High Level Segment (UNCSD-19)

Today, my morning ended and started early.

By this, I mean that I went to bed at 3am as we were working on the Opening Statement for the High Level session + negotiations for Waste Management ended at 1:44am. I woke at 6:40am (surprisingly refreshed) to get ready for the start of the High Level Session in the GA Hall at the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development -19.

I rushed to my morning meeting as I wanted to speak at this CSD and there was going to be a vote about who will speak. I won that vote and Jean Paul (Cameroon was second chair). We rushed over to the 2nd floor of the GA hall and found our seats.

We heard from some great key note speakers such as Jeffery Sachs (Starting from 25.50).




I was sitting on the Ground floor of the GA in the Major Group of Children and Youth's seat (I got to see all the Ministers as they left the podium. It was awesome, almost like being in a movie, and it was great to be able to thank ministers as they passed by for our major (and mini) advocacy victories. And there were many. I have never been so proud in my life.

And despite the blatant dismissal (without apology) of the Major Group's right to speak (based on Agenda 21) I was still on a euphoric high that our thematic teams had achieved so much concrete change in so little time. It made me proud to be the MGCY's policy advocacy coordinator.

Rio+20s & CSD-19

I don't know if I am stupid to use my blog like a diary but....

Today, I was asked to join the board of Rio+20s a youth led NGO that focuses on facilitating involvement with Rio+20 (the earth summit -20 years on). I had guessed that I was going to be asked to join when they asked to meet me on Friday. So, I had asked my core close friends and colleagues who were active with Youth and the UN CSD for their honest opinions.

These were mixed because their are a lot of perspectives of Rio+20s as a group. Some youth feel that they are redefining the Major Group of Children and Youth while making it elitist. Others felt that I would be a better asset to the work of the MGCY as an independent and some wholeheartedly supported that I join the team. After careful evaluation, I went into the meeting prepared to get involved but armed with a list of tie breaking questions.

Anyhoo, I joined. So, now I have to leave NYC, get on a plane for Ireland and I realise that the UN CSD-19 isn't the end....just the beginning of my preparations for Rio next year and that I have signed on for a mammoth task. I have agreed to take on Communications for Rio+20s.

Good byes flew and it was bitter sweet. Negotiations haven't ended and as Policy Advocacy Coordinator for the Major Group of Children and Youth---I feel a little like I am bailing before the final push. Goretti is with me as I prepare to leave and do a final sweep of Hiromi's apartment for anything I may have forgotten. The two weeks of the UN CSD-19 have realllllllllly just evaporated. But so worthwhile!

SCP– the building blocks for a Greener Economy.

My favourite part of the UNCSD (apart from the Major Group of Children and Youth's lobbying and coordinating a hardcore policy team) was side events. Among my favorite ones were a series held on the Green Economy by the Nordic Council of Ministers
 



We all know that the concept of a Green Economy needs a pragmatic approach with feasible instruments for countries striving for a path towards low-carbon, small-footprint societies. A necessary part of this is the contribution that sustainable consumption and production patterns, models, programmes and strategies can make in both the developed and developing world.The first in the series dealt with this in a clear, concise and hard hitting manner. The speakers were informative, intelligent and I learnt a lot. You can watch it for yourself (above or below)

Advocacy

How can you advocate for change if you are a small group? How can you positively impact on UN negotiations? How can the Major Group for Children and Youth change things?

Simple

We organise, we make relationships and we lobby like crazy. We are an informed, up to date, dedicated and hardworking team of crazy lobbyists.

It is scary how effective we have become. We have had numerous victories. We have listened to various negotiations and it is really great to hear that member states are meeting with us to lobby us to change our wording of proposed amendments. We have been mentioned in ministerial statements during the beginning of the High Level Session. We have been invited to attend real negotiations. We have actually constructively participated in bi-lateral meetings. It is such a rich experience. Yesterday, I met with the South African Environmental Minister. On behalf our Waste Management focal points (Mitch and Mika). I asked some hard hitting key questions....such as what South Africa plans to do with the tonnes of e-waste that they generate. It was thrilling to hear her mention it in her statement during the High Level Opening. Ireland deserves special recognition for actually mentioning Youth and Children Major Group directly.

Transportation Negotiations

It is Tuesday of week 2. Negotiations for the UN CSD-19 are slow but that is usual. I am sitting in a small room with negotiators from some key groups that are discussing small wording amendments. The Chair's style is quite confrontational. But that is necessary as otherwise things would grind to a halt. It is tiring to watch.

