it’s the most important work we could be doing in 2010.

 

Over the next few weeks, plans for the 350 movement are being hatched in every corner of the globe. The two lynchpins that need to be shifted are the United States and China, and it is almost certain that these will be the focus of the global movement. What does that look like in New Zealand? I invite you to join the conversation at 350.org.nz.

Finally, Martin Luther-King Jnr made the observation that “the arc of history is long but it bends toward justice”. The work of 2010 is to bend that arc as much and as fast as we can, because for the most vulnerable, survival is waning.

 By Aaron Packard

 

see more at 350.org

The Real Climate-gate: Civil Society Reacts Furiously to Leaked UN Document

COPENHAGEN -- Earlier this afternoon, leaked documents from the Secretariat emerged that demonstrate conclusively what we’ve been saying for months: the proposals now on the board would increase the planet’s temperature more than three degrees, and drive the concentration of co2 in the atmosphere above 550 ppm.

Click here to download the document.

The leaked documents—which have the name of 350.org founder Bill McKibben scrawled across the top, for reasons we don’t know—make it clear that any claim that negotiators are aiming to hold temperature increases to 1.5 or 2 degrees are sham.

“In one sense this is no secret—we’ve been saying it for months. But it is powerful to have the UN confirming its own insincerity,” said McKibben.

The actual numbers for the current proposals are almost certainly even higher than the leaked document concludes. Climate Interactive, using an MIT software model, currently estimates we’ll see temperature increases of 3.9 degrees and a co2 concentration of 770 ppm by the year 2100.


As word of the bombshell leaked Secretariat document has spread around civil society groups now barred from the negotiating hall, reaction has been fierce:

“This is the real Climate-gate—the UN has known all along that they were perpetrating a charade,” said Bill McKibben, at 350.org, whose name was scrawled across the top of the document.  “It’s the smoking gun, and the smoke is coming from a scorched planet.”

“Twelve million people have called for a real deal that holds temperature increases to two degrees,” said Ben Margolis, director of the TckTckTck campaign. “Three degrees temperature rise would result in truly dire impacts.”

“The stark message for world leaders at Copenhagen is that the proposals on the table - especially from industrialised countries - fall far short of what the world needs," said Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF-UK.

For a secret bonus chuckle, check out the very end of the document, which says that the estimated temperature rise of 3 degrees “will reduce significantly the probability to stay within a temperature increase of 2 degrees Celsius.”  You think?

 

 

From Aaron Packard in Copenhagen: Your actions are making a huge difference, but will they be enough?

It's such a crazy feeling being here at the moment – it's hard to imagine being part of a more tense, complicated or consequential situation. Here's some quick updates and reflections.

The good news – 100 countries for 350!

We just heard a speech by Grenadian President H.E. Tilman Thomas that over 100 countries now support the call for 350ppm and a no more than 1.5 degree temperature rise. One has only to be in the Bella Centre for an hour to see what a massive difference your efforts have made. Yesterday I spent the day handing out ties with 350 printed on them to official delegates. At one point I made the mistake of opening up the box as I was walking and I was swamped. The Minister from Sierra Leone came rushing up to me "Give me a 350 tie now!"

We're only getting such traction because of your actions. Over the last week and a bit, we have been supporting developing nations to be increasingly vocal about their calls for 350. At the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) press conference at the end of last week, the AOSIS Ambassador Lima thanked 350.org: “It is moving because we do not feel alone. We are an alliance of small islands and sometimes we feel very alone. We need you because you are our voice outside of the islands, and we need you because your government will listen to you whereas they don’t listen to us.”

The bad news – the way the talks are going we're headed for 770ppm

Although we've been working as hard as we can to keep the 350ppm target in the text, things aren't particularly hopeful. In fact the way they're going we're en route to a 770ppm future. Jamie Henn has more to say about this on the 350.org blog.

Protestors attempt to break through the walls of the Bella Centre

Today has been an action-packed day. The police got pretty heavy-handed with their batons and pepper-spray as the Climate Justice Action protestors attempted to break through the walls of the Bella Centre and take over the plenary. Once inside the plenary they were to hold a 'people's summit'. A group of protestors were successful at disrupting the plenary for a short time – to the applause of a number of the party delegates. But the 'people's summit' didn't eventuate. They've put a total ban on NGOs entering the Bella Centre for the rest of the day. So things are not pretty and they're not very democratic at the moment. Isn't global governance great!

My closing thoughts

When Archbishop Desmond Tutu addressed the crowd in Hopenhagen square on Sunday, he claimed that it is not until we "put down all the walls that separate us that we realise that we are all in this together". The real hope that I have found here at the vast Bella Centre is from the incredibly diverse and inspirational young people. With over 2000 young people from just about any country imaginable, a new way of working is emerging. It is a way of working that goes beyond national boundaries and interests. It is built on the premise that we are all fundamentally connected. Whether I am talking to my friend from Burundi, Malaysia or Mexico, there is a common understanding that each of us matter, and that we are equal partners on the planet.

Now there are those who are not particularly bothered by the fact that their carbon-intensive lifestyle causes suffering to people in a far-off place. However, these people are in the minority because it takes surprisingly little moral fibre to know within oneself that the right to survival should be our bottom line. However this is particularly inconvenient for any industrialised nation, including NZ, to enact in reality, because it challenges the status quo. A 350 target means rapid transformation of how we live. In short, it means phasing out all coal as soon as possible, and going further than being carbon neutral to becoming a nation that absorbs more carbon than it emits. For those who are into luxurious living, it will be time to redefine luxury. A 350 future would never jeopardise our survival, but it would allow us to give the greatest gift we could give: survival to those most vulnerable.

