Sunday, December 13th

Today, Sunday the 13th was particularity interesting. The Bella Center (Place holding the conference) was completely closed to everyone. Not a single soul was allowed into the building. Myself and two other CA delegates that arrived on Saturday took the awesome metro to the Bella Center in the morning. Just as rumors had suggested, the Bella Center was closed. We stuck around for 20 minutes taking pictures of the area. There is a water feature beneath the metro that is very interesting. It is a large square basin with statues of Island nation citizens standing in knee-deep water. The significance is the rising sea levels due to climate change. This water feature was very insightful. Additionally, I found out that there are red lights attached to streetlights all over Copenhagen giving people the idea of rising sea level heights. It’s very well done.

After the Bella Center we ventured and ate lunch. Following this, we attended a conference called “Bright Green”. This conference was in central Copenhagen. It was a business-oriented forum consisting of booths, lectures, and sessions. The booths ranged from alternative fuel companies all the way to construction companies. The booths were all very nicely displayed and were very interesting.

We met with several other people for a lecture by the U.S. Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu. The lecture was about the United States involvement with alternative energy. Though interesting, it was pretty disappointing. Chu is not a very good speaker, and talked mostly about alternative energy technologies rather than polices for implementation. It was like a standard lecture at a university. Following Chu was the Chair of IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), Rajendra K. Pachauri. This was amazing! I have seen him on many videos from lectures at Cal Poly! He spoke about how we need to act now, and how COP15 is extremely important for human civilization to survive. It was very interesting, but short (Luckily I am going to another lecture of his Tuesday!). I was very impressed by this man.

Bright Green ended shortly after Pachauri’s speech. We gathered up all the information brochures we obtained and headed on out. It was snowing when we got outside. I have not seen it snow in so long! Following this we needed to move our belongings to another apartment. This ended the day.

Up next: First day of COP15 at Bella Center!

First Impressions!

The first day was very interesting. I started by getting locked out of the apartment 4 hours before I actually moved in! But besides that, everything has been great! Simply put, Copenhagen is an amazing city. The city is absolutely beautiful and very interesting. Upon arrival the image of a well-structured and managed city was noticeable. The infrastructure was particularity noteworthy because of the use of public transportation. Few, if any, cars were on the road. Quickly, I noticed bicycles rule the city!

I took the train from the Copenhagen airport to Central Station. I have never seen anything like this station in my entire life. It’s simply massive! It is also beautiful. I took a taxi to where I would be staying. Unfortunately, no one was home to let me in.

Four hours later…

Finally let in! But not after exploring the city by myself. Once again, I noticed the dependence on bike and walking. Why can’t U.S. cities be like this? Well, I know the answer. But really… C’mon America! Urban sprawl has ruined U.S. cities! This is not to bash our U.S. city planners. While exploring Copenhagen I gained some knowledge about the cultural norms. First, the people are absolutely some of the nicest citizens I have ever met. One other CSSC delegate was handed 400 krones (1 U.S. dollar is approximately 5 Krones) for free! She was almost in tears from being lost, but a nice Samaritan from Copenhagen generously helped her out. This is truly a unique act of kindness. Second, the citizens of Copenhagen like live in small communities of people within the city. Each building has a courtyard that is connected by many apartments. This allows the people to socialize and be active outdoors! The people are continuously outside of their houses. Even in 30-degree weather. Last, the Dutch are obsessed with their hotdogs! They are extremely delicious.

The sun quickly set around 5PM. I met with other CSSC delegates soon after. We roamed the streets of Copenhagen (or Hopenhagen as most people are calling it). Central to the city is Copenhagen Plaza. For COP15 there is a large globe in the center with projections constantly reading “Hopenhagen”. The area is completely lit green and has a stage in the front. There are musicians constantly playing on this stage. This area looks similar to the picture above. I will have actual pictures when I get back home.

Overall, my stay in Copenhagen has been great so far. I look forward to attending the conference for the first time tomorrow morning.

