Economics of Environment

Economics of the Environment

If you have a shoe that is nearly getting torn would you rather wait to have it torn so that you can mend it or you would rather repair it before it gets worn out? You can choose to wait and have it torn and therefore end up using more money to mend it or you can mend it at the early stage and you are safe. This is the same as addressing effects of climate change.

Stopping global warming and protecting the earth’s climate has and is still a daunting nightmare. This has to be addressed with a lot f speed and urgency to enable us change ways in which we create and use energy and much more relating to our development and lifestyle pathways. This change is not free. We have already experienced resistance to paying for the first crucial steps along the road. The perception is that reaching for more ambitious mitigation targets and quicker reduction in emissions would translate to economic disaster.

The critical question we need to ask ourselves is whether the “go slow” recommendations are unjustified or justified. A number of economic analyses informed by recent scientific suggest that more ambitious targets and quicker reduction of emissions makes good economic sense. Despite the adverse effects of climate change, it has not as a consequence become impossible inexpensive to save the planet. We can still afford a sustainable future. The sad news about climate change relates to the cost of reluctance and inaction. As greenhouse gas emissions grow, it’s the cost of doing nothing that becomes unbearable, and not the cost of acting.

We cannot afford a little Climate Policy, half measures that would leave us all vulnerable to the immense risks of an increasingly destructive climate. We need a big initiative, a comprehensive global deal on protecting the earth’s climate by rapidly reducing emissions of green house gases.

This series will be trying to analyze the costs of inaction to climate change effects.

By Alphaxard Gitau Ndungu

Fixing Climate Finance

By: Jamie Peters

In the lead up to COP19 in Poland, Parties and Observers will be setting
their objectives and their game plans to strategize on what they can take
from the talks in their own best case scenarios.  Fair and adequate climate
finance must be central to those plans.

The developing world, who are now being thrown into a global climate deal,
will have to not only adapt to the dire consequences of climate change but
also have increased mitigation efforts under the a 2015 treaty. To do this,
as has been made clear already in UNFCCC, they need increased climate
finance to facilitate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

The Fast Track Finance (FFS) period, to facilitate a flow of climate
finance from North to South, ended in 2012. The next agreement on finance
focuses on $100bn each year by 2020 through the Green Climate Fund. That
leaves a huge gap where finance is needed more than ever. The developed
world cannot hide behind this agreement to further delay their promises of
climate finance.

This is why there are calls to make COP19 a ‘finance COP’. Increased
engagement from finance decision makers and finance Ministers looks likely
but it is not clear if this will translate into the needed pledges.

On top of climate finance being pledged there must also be a close eye kept
on the form of the money. If the climate finance is simply moved from other
aid budgets then this is unacceptable and the same goes for the use of
loans as part of any pledges. Finance must be new, additional from other
aid and adequate in order for it to make the difference that it needs to.

Significant finance from public sources is the key to fair funding for the
developing world to combat climate change.

Jamie Peters | COP18 International Policy Trainer| UK Youth Climate
Coalition (UKYCC)

Focal Point to the UNFCCC Secretariat
YOUNGOs | Youth Constituency at the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change | www.youthclimate.org

Demistification.....

Towards a 2015 Agreement: Elements of the Durban Platform

By: Kennedy Mbeva

The current focus of the international climate change negotiations is on delivering a new climate agreement by 2015. This is due to the exacerbating effects of climate change, while efforts to tackle them are often deemed not sufficient.

However, with the flurry of discussions, workshops, conferences and studies going on, it is easy to lose track of the process. It is in this light that we will have a series of articles breaking down the nitty gritties of the negotiations towards a global climate agreement.

Setting the stage

The stage for working towards a global climate agreement was set at COP17 , in a package of decisions known as the Durban Platform. In essence, this package outlined four key areas that would form the roadmap for a global climate agreement by 2015, with the overarching term being ‘ambition’.  These are:

1. Global Review of the global temperature goal

There has been a raging debate as to whether the target of keeping global atmospheric temperatures, of 2 degrees, is appropriate. Thus a global review was proposed with the aim of using data and science so as to establish the appropriate temperature rise ceiling.

