Category Archives: Cancun Climate summit

December 7, 2010 · 10:28 AM

Cancun climate summit: “Listen to the poor, they have all the solutions”

Samson Malesi Shivaji, National Livelihoods Coordinator at Caritas Kenya discusses with a community in Machakos a project to build a dam. Credit: Samson Malesi Shivaji/ Caritas Kenya

By Samson Malesi Shivaji, National Livelihoods Coordinator at Caritas Kenya

 

I work very closely with communities at the grassroots level on climate change adaptation and it is this African and Kenyan perspective I presented at a side event held by Caritas, the World Food Program, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Accra (African Climate Change Resilience Alliance). Our projects focus on climate change adaptation and capacity building.

At our pilot project bio-farm in Meru in Central-Eastern Kenya for example, we capture the livestock’s dung which is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions to channel it into a biogas production. The produced energy goes to 15 households that didn’t have access to electricity before. Then the manure, which is the remains of the biogas production system, is used as dung and therefore reduces the amount of fertilizers needed. We will now extend this project in Kenya. Continue reading →

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December 6, 2010 · 12:13 PM

Cancun climate summit: A new alliance to safeguard creation

Inter-religious celebration during climate talks in Cancun. Credit Anne-Sophie Legge

By Anne -Sophie Legge, Cancun

English |Homily in Spanish |French

“We need a new alliance with creation that results in fraternity with all creatures”, said Msgr. Gustavo Rodríguez Vega, President of Caritas Mexico, at an interreligious celebration held on 4 December as side event to the Cancun climate summit.

The event was organised in cooperation with the World Council of Churches and brought together Catholic, Presbyterian, Lutheran and other religious leaders from different parts of the world.

“Brothers and sisters, we have come to Cancun not as prophets of calamities but as men and women of faith and hope. We know that a lot of skepticism persists about whether the representatives of our world’s nations will be able to conclude a binding agreement on the reduction of emissions causing climate change. (…) Those who govern us have a great responsibility when it comes to environmental targets: we call upon our Heads of State not to limit their discussions to defending productivity and competitiveness criteria but to place humanity at the centre,” said Msgr. Rodríguez Vega. Continue reading →

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December 3, 2010 · 4:24 PM

Cancun Climate talks: I heart Kyoto Protocol

I love KP stunt at the Cancun climate talks. Credit Christine Campeau/Caritas

By Christine Campeau, Climate Change and Food Security Advisor Palazzo San Calisto

We were greeted at the CancunMesse convention centre today with an offer to have our picture taken while standing in a heart, holding an ‘I love KP’ sign (KP is short for Kyoto Protocol). And we did. People lined up one by one to show their devotion for the legally binding treaty that is set to expire shortly.

This stunt in support of the Kyoto Protocol came in retaliation to the harsh statement made by Japan on Monday when it announced that it would ‘not inscribe its target under the Kyoto Protocol under any conditions or under any circumstances’. Yes, you heard it correctly. Continue reading →

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November 24, 2010 · 2:44 PM

Climate justice: what I’d like for Christmas

Christine Campeau protesting against climate change in Copenhagen. Credits: Caritas

By Christine Campeau, Caritas Climate Change and Food Security Advisor

With less than a week to go before hoping on a plane to Cancun, Mexico, I’ve been busy confirming all the last minute practical details for the trip.

Caritas official messaging approved, check. Speakers from member organization confirmed for all three side-events, check. Accommodations and visas for the members of our delegation, check. Travel phrases in Spanish, verificación. Hope that progress will be achieved at the negotiations… well, I’ll make sure to pack that in my bag and work on it on the plane ride over. Continue reading →

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