A dispatch from the GCCA team at the UN climate change conference in Lima, Peru, Runs December 1-12.
Brace yourself - the following paragraphs are heavy. Super Typhoon Hagupit, locally called Ruby, closed in on the Philippines - forcing theevacuation of over half a million people- and is expected to make landfall Saturday afternoon (Lima time). Many of those evacuated were still living in tents after the devastation caused last year by Super Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013, which left more than 7,300 people dead and missing.
Bigger and more destructive extreme weather events like Typhoon Hagupit are expected to become the new normal if climate change is not addressed quickly. While science relating to a global trend of increased typhoons remains incomplete, there is clear evidence that climate change is contributing to a trend of fewer but much more destructive typhoons near the Philippines. In addition to warmer ocean temperatures fueling storm intensity, sea levels have risen eight inches globally as a result of warming, which in turn makes storm surges more destructive. Hagupit is expected to have up to 16 ft of storm surge, a foot more than was predicted for Haiyan. Despite predictions of 15 ft, Haiyan experienced as much as 46 ft of storm surge.
Our hearts are aching at the thought of regions still in recovery, bearing the toll of yet another devastating storm. Our blood is boiling at the now deadly gap between the climate solutions we need and what governments have thus far committed to - in spite of recent increases in momentum.
Negotiations went late into Friday night, finalizing some of the Lima meeting’s technical work. They also made progress on the more political tracks focused on the 2015 global climate agreement: discussing draft proposals for countries’ national contributions for the deal, and for boosting climate action between now and 2020, when that deal is set to take effect.
(I'll be hyperlinking news below, but wanted to get this up asap)
From our partners
‘We are all Saweto.’Civil society joined the widows of murdered Peruvian anti-logging activists, in a mark of solidarity of all of those who are risking their lives in the name of environmental and climate justice. Oxfam's Alejandra Alayza gives the backstory behind the action.
Civil society groups also shined the light on finance today, as negotiators were greeted this morning with an action calling on governments to put more focus on the adaptation fund.
The What Next Forum, Sweden and Centre for Science and Environment, India launched a report on a‘Global Renewable Energy Support Programme’ which shows how globally fund feed-in tariffs can promote community energy.
CAN awarded Australia its second consecutive Fossil of the Day awardfor announcing that it would rather pay for climate change adaptation in vulnerable South Pacific island nations through its aid budget, than donate to a Green Climate Fund dedicated to the same purpose. In related news, Australia is cutting its foreign aid budget by $7.6 billion over the next five years.
CAN also awarded a Ray of the Day to the Marshall Islands for stepping forward to propose a 5-year time-frame for future mitigation commitments. A short time frame that prevents countries locking in low ambition, incentivises early action and can reflect the latest climate science.
In the news
The Norwegian government announced plans to double its pledge to the Green Climate Fund - set up to help aid developing countries in reducing their carbon emissions and preparing for the impacts of climate change. The country's total donation has now reached $230 million, and raises the fund’s collective international pledges to $9.95 billion.
French bank Société Générale announced plans to pull out of the large Alpha Coal project in Australia. Based in the Galilee Basin in Queensland, the mine would have led to more emissions than the entire country of Sweden; utterly failing the #ClimateTest. The news comes after campaigners occupied the bank on Monday, calling on it to ends its support for dirty coal.
The UN Environment Programme today launched its ‘Adaptation Gap Report’ projecting a significant funding gap after 2020. According to anew report from the UN Environment Programme, adaptation costs could climb to $150bn by 2025-2030 and $250-500bn per year by 2050, even based on the assumption that emissions are cut to keep temperature rises below rises of 2°C above pre-industrial levels, as governments have previously agreed.
Another stark reminder of the present impacts of climate change made headlines. New research from the US space agency NASA showed that the melt rate of glaciers in west Antarctica has tripled in the past 10 years. “We’re not just losing more ice every year; the rate itself is accelerating.”
From the Negotiator Trackers
Our Costa Rica tracker asks why Central American doesn’t work on common positions in the climate talks. And our Venezuela tracker gives a brief update on the role of the ALBA group (in Spanish), thus far.
Our India tracker looks at his country’s prominent role and addresses rumors about a big announcement.
David Tong reflects on his recent national television experience goingtoe-to-toe with New Zealand’s Prime Minister, challenging his country’s leader over the country’s (lack of) climate plans.
Our Italy tracker, who celebrates a birthday Saturday, kicked off a (blogger’s) tour of the UNFCCC’s major country blocs; starting with the bloc his country is currently leading - the EU.
Lots more great Adopt a Negotiator blogs can be found on our website.
Tools and resources
Climate Nexus prepared a briefing on Typhoon Hagupit. Look out for more updates Saturday, including a possible Tree Alert - stay tuned.
Check out iisd’s latest photo-blog from dayfive at the negotiations.
CAN international's latest ECO newsletter tackles issues including the 2015 agreement, adaptation and gender.
Track the talks on TckTckTck’s daily liveblog
For the full duration of the talks, we’re liveblogging on the TckTckTck website. Check out our embeddable Storify-powered feed for up-to-the-hour news on negotiation progress, NGO efforts and the COP19 experience. SEE IT HERE>>
We will help drive the conversation on Twitter by pulling together to trending tweets, hashtags and memes for our partners to use in regular social media blasts throughout the talks. SIGN UP HERE
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