A Brief Introduction of Michael Symmes

I am currently 37,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, just south of Greenland. This is my first trip to Denmark, and it will surely be a monumental occasion for both the World and myself. My name is Michael Symmes, and I was recently selected and generously given a donation for traveling to Copenhagen for the Conference of the Parties, COP15. I cam currently a California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo student, majoring in Environmental Management and Protection. Recently, an Atascadero 350.org group, headed by Fred Frank and Ray Weymann, selected me for participating in this wonderful endeavor. I will commit my best effort for fulfilling obligations I agreed to when accepting this donation.

The conference of the Parties, COP15, represents a crucial time for society to correct current policies and political ideals related to global Climate Change. Scientists agree on a safe cap for emissions, while policymakers are stuck in the debating process. COP15 provides a small opportunity of time for policymakers to address the conservation of our beloved planet. With the expiration of the Kyoto Protocol nearing, another adopted global policy must be created.

Having the opportunity to witness COP15 first-hand will be quite the experience! I have been working hard as the Executive Intern for the California Student Sustainability Coalition to send California youth to Copenhagen, Denmark. Through the Earth Island Institute, students from around California will have the opportunity to witness the conference from inside. Chosen applicants have been officially credentialed and allowed in for the occasion of a lifetime!

My ambitions are very straightforward. I want to represent the California youths voice in these negotiations. Climate Change is a challenge for my generation and the resulting generations to come. Policymakers must recognize the opportunity for change. Attending this conference will not only allow my individual voice to be heard, but also reflect the strong feelings of my generation. I intend to be an avid observer, gather the most up to date information, and to interact with our world leaders. Furthermore, I would like to spread this knowledge throughout college campuses and communities across California. Knowledge is power, and the spread of knowledge leads to change.

The hurdle for passing a Climate Change policy is about to approach. Pressure for the United States and other countries to implement sustainable policies have been blooming over the past months. 350.org rallies, Power shift West, and tck.tck.tck have all made efforts to create political momentum. COP15 is the tipping point for our global struggle, and will hopefully bring the change necessary for a sustainable future. Witnessing this conference will be a tremendous honor.

Santa Cruz Youth call for a Strong Legal Deal at COP-15

The University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) student delegation to COP-15 is making daily hand deliveries to the US negotiators of postcards, signed by California youth, asking for a Fair, Ambitious, and Binding Copenhagen Treaty. “We know the US delegation is working hard and can only do so much,” says Jennifer Helfrich of the delegation, “The postcards are not to convince them, they know the issue. The postcards are a way for us to interact with them on a daily basis and to bring attention to the role of both the US and of youth in the negotiations.” The UCSC delegation, in solidarity with the international youth climate movement, wishes to highlight that the world’s youth will bear the brunt of Climate Change. As those who will be dealing with the outcome of the Negotiations for decades to come, UCSC delegates see the youth stance as deserving of emphasis in Copenhagen.

The UCSC delegation is working with 500 other US youth and hundreds more international youth at COP-15 to remind delegates, and attendees that they are negotiating on behalf of future generations, not present economic interests. These youth are constantly collaborating to make their voice heard at the conference and to raise awareness globally. This includes demonstrations inside and outside of COP-15 as well as coordination with youth back home. In the conference proper the 500 US Youth are creating a presence in US presentations, whether debriefs or speeches, by outnumbering other attendees and raising pointed questions. Youth of the US are also in the midst of preparations for interacting with US congressional appearances during the last week of the conference.

The UCSC delegation consists of 5 students; Jennifer Helfrich, Eva Stevens, Darlene Khalafi, Vince Celli and Joshua Cowan. These students whose majors range from environmental studies to anthropology have come together to make their voice heard and represent California Youth at COP-15. These young delegates are in Copenhagen to support the goals of the US Youth Statement to “aim for a sustainable future to lessen the impact of our greenhouse gas emissions nationally and globally… and to demand stricter laws and enforcement at the national and international level,”. As Joshua Cowan put it “We are not here just for CA Youth, or even international Youth. We are here for the youth of today and tomorrow. We want to be able to tell our grandchildren that when these decisions were made we acted with them in our hearts! ”. The UCSC delegation hopes that the daily delivery of their postcards and their support of the Youth Movement at Copenhagen will help the nations of the world “Seal the Deal”.

Meet Darlene Khalafi

Haj!

