The details are as of below:

Nature of Activity: Non SG Cares Activity

Activity Name: Asian Green Youth Challenge

Information Sharing Session

Date: 04-Feb-12

Time: 2.00pm-3.00pm

Address: National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) 6 Eu Tong Sen Street #04-88 The Central NVPC is located right at Level 4 within The Central, directly above Clarke Quay MRT.

For more information, you can visit the link: http://www.sgcares.org/Public/Other/SGCares_P_Others_ActivtyDetails.aspx?PCID=a6aef39b-b834-4491-9077-a42b8ebf58bf

About Rio 2012
The world is facing a mounting crisis. In recent years we have experienced a combination of a global financial crisis, a food crisis, volatile oil prices, accelerating ecosystem degradation and an increasing number of climate-induced extreme weather events. These multiple and inter-related crises call into question the ability of a growing human population to live peacefully and sustainably on this planet, and demand the urgent attention governments and citizens around the world.

Earth Summit 2012 will be the fourth Summit of its kind and represents another milestone in ongoing international efforts to accelerate progress towards achieving sustainable development globally.

Basic Criteria:
•Aged 18 – 35
•Singapore Citizen or PR
•Team Player
•Positive and presentable attitude
•Sufficient experience in working with local community
•Committed from now till the conference for team building, local strategy participation, and fund raising for the team
•Committed to be at the conference throughout
•Take on leadership roles both within the team and other position leading towards Rio 2012
•Would be an advantage with prior overseas experience representing country at conferences

Submission Criteria:
•Full CV with a picture of you and contact details
•Fully filled up online form: http://goo.gl/G9HtA
•Essay on the following topic below (1000 words max)
Please send in one email to rio2012@eco-singapore.org with your CV and Essay that should be saved in the following format

•For CV — firstname_lastname_CV
•For Essay — firstname_lastname_essaytopic

Essay Topics:
•Rio 2012 and relevance to Singapore. Does it matter?
•Asia and its green economy: Can Asia take the lead?
•Institution Framework on Sustainable Development: Where do we go?

DEADLINE (Extended): 15th January 2012 23:59H (GMT +8 Hours)

For more info on how Youth are participating at Rio+20, check out Rio+twenties

The continuation of the Kyoto Protocol was an important part of the Durban negotiations as the Kyoto Protocol, which was adopted in 1997 but entered into force only in 2005 and binds 37 industrialized countries with emissions reduction targets from 2008-2012 is due to expire. In Durban, 35 industrialized countries agreed a second commitment period (CP2) to begin 1 January 2013 and Annex I Parties will increase their levels of ambition by submitting new “quantified emission limitation or reduction objective” (QELROs) by 1 May 2012.

The most likely success at Durban was the decision on the Green Climate Fund. The Fund, agreed on in Cancun last year, is to provide adequate, long-term financing of up to US $100 billion by 2020 for developing countries in addition to existing financial mechanisms such as the Global Environment Facility, Fast-Start Finance, Adaptation Fund and other special funds. However, issues to be resolved include the need to secure funding toward initial capitalization and replenishment, conferring juridical personality and legal capacity to the Fund and the selection of a 24 member Board, host country and trustee of the Fund.

Issues on mitigation and adaptation were negotiated under the auspices of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA), which is due to be terminated by COP18 in Doha, Qatar. Enhanced action will then be examined under a newly launched Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, which shall start its work as a matter of urgency in the first half of 2012 and complete its work no later than 2015 in order to adopt the new Protocol to be applicable to all Parties.

New market-based mechanisms will be developed to complement the existing Clean Development Mechanism and Durban also decided to fully operationalize the Technology Mechanism which was established in Cancun the year before. The Technology Mechanism comprises a Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and a Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN).

In all, Durban seemed to make progress following the lackluster results of the COP15 Copenhagen meetings the year before, and taking into account the high benchmarks for collective climate action were set in Cancun last year. Despite this, in order to avoid runaway climate change and its adverse effects, many still feel that the pace of negotiations should be accelerated in line with scientific evidence.