Day 3, 4 & 5 update: The roller-coaster ride continues

The last three days have seen all sorts of things going on.

Last night we were at the 350 Art space, where the team have been flat out preparing for the massive climate demonstration through Copenhagen to the Bella Centre tomorrow. 30,000 people are expected, and over half the Danish police force will be joining us. Check out the tour of the 350 Art space here (video taken by Emily Dowding-Smith also from 350 Aotearoa, who has come for a visit from where she is studying in Budapest):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY1H_Rf5gDs

Yesterday I had the privilege of moderating a side-event that 350.org was organising. We had 5 different youth-based groups from around the world working on climate education and action. It was totally inspiring to see the amazing youth network that is emerging from all over the world. Supposedly there are 2000 young people at the COP15. 

 

This morning, AOSIS (the Alliance of Small Island States) held a press conference, releasing their text that supports Tuvalu’s position. We have been collaborating strongly with them, to make the 350 message is prominent and to make sure that they can stand as strongly as possible – for survival.

 

The team is working super hard to make sure that the candle-lit vigils have maximum impact. We look forward to seeing your photos and taking them with us into the Bella centre to display them.

 

Bill McKibben has arrived, and has been non-stop doing interviews.  One of my tasks at the moment is to track down a teleprompter for President Nasheed from the Maldives when him and Bill speak at the Klimaforum on Monday. I’ve also started work on an article for the Dom Post, so look out for that early next week.

 

At the Tuvalu action on Day 3, 350 got in a bit of trouble and for a while, the UN security wanted to ban the entire 350.org delegation from COP15! Thankfully we worked through it and are all still allowed in, but we have to be a bit careful at the moment!

 

Minister Tim Groser arrived last night as well as Jeanette Fitzsimmons and Kennedy Graham from the Green Party. Charles Chauvel arrives tomorrow night. SO the NZ party is getting bigger! You might have seen that NZ got 3^rd place in the Fossil of the Day awards – check out the video of George Morrison from the NZ Youth Delegation receiving the award on behalf of NZ: http://www.fossiloftheday.com/

 

Well, I better run and find that dang teleprompter!

 

Mauri ora

Aaron 

 

African nations: Rich countries are "stealing the sky"

This through from the 350 team at COP15: What the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance are saying about why they are so unhappy about the deals currently being suggested.

They wind up by saying that the world can stop runaway climate change: "It’s not too late to save the Earth. We have the money, the technology and the capacity. All we need is the will to act. And to act now!"

Be at a vigil this weekend! 

Blog update from Aaron Packard in Copenhagen

I’ve seen the number 350 a lot this weekend, but particularly on people’s t-shirts and at the tip of their tongues. It’s Sunday night and the Conference of Youth has just ended. About 500 young people from just about any country imaginable – Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Barbados, Fiji and of course the healthy contingent of NZers (mainly from the NZ Youth Delegation) have spent the weekend preparing and networking for what is likely to be a crazy 2 weeks. There’s plenty of excitement, a certain sense of nervousness and lashings of determination; all mixed in with a healthy dose of hope. The city of Copenhagen is doing its best to show signs of hope too, with a pretty widespread renaming of the city to Hopenhagen. All sorts of local and global companies and organisations have taken out advertising – in the airport, in bus shelters and on buildings, declaring Hope 'n' hagen.

So will this hope and the hopes of millions around the world see a fair and ambitious climate treaty based on the science come to fruition? Well, it’s sure to be a roller-coaster ride, but I’ll be here posting blog updates every couple of days or when exciting/important happens. Also you might like to follow the NZ Youth Delegation
Cheerio for now,
 
Aaron

Day 2 in Copenhagen: "They are asking us to sign a suicide pact"

Things got intense pretty quickly. Talk about all emotions at once! It's like permanently walking around an airport but no one's going anywhere! You can see the look on everyone's faces – everyone's on a mission and it looks important. But it's pretty easy to tell that most of these looks are a cover-up, and that most of the people are simply running around like slightly anxious headless chickens. I've done a bit of that and in all likelihood will continue to do so.

Day 2 had 2 major developments that deserve mentioning:

1."They are asking us to sign a suicide pact"

My 350.org colleague Adam Welz went to the G77 briefing, where Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, the Sudanese negotiator whose country hold the Presidency of Group of 77 spoke. Tears were streaming down his face, as he uttered to the meeting "They are asking us to sign a suicide pact". Because for Africa, where many countries are already facing 5-year droughts and devastation from climate change, signing up to the 2 degree and 450ppm targets is suicide. They need 350ppm, and they are calling for an agreement that limits warming to 1 degree. Following the meeting, African delegates took over the corridor and started a fiery chant, which I was witness to and it sure got my heart racing. "1 degree, 1 Africa. 2 degrees is suicide, we will not die quietly". Check out the video here:

The Sudanese negotiator concluded his speech saying that the powers that be mean that he cannot change much, many African negotiators are corrupt, the media does not cover their story and so he said that it is up to civil society to be vocal, to demand a fair treaty! So PLEASE, I beg you from here in Copenhagen to join a candle-lit vigil on this Saturday, Dec 12th. See how easy and fun it can be here: 

2. The leaked "Danish Text" 

A draft paper was leaked to the Guardian, the implications have rocked the negotiations. 13 pages long, I'm running out of time now to write about it, so check out the article here (although I've been told that it should be taken with a grain of salt as the alternative text is not ideal): http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/08/copenhagen-climate-summit-disarray-danish-text

I gotta run now to Day 3, it's no doubt going to be another roller-coaster ride. I'll report tomorrow, when NZ Minister Tim Groser arrives – he'll be at the briefing meeting.

All the best,

Aaron