December 14, 2007

Blogging From Bali

Posted by Emily Davila at 2:55PM

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The United States has more than one face at the United Nations conference on climate change, which has drawn more than 10,000 people this week to the small Pacific island of Bali. While U.S. diplomats obstruct the negotiations, Al Gore tells the world to make an open-ended agreement since a new government will soon be on its way.

Young people, of course, are in the audience blogging. More than 200 young people from around the world have formed a youth caucus, representing dozens of countries and the future of the planet. At Its Getting Hot In Here they are posting their insights, pictures and videos (don't miss them singing to the diplomats as they enter the meeting).

The purpose of the conference is to create a new climate agreement by 2009 that would replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which currently limits emissions by all wealthy countries, but is not ratified by the United States. Thwarting any progress, the U.S. does not want to agree on any numerical targets, while European Union and others do.

The youth caucus will get their big chance to address the conference on Dec. 14, and they will be sure to cause a stir if their speech is anything like those of past youth interventions. Besides their big address, youth activists have held press conferences, side panels, and in one instance, they wore their swimsuits to the plenary to highlight rising sea levels. Of course, they are asking decision-makers tough questions whenever they get a chance.

Kelly Greenman, from the Florid Keys, came to Bali as part of the Sustain US delegation because her hometown is just one meter above sea level. "We've already experienced extreme coral bleaching as the water warms around the island, impacting the livelihood of divers, fish collectors, the tourism industry, and fisherman, " blogs Greenman. "When it comes to protecting my home from climate change, there is no room for inefficiency." At Bali, she is not alone. Claire Antrea, from the small island of Kiribati, an island in the Pacific, is already struggling with flooding. Kiribati, home to 91,000 people, is at risk of vanishing if sea levels keep rising.

However, environmental activists need to be in two places at once this week. Two powerful bills are soon headed to the floor of the Senate, and neither are offering much in the way of clean energy. Read how the Energy Bill and Omnibus Appropriations Bill will appropriate billions for coal, ethanol, nuclear reactors and unlimited caps on Iraq spending at Energy Justice .

Despite a bleak outlook, the Bali meeting has already set one important global precedent. The United Nations will pay $100,000 to offset the cost of the 3,370 tons of carbon dioxide emitted by delegate's plane trips.

Be sure to keep your eye out for a growing U.S. youth climate movement. A recent a gathering called Power Shift 07 drew more than 5,000 students to Washinton DC motivated to address global warming. There is surely more to come from this savvy coalition, which is gaining more media attention, and becoming more strategic.

Don't forget to link their blog to your facebook account.