FCNL’s Jose Aguto, our Legislative Secretary for Sustainable Energy and Environment, was in Paris for the international climate summit, also known as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties 21 (UNFCCC COP21).
Update on Saturday, December 12th
We have a deal! As the President of France, François Hollande, said Saturday morning, “History is here!” Stay tuned for analysis and reflection from Jose Aguto, but in the meantime, this article in The Economist gives a good summary of the deal.
Update on Friday, December 11th
It’s been a busy few days in Paris, as delegates work to finalize a climate agreement that satisfies all parties. The New York Times has a great piece that discusses what the current status of the draft accord contains. While there are still several major points of disagreement, delegates are remarking at the relative progress these negotiations have made, especially when compared to prior COPs. The spirit of moral urgency and optimism remains. Let’s continue to hold the entire COP21 in the light as they push through these final hours!
Update on Wednesday, December 9th
In an interview from the floor of the Paris Climate talks, FCNL Legislative Secretary Jose Aguto shared his excitement about the recent announcement that the US is committing $800 million to address the impacts of climate change on the very poorest countries. Listen to him talk about climate finance, the latest draft text of an agreement, and the atmosphere of hope that is bolstering the gathering.
FCNL has a very strong presence at COP21.
FCNL Advocacy Corps Organizer Lauren Bechtel explains why the word forgiveness sums up so much of what she is seeing at the Paris Climate talks.
Update on Tuesday, December 8th
The collaboration coming from Paris is pretty incredible. Thanks to the Quaker UN Office, FCNL’s Jose Aguto has been able to gain access to many of the delegates at COP21.
Update on Monday, December 7th
I just finished Skyping with FCNL’s Jose Aguto, our Legislative Secretary for Sustainable Energy and Environment. He is in Paris for the next week for the international climate summit, also known as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties 21 (UNFCCC COP21). After speaking with Jose, I feel very optimistic about the climate deal that will come out of this gathering!
When we first began our conversation, I asked Jose what his average day looks like. “It’s a lot like lobbying,” he said. While representatives from NGOs aren’t allowed into the actual negotiating rooms, there is ample opportunity for conversations in the hallways outside of where the delegates meet. In fact, Jose emphasized that this year, the level of access that the faith community is unprecedented. The White House will be giving a consultation just for faith representatives tomorrow, which Jose will attend. Overall, the U.S. negotiating delegation has been very receptive to the faith community’s message of concern for the most vulnerable.
Jose discussed how having all of the heads of state – including President Obama – at the very beginning of the COP has generated lots of momentum and a hopeful tone, upon which to build.
Perhaps most exciting, according to Jose, is the shift in conversation around the limit for global temperatures. While initially, the goal was to keep global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius, many are now open to keeping the limit to 1.5 degrees. This article does a pretty good explaining why this is such a huge deal, but for small island nations and hundreds of millions of people, that difference in goals is a matter of life and death. Jose has expressed optimism that the U.S. delegation is open to this new goal of 1.5 degrees – and explained how a sobering report from scientists is helping convince many countries of the same thing.
I asked Jose what his main goals are for this coming week. He hopes to:
- Articulate to delegates and NGOs the importance of strong climate finance, and why the faith community champions robust contributions to funds like the Green Climate Fund;
- Strengthen and amplify the voices of indigenous communities; and
- Ensure that the overall goals for emissions reductions are strong, and that there is increasing ambition to continue ratcheting up these goals moving forward.
While much must still be decided, the negotiations are in a much better place than they were at this same point in time at other COPs. It is so important that Jose and other faith representatives are present. The moral voice is providing essential and magnificent momentum for the delegates and civil society. I ask that you join me in holding Jose and the entire gathering in the light this next week, as they continue their work for an earth restored.
