COP: Day 9

The level of security at the Bella Center is high. There is overcrowding outside the Bella Center, so the metro stop at the Center is closed. Thousands, including myself, walked to the Center from a nearby metro station. Today, Emily attended the Bella Center on behalf of the Americans with WAGGGS. Maria spent the day working on finals for university and recovering from sickness. Sarah explored some of the many talks in town and made some valuable contacts with other organizations, and was even treated to coffee!!

This morning, Emily got a special pass to attend a session with Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California. He said that an international agreement is not all that is needed to make progress in the climate change movement. He recognized that governments, with the cooperation of cities, states, provinces, regions, corporations, activists, scientists, and universities are part of the movement towards a cleaner future. Change and progress require people to work together and take action. He challenges people, nations, and cities to lead by example in the climate change movement.

Today only 7,000 NGO accredited participants were allowed to enter the Bella Center, compared to about 15,000 that have been attending the conference daily. WAGGGS can only have 11 accredited individuals inside the Bella Center, but we are thankful to WOSM for sharing some of their extra badges with us today. Still, not all of the WAGGGS delegation was able to come to the Bella Center today.

Emily attended US Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack’s presentation this afternoon. Last week, the afternoon presentation by Secretaries of State had a strong youth presence, but today, she was surrounded by party members and accomplished NGO participants. Vilsack announced an agreement between the USDA and US dairy producers to use manure for energy projects on farms. This will help curb CO2 emissions on farms.

This morning, the Gender YOUNGO group met, and we are in the process of finalizing our policy recommendations and policy summaries that we will hand-distribute to negotiators this afternoon and tomorrow. Emily met with Barbara De Rosa-Joynt, who is the Multilateral Initiatives Coordinator of the US State Department. Barbara is a former GIRL SCOUT and is doing an awesome job representing the US.

Emily also attended the US Delegation Briefing with Jonathan Perhing in the evening.

Yours in Guiding and Scouting,
Maria, Sarah, and Emily