This June, in Bonn, Germany, nations are meeting for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: the second time delegates have resumed climate negotiations since meeting in Copenhagen last December. World Vision is in Bonn as parties work on an international agreement to tackle climate change – now and in the future.
What’s happening in Bonn?
Nations are meeting there as part of the UNFCCC, as part of ongoing climate negotiations since meeting in Copenhagen last December. Talks in Bonn will return in August, move to China in October and end in Cancun, Mexico this December.
What’s the point of the Bonn meetings?
The Bonn talks are designed to pick up on unresolved issues from the Copenhagen summit in December 2009. Governments will discuss a new text on which to base future negotiations and talk about ways to stimulate domestic action by national governments.
World Vision Australia's Campaign Leader on Climate Change is in Bonn. Read her blog.
Negotiations throughout 2010 are critical to rebuild trust lost at Copenhagen between developed and developing countries. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions and making financial commitments to support the poorest and most vulnerable developing countries are essential actions if we are to reach a legally binding international agreement as soon as possible. Global and domestic action is urgently needed if we are to prevent the worst impacts of climate change becoming inevitable.
Why is World Vision at the Bonn talks?
As a child-focused organisation, World Vision is particularly concerned that climate change threatens the health and wellbeing of current and future generations of children. The world’s poorest children will be hit first and hardest by the impacts of climate change, and they have the least capacity to cope. According to UNICEF, malnutrition, diarrheal disease and malaria — the world’s biggest killers of children —will be exacerbated by climate change.
Rachel Coghlan, Campaign Leader on Climate Change, is World Vision Australia’s representative in Bonn and at the remaining UNFCCC negotiations. She is there on World Vision’s behalf to represent the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable countries and communities. World Vision is working alongside these communities, advocating for urgently needed financial assistance to help them tackle the effects of climate change. This includes asking Australian delegates to champion plans to help fund the introduction of low-carbon pathways to sustainable development, and immediate funds to help communities adapt to the impacts of climate change they are already experiencing.
World Vision wants the Australian government to act decisively, at home and internationally, to take leadership on this issue and support those who are least responsible for, and most at risk of, the effects of climate change – the world’s poorest people.
Take a look at Rachel's blog and bookmark the page so you can stay tuned to progress being made.