Posted by Julie-Anne Richards

As the UN climate change meeting (COPMOP) goes for 2 weeks, and is a very intense process, the environmental and development NGOs do a lot of preparation before the meeting starts.  Believe it is not, it is possible to find 8 hours of meetings exciting!  Today I met people from across Africa and across the world.  We identified that this COPMOP is very important to ensure momentum is continued on establishing an effective post 2012 international climate change framework.  In the light of the Stern report, and the urgent need to reduce our emissions, we can't afford not to make big progress at this meeting.  Adaptation will also be a big issue at this meeting (see the latest Eco for an outline of all the issues that will be discussed).

I was very excited to read about the Australian Walk Against Warming Rallies.  They were the biggest in the WORLD!  Go Australia.  We rock!  In total 90,000 people marched - 40,000 people in Melbourne and 40,000 in Sydney.  A clear message to our politicians that they have to take action on climate change.  You can see pics of the rallies here:  www.walkagainstwarming.org.au

Of course, some of our politicians are a little slow to get the message.  Prime Minister Howard, and Environment Minister Campbell are still claiming in the one breath that they intend to meet Australia's Kyoto Protocol targets, yet ratifying the Kyoto Protocol would seriously damage Australia's economy.  Why let the truth or logic get in the way?

It was good to read that Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environment Program, respond to questions about Australia by saying that "Responding to climate change can no longer be based on narrow national self-interest." And that "The Kyoto Protocol is the first legally binding emission reduction treaty and is to date the only mainstream game in town to address the ever-rising threat of climate change."

Of course, as we all know, Kyoto is "only a first step" towards slowing the pace of global warming, and we all need to move urgently to tougher targets.  Let's see how far we get in the next 2 weeks. 

Note:  the above is the opinion of Julie-Anne Richards, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Climate Action Network.