Anton Jaekel, Young delegate from Germany within the Federation of Young European Greens’ delegation at COP 19, adressed a speech on behalf of YOUNGO ( the umbrella of all youth organisations involved in the UNFCCC process) in front of the SBSTA. You can find more info on SBSTA in the previous newsletters published by the Ecosprinter here, and the transcript of his speech below.
My name is Anton Jaekel and I am speaking on behalf of YOUNGO, the youth constituency.
As the consequences for missing reduction targets become evident through extreme weather and changing climate patterns, we realize this is not hypothetical, it is happening now and people are dying. After the latest IPCC report, it is clear we must push for an ambitious 1.5 degree threshold. But this alone is not enough.
We cannot afford to make the same mistakes twice. Why would we then make a New Market Mechanism based on the CDM? Without new ambitious, legally binding, top down, commitments the markets will only fail again. Markets will and do not work. How do you get a return on investment in loss and damage? How can we say we are helping countries with adaptation by loans if it just puts them further in debt? Why would we trust the future of our climate to those individuals and forces who caused the 2008 World Wide financial meltdown? Why do you want the FVA, which will probably connect totally different emissions systems, the Medusa of this year’s COP? Market volatility has the power to bring nations to their knees, as many countries in this very room have experienced, why then, would we trust markets to save the climate?
We still stand behind a stronger emphasis on the Non Market Approaches, especially newer and innovative mechanisms, such as the Joint Mitigation and Adaptation Mechanism, as proposed by the Bolivian delegation.
We have to keep the market out of agriculture as well. Food is different! It is essential for life, and a human right. We are against the proposed “climate smart agriculture” since it means commodifying and selling the carbon in farmer’s soil. Rather, a work program on agriculture should fall under the Nairobi Work Program.
We can’t rely on markets as a false solution, especially when we need real change so urgently. We urge the delegates here to have the courage to move beyond market models and give the world what it needs. Thank you.