2. Launch of a new track of negotiations

At COP17, it was deemed that a new subsidiary body was needed in order to iron out the details of the new global climate agreement by 2015. This subsidiary body is called the Ad-hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action , in short, ADP.

ADP has an overarching mandate of delivering a global climate agreement in any of the three possible forms:

i. A legal instrument 

ii. A Protocol 

iii. An agreed outcome with legal force

3. Conclusion of some existing stream of negotiations

The Durban Platform called for the conclusion, in 2012, of the very broad Ad hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (LCA) The LCA was established at COP13 in the Bali Action Plan.

4. Renewal of the Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol  was to run out at the end of 2012, thus, the Durban Platform  called for the adoption of a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.

Conclusion

Thus, the Durban Platform laid the ground for the 2015 climate agreement. The next post will look at ADP in detail.

Kennedy Mbeva is the founder of GreenBits Initiative

Rio +20

Five Green Economy Lobbying points from youth:
1. Youth unemployment must be reduced through the creation of green jobs with a living wage and the stronger consideration of the impact of employment policy on youth.
2. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) must equip the next generation of youth with skills, training and capacity to help create the Green Economy.
3. A transition towards a green, fair and people-centered agriculture that promotes sustainable food systems that preserves the environment. Respect of traditional farming and indigenous knowledge
4. We need strong legislative and executive actions by governments to promote the sustainable development of our Blue Economy, including “no-take zones”, a moratorium on mineral exploration in the Arctic and proper mechanisms for shared water resources conflicts.
5. An integrated approach to the conservation of species and ecosystems, particularly threatened species and ecosystems.

KFUK-KFUM Information Tour!

KFUK-KFUM Information Tour!


The success of the Arab springs in most of the Arabic countries lies behind the mobilization and organization of the energy and passion within the Young people.The fight against Apartheid,Genocide in Rwanda and now the biggest catastrophe climate change is due to the passion and energy within the youth.Therefore all this is just but an alarm showing that the only solution to bringing change in the world is investing in young peoples energy and commitment to life.

Different organizations have chosen to engage the young people in different levels and ways through creative and innovative platforms.One of the ways through which this has succeeded is by having exchange programs such as Communication For Change and Young Peace Performers which are implemented by the Fredskorpset in partnership with Kirkens Nodheljp(Norwegian Church Aid) and KFUK-KFUM Norge(YMCA YWCA)and other organization in 9 other countries.

One of the main activities carried out by the young Communication for Change participants during their exchange in Norway is advocacy and campaign work focusing on a thematic area like climate change or poverty with regards to the thematic area of that year.Therefore this years Information tour with the Norge KFUK-KFUM was focused on one of the biggest long term campaigns by the Y global known as Stop Poverty with very key demands on Climate change which included;

• Cutting drastically the Carbon Dioxide emissions of Norway by 40% as compared to the 1990 levels.
• Finance Climate adaptations initiatives in developing countries through committing more than 1% GDP to the Green Fund.
• Stopping Carbon Dioxide leakages outside Kyoto countries.

South team pose for a group photo before the show with new hats from the Norwegian KFUK-KFUM

From the 27th of January the CFC team was divided in two with my team which was the south team going to Oslo and the rest to the North.We begun with a show at the Night volleyball cup where more than 200 hundred young people gather from the different youth groups within the Norwegian KFUM-KFUK.This is a whole night event where young people play volleyball and compete for different prizes as well as share with one another and also spiritually get nourished.Here we got to present a 20 minutes show and had them send Sms to Jens.we also got to play 3 games despite that we did not proceed to the finals but we inspired them to be part of the change they want in the world as young people which is what we do best.

The south team at the night volleyball cup after winning the last match though we did not make it to the semi-finals

This was one the best nights without sleeping but having so much fun with other young people very energetic to make a change in the world.For sure young people have all that it takes to move masses and solve the global issues affecting the communities.