Options seem limited. It is even more frustrating by the fact that some negotiators are not mandated to make concrete policy changes or amendments or accept things. I can see my country's negotiators sitting there silently watching proceedings. It isn't complicated. But they make it as complicated as swimming tar. If you do not have an active imagination, swimming in tar is not pleasant, it isn't sexy, it isn't fun, it isn't fun, it is seriously like watching paint drying then peeling off a building. It is discouraging.

It is hard to listen to. It is hard to explain what is happening without saying what they are discussing but as they are private negotiations, it is all very confidential and we do not want to set back negotiations further by mentioning the unmentionable.

I can say that the youth trackers have this room really well staked out. We actually have four youth in here. We are all listening closely and writing down any potential suggestions. It is funny how certain states insist on reading out positions while ignoring the fact that everyone else is tired and just want to create concrete changes based on positions. They need and want agreement. It is so exciting to watch real policy being negotiated. This is what I studied in University and this is what I love doing. Discussing policy, immersing myself in tiny details and listening to agreements.

I love negotiations.

Expert seminar: Sustainable Consumption in a Green Economy

The Major Group of Children and Youth's SCP lobbying team dragged me along to a side event on the consumption perspective in sustainable development focusing on the Nordic and other key European experiences. However, I am glad I spent my Sunday evening at this discussion of how to promote sustainable consumption patterns and sustainable lifestyles globally that stimulate a greening of the economy.

We arrived a few minutes late as there had been meeting about Rio +20 in DC2. But we still managed to get a lot out of the event. You can see the slides here if you are interested in experiencing the event for yourself. What I found unique about this event was that there was a lively discussion (and debate) with the audience. Gabe gave a great intro to the youth perspective on the topic and it was just fun to participate in the buzz.

So, tomorrow is Monday and another day of active lobbying at the UNCSD-19. So, bed for me.

You can also watch an interview with Danish Minister for the Environment Karen Ellemann at CSD19: Sustainable Consumption and Production – Trade barriers or global responsibility?

Who Spoke:

The seminar was opened by Antero Honkasalo, Environment Counsellor and Director, Finnish Ministry of Environment, after which Professor Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director, Professor John Holmberg, Vice President of Chalmers University, Sweden and Mr. Rajan Gandhi, CEO at Society in Action Group (SAG) presented their perspectives on sustainable consumption in a green economy.

These speakers were then joined by panellists from a broad range of organisations and regions of the world, including Timo Mäkelä, Director at DG Environment of the EU Commission; Dianne Dillon-Ridgeley, Director of Interface Inc. and the Center for International Law; Nis Christensen, Deputy Head of Division, Danish Environmental Protection Agency; Shun Fung Chiu, Professor and President of the Asia-Pacific Roundtable on SCP; Vanessa Timmer, Executive Director of One Earth Initiative; and Luis Flores Mimica, Project Manager, Consumers International, Chile. 

Organizers:

 
The seminar was organised by the Nordic Council of Ministers and its working group on Sustainable Consumption and Production in cooperation with the European Environment Agency (EEA) and its European Topic Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (ETC/SCP)

UN CSD-19 Youth Blast.

It is insanely early. I am sitting in a typically american diner near Union Square drinking black coffee and waiting for my burger (yes, lunch for breakfast before 6am). It is amazingly invigorating being back in new york. I look at the pile of shiney silver quarters and imagine what I am going to do for the next two weeks.

It is not going to be easy. It is a culmination of about 1 years preparations that began in June 2010 when I agreed to be the facilitator for the UN CSD-19 Major Group of Children and Youth. I was totally unprepared for what that process would kick start or how we would get approximately 133 collaborators to work on a short 1000 word position paper. It is insane how that potentially complicated concept seemed so simple at the time. I can remember the deadline looming, the crazy conference calls to try to increase participation, the numerous innovative technical ideas that we experimented with and it is crazy how things came together. But even more surprisingly, how I never expected that it wouldn't come together. It is weird how this whole process has been one where I have complete confidence in things coming together.

The Youth Blast itself turned out to be a completely interesting experience. I was happy that I had created slides, even though the slides had been edited since I submitted them. It is slightly scary how everyone believes that I know what I am talking about and have confidence that I can coordinate the policy for CSD-19 for the Major Group of Children and Youth. I have been running briefing meetings that have been making the idea come together more for me but I am not as certain as people seem to think. Or possibly, I just think that they believe that I can do it?

Wow! This is so completely unexpected. I can't believe that my abstract conceptualisation is actually coming together. The majority of the youth have split into thematic teams and have lobbypoints, specific policy amendments to the text and I sincerely hope that I do not let this amazingly inspiring team down by not actually knowing what I am doing. I had better get organised!!!!