For more speeches, visit NCCS Website

Madame President,

I would like to begin by congratulating you on your election as the President of this Conference. You have steered our work with great leadership and dignity. This conference in Durban is a proud moment, not only for South Africa, but also for the entire African continent. The results of this Conference will have an impact on people around the world. The expectations are high and we pledge to work with you to make this conference a success.

2. Let me say at the outset that Singapore associates itself with the statement delivered yesterday by the Chair of the Group of 77 and China, and also the statement made by Grenada on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States, or AOSIS.

3. As we come to the final few days of this Conference in Durban, we need to push for a package of decisions that is not only balanced, but also ambitious. We have come very far, since the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted in 1992. As we look to the future, we must take another collective step forward. For a start, we have to implement what we have agreed to in Bali and in Cancun. These are the decisions that should guide our outcome in Durban. We would also like to put forward three guiding principles to shape the outcome in Durban. These are the principles of multilateralism, transparency and universal participation. Multilateralism

4. Madame President, in Durban, we must send a clear and strong signal that we are strengthening the multilateral system to deal with climate change. Since 1992, the Framework Convention has put in place the foundation and principles for a rules-based multilateral system to combat climate change.

5. The Kyoto Protocol established in 1997 re-affirmed the existing rules-based multilateral system and provided an important legal foundation to guide our efforts. Without a strong multilateral system, the risks of unilateral actions are high. They will have serious distortive effects.

6. At Durban, it is thus important that we reaffirm our collective commitment to a multilateral rules-based system to deal with climate change. In this regard, the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol is critical. It is also vitally important that the Cancun decisions on mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology and capacity building are implemented. These outcomes will be critical for the credibility of the UNFCCC and the multilateral process. In particular, the decision to operationalise the Green Climate Fund is an essential component of a balanced package for Durban. Transparency

7. The second principle that I wish to underline is transparency. It is important that there is enhanced transparency – not only in our commitments made under this process but also in the manner in which they are implemented. In this regard, a decision on a framework for Measurable, Reportable and Verifiable or MRV provisions will be an important outcome for Durban to monitor the implementation of our individual and collective actions. Transparency is the key to building confidence and trust in the multilateral process. Greater transparency will also create greater reciprocity of action, leading to even more ambitious targets over time to address climate change. Universal Participation

8. The third principle that I wish to highlight is universal participation. In our view, a truly multilateral system must encourage and help all countries to participate in the process. Ultimately, climate change is a global issue that requires all parties to play their part. All countries, big and small, can and must make a contribution to the global effort to combat climate change, in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. This is one of the cardinal principles of the UNFCCC and it needs to be respected. What this means is that the developed countries have to show leadership in emissions reductions. But developing countries too can and must make a contribution to the process, taking into account their national circumstances and constraints. To date, nearly 90 countries, both developed and developing, have put forward mitigation pledges. This is a good start but we need to encourage others to come forward and make their pledges too.

Singapore’s Efforts

9. Let me conclude by explaining briefly what Singapore is doing to help in this global process. As an island city-state, smaller than Lake Geneva in Switzerland, Singapore’s high population density and small physical size sets the context of our mitigation efforts. We contribute less than 0.2% of global emissions, and lack the natural endowments of large countries. I would describe Singapore as an “alternative energy-disadvantaged” country. Our low-carbon energy options are limited. Hydroelectricity is not feasible given our relatively flat geography and lack of large rivers, and the potential for wave and wind energy is extremely limited.

10. Nonetheless, we have risen to the challenge and have taken early actions. For example, we have switched from fuel oil to natural gas, the cleanest form of fossil fuel, to generate our electricity since 2001 and convert all our waste to produce electricity. Today, more than 80% of our electricity is generated using natural gas. We have implemented measures to cap new vehicle registrations and electronic road pricing to limit usage. As a result of early actions, we have significantly improved our carbon intensity, which by 2007 was almost 40% below 1990 levels.