Having fun with some of the young people from the KFUK-KFUM youth groups

Noen sør deltakere bare chilling og ha det gøy på volleyballbane som de nyter konkurransedyktige kampene

The second day of the information tour starts with a preparation for the evening show with a local tensing group at the chicken waterfall known as Honefos in Norwegian after which we start our journey which is an hour and half drive fro Oslo to a place know as Rengerike.Here we meet young people of the age of 13-15 who have sessions on singing and other extra curricula activities during the free time and evenings after school.Here we have an hour and half show where we share with them what we are doing and they get to send the sms to jens as well as get to know bout the Communication for change program which they can take part in.What a nice way of inspiring young people!!!

We also had a chance to visit very many other local tensing groups within Oslo and below are some of the groups we visited;

Kirkens Nodheljp participants at the Change Maker Norge Winter SNU camp with Markus the leader of change maker after the show

 

The boys at the Stop Poverty Kick off concert in KFUK-KFUM Oslo hall

Performance at the KFUK-KFUM winter festival in Arendal with the theme of Courage

Conclusion
It is important invest in what the young people have by believing in the them, giving them space to do what they want and at the long run letting them speak out what they believe in and this is what the world needs to change.
"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For in deed, that is all we ever have." Margaret Mead, Anthropologist

These are what the young people are and together we will make incredible things happen!!!!!!!!!!!

Making a Change

Two weeks ago when we begun planning for the information tour it seemed like we would not do it but for sure unity is strength as we now seat down and look back to a long tiring and exhausting two weeks period of preparations.As we now embark on our information tours both to the North and the South we have all learnt that working together and listening to each other are very key contributors of success.

Discussions by one of the group on how to make the show during the first days of planning for the information tour.

  After a long approximately 2 weeks preparations of the information tour the day to show it to the students before we started our tour came and this was for me the best moment within the first month of the CFC program as i was so proud of myself and the entire team for the terrific feeling that we instilled to the entire student and staff community for what we did.

The beautiful communication for change participants with their costumes during the rehearsal before the premier at Sunmorefolkehogskole

Performance of one of the strongest song during the premier at Sunmorefolkehogskole before we left the following morning on the information tour to the North and another group to the South

A moment before the performance as a family all together

For sure ending Poverty and global injustices is possible with such minds dedicated to working towards what they believe in and standing for what they know is right even though they will stand against billions of people.For this group of young energetic group of people nothing is impossible in life and it it was possible to end apartheid then it is also possible to end climate change,poverty and other social,economic and physical injustices in the world.

"It always seems impossible until it is done"

Nelson Mandela

A moment before the performance as a family all together

Media as a Development tool;

The power of Media in addressing community problems;

Within the slums of korogocho lies a small but very influential community radio station which started in 2006 in the quest to address community issues and empowering the community.It might not be relevant to you who lives in utmost comfort of everyday, but for that person who the next day is not guaranteed due to issues surrounding the environment like crime, pollution, diseases and deaths the community radio is very important and dear to their hearts.

Koch fm which is the community radio station that serves Korogocho  slum and other major slums was the first community radio station in Kenya to be established.During the period before its establishment the area was terrible due to the problems the community members were facing.It is so amazing how media has a major role to play in the development sector.Right from the dissemination of information, awareness creation, educating and entertaining, Koch FM has made very significant differences in the Slum of korogocho and other surrounding slums as well.

The birth of Koch Fm and the significant change it has made within the community led to the birth of other community radio stations which include;Pamoja Youth Fm which works in the Kibera slums and Ghetto radio within Maringo slum. The success of Media does not entirely rest in their circle but as a result of mutual partnership with other development partners and therefore as a communication for change (CFC) participant this is a lesson that to end and advocate for economic justice we need to be in a harmonious working relation with other stakeholders as well.

The same scenario happens even when you travel with your partner that your success in those countries will entirely depend on how good you work together and in harmony. 

Communication for change participants and the Koch FM volunteers during a visit to their offices