Don Gerritsen - vrijdag 7 november 2008 Climate: action and input!

We are on the verge of the United Nations Climate Change conference, which will take place in Poznan, Poland in December. Fortunately, I will attend it on behalf of the Dutch youth and I'm really looking forward to it!

And you can help me!

This conference is of utter importance. Why? Phew! There are too many reasons... We're already experiencing the impact of climate change in our everyday life. If you're not, at least developing country dwellers are. Remember that.

Needless to say that we need to act now, regardless the economic crisis or any other excuse. If we do not act against climate change, the economies of western as well as developing countries will face even more severe challenges.

The outcome of the UNFCCC conference in Poland can spur the uniting politicians to take action against climate change and transfer the momentum to their constituencies for a new agreement in Copenhagen in 2009. With a rejuvenated delegation from the US!

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty erected at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992.

The treaty is aimed at: stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

According to UNFCCC, ‘This has to be achieved within a timeframe sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner' (UNFCCC, 1992).

Unfortunately, this objective has not been achieved (right, the food crisis has already left major traces around the world). But this may definitely by no means a reason to sit back, relax and laissez-faire.

We must act here and now to combat climate change, anyhow. Our planet is at stake.

The objective of the upcoming UNFCCC Conference of the Parties in Poznan is as follows:

• Agree on a plan of action and programmes of work for the final year of negotiations after a year of comprehensive and extensive discussions on crucial issues relating to future commitments, actions and cooperation
• Make significant progress on a number of on-going issues required to enhance further the implementation of the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol
• Advance understanding and commonality of views on "shared vision" for a new climate change regime (Hopefully in Copenhagen, next year)
• Strengthen momentum and commitment to the process and the agreed timeline.
  Rather vague, isn't it? But let's do our utmost to -at least- achieve this.

We're currently working on a position paper to present to environment minister Cramer to further elaborate concrete stances of the Dutch youth. For you!

How can we tackle climate change? What is your opinion? Please contact me for your input! Would really be of help to us.

Don Gerritsen
www.dongerritsen.com