Isaiah Kipyegon Toroitich, climate advisor for NCAs office in Kenya, participated in the I Love Kyoto-demonstration in Cancún.
Norwegian Church Aid is in Cancún, Mexico to participate in the international climate change negotiations there. On Monday 6th December, we participated in a demonstration in favour of an extension of the Kyoto Protocol.
"The demonstration was quite literally a declaration of love for the Kyoto Protocol. We handed out love letters and heart-shaped sweets and told the world that we love Kyoto," said Jens Aas-Hansen, campaigns advisor for Norwegian Church Aid.
Japan putting on the brakes
The demonstration attracted the attention of a large number of passing delegates and journalists. It received coverage by both Japanese and Mexican television, as well as the Norwegian press.
"The fact that a Japanese TV team covered our stunt was particularly interesting, because Japan has received massive criticism for the signals it sent out last week that it does not wish the Kyoto Protocol to be extended. As such, the country where the Protocol was signed has become a hurdle in the process towards a binding climate agreement," said Aas-Hansen.
Mariana Paoli from NCAs British sister organisation Christian Aid gives a TV interview.
Key demands from poor countries
The Kyoto Protocol is the only legally binding agreement in place today. The Protocol regulates reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from most of the world's rich countries, and demands that these be reduced by around 5%. The agreement expires in 2012. Despite the fact that the Protocol is agreed to be far from perfect, poor countries currently support it because of the current lack of an alternative.
"An extension of the Kyoto Protocol is one of the developing countries' key demands. Without it, negotiations may break down altogether," said Aas-Hansen from the demonstration Monday.
Contact:
- Jens Aas-Hansen in Cancún: +47 98 20 25 05