The Daily Tck: 9th December 2011

BREAKING NEWS: Youth and civil society Occupied COP17 for several hours this afternoon in support of vulnerable countries, Africa and small island states. 350.org press release | OneClimate video #1 | OneClimate video #2
Overnight, a small group of Ministers and negotiatiors met until 4am to try to move towards a consensus on big picture issues. One negotiator reported that the mood was optimistic but there were no breakthroughs. The EU, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and AOSIS issued a common statement in support of an ambitious outcome. It is good to see developed and developing countries starting to collaborate to push for an ambitious outcome even though details are few and it remains to be seen how this will play out in the final text. NGOs remain focused on an outcome that gives us at least a fighting chance to avoid 2 degree warming above preindustrial levels we actually need to stay 1.5 degrees. None of the options we currently see on the table will give us that certainty. The future of the Kyoto Protocol and a path to a future treaty that includes the US and the large emerging economies are critically important but we must not lose sight of the importance of a plan to address mitigation now. The Earths atmosphere has no wiggle room and we need to address the gigatonne gap even while a Fair, Ambitious and Binding deal alludes us. The Kyoto Protocol needs to have environmental integrity to work and the African Group and Tuvalus proposal to close loopholes remains on the table. While governance issues need to be sorted out it looks like the Green Climate Fund will be launched but without any reference to funding sources an empty piggy bank would be a hollow victory. Some are working hard to reverse course on long term finance in the final hours here. Options being considered under the LCA track can be found here: three options. The 3rd option is basically a ten year time out for climate talks that represents no progress. We are already at least 2 years late in getting a deal, any further delay would be disastrous the planet cannot take a 10 year time out. Latest time Chairs Proposal is dreadful: LINK Its going to be a long night here. Follow our live blog for updates.

Message of the Day

From the Youth intervention this morning: I speak for more than half the world's population. We are the silent majority. You've given us a seat in this hall, but our interests are not on the table. What does it take to get a stake in this game? Lobbyists? Corporate influence? Money? You have been negotiating all of my life. In that time, youve failed to meet pledges, you've missed targets, and you've broken promises. But youve heard this all before. Were in Africa, home to communities on the frontline of climate change. The worlds poorest countries need funding for adaptation NOW. The Horn of Africa, and those nearby in KwaMashu needed it yesterday. But as 2012 dawns, our Green Climate Fund remains empty. The International Energy Agency (IEA) tells us that we

have 5 years until the window to avoid irreversible climate change closes. The science tells us that we have 5 years, MAXIMUM. Youre saying: give us 10. The most stark betrayal of your generation's responsibility to ours is that you call this AMBITION. Where is the courage in this room? Now is not the time for incremental action. In the long-run, these will be seen as the defining moments of an era in which narrow self-interest prevailed over science, reason, and common compassion. Mandela said "it always seems impossible, until it's done". So, distinguished delegates and governments around the world - get it done.

What is Happening?
Of course the biggest story today is the grand intervention by youth activists and civil society representatives in the ICC. At 3pm several hundred people entered the ICC singing, chanting and shouting for a fair deal at these climate talks. Read the 350.org press release and watch a recap video from OneClimate. Youth made an impassioned intervention this morning, speaking for more than half the worlds population. Dessima Williams, chair of AOSIS said all the worlds major greenhouse gas emitters must agree to forge a new climate treaty before 2020 or risk disastrous climate consequences. We cannot start negotiating in 2015. We must end in 2015, she said, adding that under this timetable, we can start acting to bring down emissions well before the end of the decade. Online now, and tomorrow on the first page of the biggest free newspaper in Poland is a collection of quotes from Miosz Hodun, our Polish tracker.

What can you do today?

Watch the TckTckTck liveblog for up-to-the-minute updates from these talks, or embed it on your site. Any news tips or technical issues, email heather.libby@tcktcktck.org

Resources & Tools

Visit the TckTckTck.org & our COP17 Hub for an up-to-date calendar, fresh news & stories and media resources - all available for reposting and sharing through Creative Commons. As the climate talks in Durban come to a close, a message is going to world leaders that climate change is also a human rights issue. Watch the UN talks live with OneClimate TV: OneClimate is broadcasting live from the Durban climate talks from 3pm - 6pm daily local time. Follow their livestream, embed the code, or, for those who prefer their live content in text form, follow the live blog.