Road to Paris—Monday, Dec 7, 2015, Blog 7
Joan Brown, osf
I am inside the Blue Zone this week, an official NGO observer with Franciscans International. Because I lost my voice yesterday, I took it slower today, but made it to the COP by noon to get oriented and attend several important sessions.
This photo is of the entrance to the zone where all of the national flags are represented. 
The deadlines are looming and hopes are high for an agreement with teeth, but there is much work to do. The presence of the faith community is important and tomorrow we will have a meeting with State Department Representatives and we will have points to address. There will also be an inside event with the million signatures on the Catholic Climate Covenant and in the evening an interfaith service at the American Cathedral of Holy Trinity from 7-9:30….oh my.
I carried the blessings of children in My COP of tree into COP today.
UNEP Emissions Gap Assessment Report
A panel composed by UNEP of the UN reviewed the meaning of this important report in light of the commitment that some 190 nations have put forth to reduce carbon emissions to keep temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius. There is growing agreement that the nations will work to have 1.5 degrees in the final document. The image of a light house was used to explain that a boat does not head to the lighthouse because they would hit disaster. A lighthouse leads a boat away from the lighthouse like a guardrail. 2 degrees is the lighthouse and 1.5 is the guardrail. The aspiration is to be at 1.5 degrees to protect island nations, the vulnerable, and future generations.
It is important to know more numbers than I care to write about here, but civil society must be aware because they are needed in this important work. Here are several numbers (I hope I have them correct, but close):
*52% of emissions reductions can be met by the collective work of the 190 plus nations who have submitted commitments
*20% of reductions comes from existing policies
*this leaves a gap that must be met somehow
The panelists stated there is a 66% chance of meeting the projection of 1.5 degrees and closing the gap; however not without locking in assessments for the nations pledges. They were hopeful that unknowns such as new technology and undiscovered technology can assist the work; but again NOT WITHOUT THE HELP AND BUY IN OF ALL CIVIL SOCIETY. After Paris, we all have very important work for ourselves for the next critical 4 years while we have an eye for very long term goals to 2050.
Issues of the Moment
US Climate Action Network offered a very good overview of where the negotiations stand with the help of OXFAM, Sierra Club and Service Employee Union that includes health care workers, low income workers in service industry and first responders. While all are hopeful there are deadlines and a lot needs to be accomplished.
Finance with a huge push for money for adaptation is needed by Wednesday
What is needed:
*Clear finance goals for pre 2020
*More funding for adaptation trying to balance adaptation and mitigation
*$100 Billion commitment by 2020 with a scaling up
*Collective country finance targets with evaluation every 5 years with clear political will by nations to follow through
Actions need to be strong now because delay means more money, more people at risk, more deaths, and more difficulty in addressing climate change at local levels. Action must be ramped up now. It is also important to have Social inclusion language of workers, indigenous, women and those affected by transition into the body of the document. Currently human rights language is in the Preamble and this is non-binding. Climate Justice groups are fighting for inclusion in Article 2.
Keep praying, this is so important. Blessed goodnight.