Another point of view on the climate negotiations in the Portuguese Presidency

By Rita Sousa*

When I was asked to write an article about the year I spent working at the Delegação Clima Portuguesa (Portuguese Delegation for Climate), I made a list of everything I wanted to mention.

So, the limit of 4000 characters with spaces seemed as small as the CO2 absorbed by a tree when compared to the 450ppm concentration that is necessary to stabilise the temperature rise.

It does not make sense for me to start “wandering” about the fact that Climate Change is one of the most important challenges that humankind has to face, or that the scientific evidence are more than enough, or bla, bla, bla…

And, on a more technical level, considering that the “CDM EB Report” or that the “limit of 16kt of CO2 for Small Scale projects” are as interesting to me as the banana growing rate in Swaziland…, I decided to take advantage of the reporting training I got to make a short list of the keywords of what was most important to me in 2007:

Bonn, the SB26 and the UNFCCC headquarters: climate negotiations are carried out twice a year. The first one is always in May-June in Bonn (Subsidiary Bodies) without any Minister; the second one is in December (in 1997, it took place in Kyoto and this year’s was in Bali) with Ministers.

The MExperts: my team, the experts in mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol (the market of emissions, the mechanism of clean development and joint implementation). This is a true work group, an intensive thought from 25 people coming from different countries. The group was exceptionally coordinated by our very own Pedro Barata. With a typically Portuguese humour, this was said to be one of the MExperts’ best years.

The Council and the Working Parties in Brussels: the delegation’s chiefs gather every month in order to carry out a status report, discussing themes such as adaptation, developed countries, bunker fuels, technology, and others. Within the mechanisms’ themes, the European internal negotiations on Carbon Capture and Storage were the most “cheerful”…

The Events at the Airport: the never ending races at the airports and the laptop that was said to have “organic pieces” after passing through the X-Ray machine in Frankfurt (and the 10 suspicious policemen that came to us).

More than 150 emails a day (no junk mail), the time differences in Europe and the Portuguese working hours: the intense work rhythm of a public officer - leaving work at 11 pm and coming back to work at 7 am the next day.

Carbon Capture and Storage / credits for non emission of HFC23 / Non Renewable Biomass: the three most important subjects for the MExperts (for more information on this matter, please call me).

The attempt to auction the Portuguese documentation to NGOs during the 26-hour flight to Bali (we didn’t even get to the upset price).

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 to the IPCC!!! CALP CLAP CLAP CLAP! Our scientists were awarded and acknowledged!

BALI – COPMOP13: the two weeks of negotiation for which we have prepared an entire year.

The European Coordination in Bali: every day, a meeting was held at 8 am with the heads of the delegation, preceded by a Portuguese meeting at 7 am, and followed by negotiations from the United Nations at 9 am.

The pool baths at 1 am: the mental rest that every Latin person needs… the Germanic, the Slavonic and the Nordic were filled with envy…

Days 13, 14… and 15!!!: because there was a tie between the USA and the EU, the referees granted a time extension in the Ban-Kii Moon surroundings. And we almost got to the penalties.

The Animal World: the mosquitoes that woke up at 6 pm, the nocturnal geckos and the tiger fish that attacked us while we were diving.

The cuisine: the satays (fish or meat on a skewer with prawn sauce) and the nasi goring (rice with vegetables and a fried egg on top).

All humour aside, it is with great pride that I remember my team and the results we have achieved. I know that these results have been acknowledged nationally and internationally for their quality. When everyone “wears the colours” the result is truly exceptional.

This is why I wish many “Balis” in the lives of every professional!

*Collaborator at the Power Systems Unit (USE) that integrated the Portuguese Delegation on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in the area of the Kyoto Protocol Market Mechanisms. This was carried out in the context of the Portuguese Presidency of the EU council.

THE READER’S ADVISER COMMENTS

Excellent! We are all proud of you.

You all better ask many questions to Rita…