Freeze!
COP-8 is here!

The much awaited trip to the COP-8 meeting FINALLY came into force on October 24, 2002, however it didn’t get off to the spectacular start which was hoped for, due to some lousy police officials, who needed the UN guards to allow us inside Vigyan Bhawan. After a few minutes of bickering, they finally agreed. Then we headed straight to get our passes made, which barely took a few seconds, but our photographs were not exactly what one would call “photogenic” material!

FUNDUNG

The time had arrived for us to split up into three groups, so that each group could focus on some particular issue in great detail. Our group of GT reporters had to focus on the conference, and try to interview the various delegates that were loitering around the main hall, however finally, all of us ended up doing exactly that! A young Ph.D. student from the UK, Geneviere Patenaude felt that the main objective of this summit was to discuss how countries can monitor carbon levels (especially the developed ones) via satellite and other modern technology. She so felt that it was crucial to know how these carbon levels could be cleared, using trees and other natural sources to absorb the already prevalent carbon, and whether the Kyoto Protocol would actually be put into place. When asked what UK’s stand was, she curtly replied that it agrees with whatever the European Union says. Another interviewee was Benenei, a spokesperson for Morocco. Although he wasn’t that fluent in English, he managed to tell us that this was a big event, and that it helps decides the limit for pollution levels etc. He also felt that this event would help in spreading awareness among the people about this highly global issue, and the population of the world can help to combat climate change. According to him, Morocco, and other nations need to forget political factors and financial factors to help accomplish these goals.

As it dawned upon some of us that everyone was interviewing, we were taken to attend a press briefing in Hall six about Article Six of the Kyoto Protocol. As usual, we were a bit tardy, and missed the important chunk of the meeting between representatives of four countries including India, France and United Kingdom. From the little that we watched, we judged that these nations were conferring on how to strike a balance between mitigation and adaptation, i.e. alleviating climate changes and carbon emission levels, while adapting to a new and improved lifestyle. Although this issue concerns the North nations more, the two southern nations participated actively. Some significant issues that were raised include educating even the layman on climate change, instructing the governments to reveal complete information on climate change and how to develop fast, and simultaneously stop harming the environment. Besides that, planning and minimising the effects of uncertainty and downgrading the levels of climate change, shifting technology to the South nations and ensuring that global demand for technology should be compatible to local needs were also discussed. They also felt that schools and colleges should play a more constructive role in educating the youth, because the future lies in our hands (couldn’t have said it better!) and becoming responsible for our actions. In a later interview with Kate Hampton, the representative from the UK, she stressed the fact that opinions of the South nations must be mobilized, countries should switch away from fossil fuels, as this not only helps the developed, but also the developing, and reducing pollution. She also felt that most such decisions happen behind closed doors, giving the public no access to know what’s going on, and to prevent this, the public must pressurize local governments to hear their voices as well. According to Kate, it is not likely that the Kyoto Protocol would be accepted here, but she feels that nations must continue doing everything in their power to reduce emissions. Perhaps for the first time, a representative from a North nation spoke the actual truth, without concealing any facts!

As we were scurrying around everywhere (from the ground floor to the second!), we realized that this place had been really spruced up, as it was looking absolutely spotless! There was beautiful art on the walls, and a giant sculpture outside hall five, where a conference was taking place between delegates from all countries, under the UN police’s strict scrutiny, of course! All the floors were carpeted in a beige shade, and the escalators and staircases were squeaky clean. People are everywhere, people from every possible nation, of every possible colour and creed, and yet, everyone was assembled in one hall to discuss this issue of global magnitude! Now that it is over, it seems pretty overwhelming that this event was held right here, in apna New Delhi, doesn’t it?

by Suchita Srinivasan

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