I am a second year Environmental Studies/ Biology major who is part of the youth environmental movement happening across the globe. I am currently involved with the Sierra Student Coalition, UC Santa Cruz's Student Environmental Center, and Stevenson Colleges Path to a Greener Stevenson. During my involvement with several non-profit groups and student organizations on campus, my experiences have shown me that the road to environmental responsibility and sustainability will not be an easy nor simple one. From the COP15, like many youth, I look forward to a FAB deal (Fair, Binding and Amibitious). As part of a larger working group of US Youth to COP15, I will be working on actions to take place in order to influence the decisions of policy makers here in Copenhagen.

However, I feel that making progress in Copenhagen will be challenging. Opposing viewpoints from many administrations about what kind of steps are necessary in order to maintain a safe climate condition will make delegation tough. Also, since the early days of the climate change convention, NGOs have been actively involved, attending sessions and exchanging views with other participants, including delegates. It is recognized that this involvement allows vital experience, expertise, information and perspectives from civil society to be brought into the process to generate new insights and approaches. Furthermore, the access and participation of observers to the process promotes transparency in this increasingly complex universal problem. From my first hand experience in this process I hope to learn all I can about local, national, and international policy as well as how governing bodies work to mediate the needs of several groups of people to ensure proper outcomes.

Through a partnership with the California Students for Sustainability Coalition (CSSC), was one of few who were recently selected to participate in an opportunity of a lifetime to participate in the COP15 with credentialing though a non-governmental organization (NGO), the Earth Island Institute. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is holding a conference (COP15) this December. The COP15 is a critical juncture and the pinnacle of resolving modern society’s environmental dispute. Global leaders and concerned citizens of the world alike will converge in Copenhagen, Denmark for a historic discussion. With this opportunity, students from this campus will be able to influence history in the making. As a part of our Climate Action Campaign, we will be recruiting students at our teach-ins and tabling sessions to sign postcards and take picture messages expressing what kinds of results they would like to see coming out of Copenhagen. We will hand deliver these to UN delegates at the COP15 and work diligently to represent youth at the conference.

I will be posting live updates from Copenhagen through my facebook including press releases, links to other blogs, newsources' articles, photos, and videography. See them here at:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1291226887

We're at the US Center here at the Conference to attend a presentation by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on renewable energy projects on US public lands.

Secretary Salazar spoke on behalf of Obama about the US plan to meet the challenges Climate Change presents. He spoke of how US public lands and heritage sites will be affected by Climate Change, citing examples like the loss of glaciers in Montana's Glacier Park by 2020. He reviewed the massive solar, geothermal and wind potential in the US, wind potential alone off the coast of eastern US is about 1000 GW. The Secretary spoke of his department granting the first ever exploratory rights for wind energy off our nation's coasts and of setting up renewable energy coordinating offices in Western states. The Department of the interior has also set aside 1000 square miles to be evaluated for solar potential. By the end of next year they hope to have 5300 MW of renewable energy, most from solar, underway(the power of over 15 coal fired power plants). Secretary Salazar emphasized his departments efforts to "clear out red tape" for creation of smart-grid style transmission lines and the fast-tracking of 1000 new miles of transmission projects to be underway by 2010. This is all excellent news and paints a glowing picture of US Department of the Interior's renewable energy efforts.

Unfortunately Secretary Salazar then went on to speak of moving forward with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) on public lands. Considering the renewable energy potential in the US, and the still fledgling status of the renewable energy industry I am highly supportive of the Dept. of the Interior spending time and money on renewable energy projects throughout US public lands. I understand that CCS can be an important part of the solution and I hope for the actual realization of the current oxy-moron of "Clean Coal". But I fail to see how it is appropriate to spend federal funds on research and development of CCS. It should the obligation of the fossil fuel industry to fund such research and exploration - not Secretary Salazar or other branches of the federal government. Their time and funds should go into helping struggling industries, carbon intensive industries should use their own profits from their historic exploitation of fossil fuels to mitigate their own pollution.

The US youth showed up in force to this presentation, there was maybe 20 of us in a room that holds 50. We came to ask Secretary Salazar how his department is engaging in the legislative process to ensure that a bold, science-based energy policy passes through the US Senate. His answer was somewhat disappointing - no specifics, just a broad statement about how they have been trying and will continue to try.