11. Singapore will continue to do its part to mitigate its emissions. We are working to meet our unconditional pledge to achieve 7-11% below BAU-levels by 2020. We have further pledged, in the context of a legally binding global agreement, to achieve 16% below BAU-levels by 2020. Given our early mitigation actions and difficulties to switch to alternatives, our pledge is a substantial commitment and will entail significant efforts from all sectors of our economy and our population.

12. But we will continue to push ahead. We are building up research capabilities in clean technologies, in particular, for sustainable urban living. Singapore is also a test-bed to support low carbon sustainable solutions such as smart grid, electric vehicles, solar panels and green buildings, some even with vertical gardens. As a member of both the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), we continue to work towards multi-lateral measures for carbon reductions in the international maritime and aviation sectors. Through these efforts, we hope to develop effective solutions that can address the challenges faced by Singapore, and also contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change.

13. Madame President, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recently reminded us that extreme weather and climate events are likely to intensify. There is an urgent need to curb the global rise in greenhouse gas emissions. As the distinguished Chair of AOSIS has said: “Our task has never been more urgent because what we are witnessing are emissions at their highest levels.”As responsible members of the international community, we must not miss this opportunity to work together to arrest climate change — for the sake of our children and successive generations.

14. Thank you.

We’re down to just 2 representatives from our robust delegation at COP15 but I assure you, we are making the most of our time here! LJ and I have been busy but focusing on different aspects of the COP/CMP. LJ attended the Conference of the Youths, traditionally held 2 days prior to the meetings. I arrived just Tuesday and have begun “working the ground” at COP/CMP plenary sessions (meetings of all the Parties aka countries which have signed/ratified the Convention/Kyoto Protcol).

This year, I am grateful to be here as part of work and to gain clarity and further understanding on the workings of international climate negotiations both as part of my research agenda and for school (having recently enrolled in a M.Sc. Env Mgmt at NUS). So far, I have been following these issues:

COP

• Report of the Transitional Committee on the Green Climate Fund and its possible adoption

CMP

• Consultations on issues relating to the clean development mechanism (CDM)

Ad hoc Working Group – Long term Cooperative Agreement: Subsidiary Body on Implementation

• Informal group on Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Commitments or Actions (NAMAs), with a particular focus on developing countries

Wearing my YOUNGO hat, I was privileged to meet with the Chair of the AOSIS, Her Excellency Ms. Dessina Williams alongside distinguished delegates from Grenada, Barbados, Trinadad and Tobago. Singapore is a part of AOSIS and it was certainly comforting to know that they take our views very seriously and that Singapore has been playing an active role in AOSIS. I must add that the AOSIS position is very strong this year. They are, in brief:

1. Mitigation – pushing for a 2nd commitment term, which is fully ratifiable to Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol and should be provisionally applied (by Annex I countries) from January 1, 2013. This point states that AOSIS along with the G77 and China are gunning for a 5 year 2nd commitment term rather than an 8 year period because emissions need to peak and decline way before 2020! Furthermore, they gave reference to the science in the IPCC AR4 and 2013 release of the AR5.
2. A ratifiable agreement that has legal force, and which builds on the work done at Cancun and to create momentum towards Qatar (COP18/CMP8)
3. Level of Ambition – to increase level of ambition and have the text be inserted in a document to be adopted at COP17/CMP7 in Durban
4. Report of the Transitional Committee on the Design of the Green Climate Fund – that it should be adopted in Durban and support initial projects in developing countries, but we should aim to iron out the issues that were raised at the plenaries
5. Robust work program on loss and damages (Adaptation agenda in the SBI) particularly in the lead up to hopefully an adoption in Qatar

Just to keep you in touch with other youth activities happening here in Durban, here are some links for your reading pleasure:

UK Youth Climate Coalition

Australian Youth Climate Coalition

Canadian Youth Climate Coalition

ECO Algae

Also feel free to email us any of your feedback or questions about COP/CMP to jang929@gmail.com or mel_struc@hotmail.com

Mel