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Singapore Youth Delegation Post Trip Report

United Nations Framework on the Convention

of Climate Change (UNFCCC) 20th Session of the Conference of Parties

(COP20)

1st to 12th December 2014

Lima, Peru

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT It gives us great pleasure in expressing our gratitude to all those people who have supported us and who helped make this report possible. We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to ECO Singapore and Young NTUC for their generous support throughout the climate change journey. In particular, Wilson Ang and Ang Jia Da for their unwavering encouragement and guidance over the last 7 months. A special thanks goes to Ambassador Kwok Fook Seng, who took time to meet with us in Lima despite a busy schedule. We are grateful to Mr..Syed Noureddin Syed Hassim, Mr. Terence Tan, and Ms.Gan Ann for organising the meeting and also contributing to the discussion. We would also like to thank Minister Vivian Balakrishnan for his valuable time and for sharing his vision for a greener Singapore. Encouraged, we hope that can contribute to making a positive difference. Special mention goes out to Professor Lord Nicholas Stern, COP20 President, Mr. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Ms. Christiana Figueres for their valuable time and insights. Our time in Lima was made even more meaningful as it brought us in contact with many different people, who in all their special ways contributed to the fruition of this report. They include (in alphabetical order): Alba Romina, Andrea Pierina Rivera Garre, Andrew Lei Yan-lin, Angus Joseph, Avik Roy, Chao Wei-hsiang, Chen Chiao-chi, Chris Wright, Daniela San Roman, Elizabeth Elizinha, Erika Condori Toledo, Francis Joseph Dela Cruz, Hannah Smith, Hsu Wan-ting, Jin Young Kim, Kaori Shiohara, Kjell Kuhne, Leah Fouchong, Li Cheng-hao, Seajin Kim, Stanley Lai, Takuya Hattori, Teh Yi Ying, Weng Wen-Yu, Veronica Caciagli, Veru Paredes We sincerely thank each and every one of them. To fellow Singaporeans whom we met at Lima: Melissa Low, Yi Ying Teh and Celine Lim, our utmost appreciation for your time spent with team. Special thanks to Melissa Low for her guidance during and after COP20 To our colleagues and friends at Blangah Rise Primary School, National University of Singapore, Edible Garden City and the Ministry of Transport for their understanding and generously supporting our participation at the COP20 in Lima. Finally, our participation and this report would have been impossible without the support of our families. We thank them for their endless patience, optimism and encouragement.

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February 2015 Disclaimer: This report has been produced with financial assistance of Young NTUC. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the authors and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the official policy or position of ECO Singapore and Young NTUC. Authors of Report Ms. Juliana Chia Ms. Nor Lastrina Hamid Mr. Putera Zenata Ms. Tham Siang Yu Other Contributors to the Report Mr. Wilson Ang, ECO Singapore & Singapore Institute of International Affairs Ms. Melissa Low, Energy Studies Institute, National University of Singapore

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CONTENT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................. 2

CONTENT ........................................................................................................ 4

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 5

LIMA COP20 OUTCOMES .............................................................................. 7

SINGAPORE SUBMITS 3RD NATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND 1ST BIENNIAL UPDATE REPORT ...................................................................... 11 2015 Public Consultation on Climate Change ........................................... 12 Post-2020 Green Future for Singapore ...................................................... 12 Meeting with Singapores Chief Negotiator for Climate Change and Minister for Environment and Water Resources ....................................... 13 Reflection Notes from Meetings with key members of Singapore Delegation on Climate Change ................................................................... 16

SIDE EVENTS ............................................................................................... 17 The Climate March ....................................................................................... 17 Convergence Space ..................................................................................... 19 Fossil of the Day .......................................................................................... 21 Global Landscapes Forum .......................................................................... 22 World Climate Summit ................................................................................. 25

MEETINGS WITH CLIMATE LEADERS ....................................................... 26 Professor Lord Nicholas Stern ................................................................... 26 COP20 President, Mr Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, and ........................................ 27 UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Ms Christiana Figueres ........................... 27

YOUTH GROUPS AND CONSTITUENCIES ................................................ 29 Asian Youth Climate Network (AYCN) ....................................................... 29 Youth Non-Governmental Organisations Constituency (YOUNGO) ....... 30 Trade Union Non-Governmental Organisations (TUNGO) ....................... 30

KEY TAKE HOME MESSAGES FOR SINGAPORE .................................... 32 Enhancing Education on Climate Change ................................................. 32 Food Security Concerns for Singapore ..................................................... 33

CONCLUDING NOTES AND REFLECTIONS .............................................. 35

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INTRODUCTION The international political response to climate change began with the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992, which sets out a framework for action aimed at stabilising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to avoid dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. The Convention, which entered into force on 21 March 1994, now has 196 parties. In December 1997, delegates to the 3rd session of the Conference of Parties (COP3) in Kyoto, Japan, agreed to a protocol to the UNFCCC that committed industrialised countries and countries in transition to a market economy to achieve emission reduction targets. These countries, known as Annex I parties under the UNFCCC, agreed to reduce their overall emissions of six GHGs by an average of 5% below 1990 levels in 2008-2012 (first commitment period), with specific targets varying from country to country. The Kyoto Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005, and now has 192 parties. In December 2014, the 20th Conference of Parties (COP20) of the UNFCCC took place in Lima, Peru from 1 - 12 December, 2014, with 192 country parties and more than 12,000 delegates in attendance.1 A small team of Singaporean youths (henceforth referred to as the Singapore Youth Delegation) was selected to participate in COP20 through a joint initiative between Environmental Challenge Organisation (ECO) Singapore and Youth Wing of the National Trades Union Congress (Young NTUC). ECO Singapore organised the Singapore Youth Delegation, and the trip was powered by Young NTUC with the intention of grooming a group of environmental activists in Singapore under the 350 Singapore movement. In August 2014, youths were invited to submit an essay and reflective piece to ECO Singapore and Young NTUC for evaluation. A final total of 10 successful candidates proceeded onto the Selection Workshop held on 4 October 2014, where they were put through a rigorous series of tasks.2 In the end, a team of 5 was selected to attend COP20 in Lima, Peru. ECO Singapore and Young NTUC provided capacity building and financing towards the participation of the Singapore Youth Delegation, led by Mr. Wilson Ang, Founder of ECO Singapore. The team secured accreditation as a COP20 delegate with various Youth NGOs Constituency (YOUNGO) observer organisations through the vast network of ECO Singapores contacts from attending previous COPs, and during the time Wilson served as primary Focal Point for the YOUNGO constituency in its inaugural year. 1 For more information of COP20 in Lima, please visit the UNFCCC website, available at: http://unfccc.int/meetings/lima_dec_2014/meeting/8141.php 2 Singapore Youth Delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 20th Conference of Parties (COP20) selection criteria, available at: http://www.youngntuc.org.sg/wps/wcm/connect/73655a14-2319-4d45-b9ef-1ed3323040a7/SG@COP2014+Instructions+v3.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

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This delegation report provides a summary of the activities that the Singapore Youth Delegation took part in during the two weeks in Lima, Peru. It is hoped that this report will provide insights into the workings of a multilateral negotiations setting for an issue so important as climate change, and to inspire a generation of youths to not only choose a more eco-conscious way of life, but to actively engage stakeholders to addressing climate change. The members of the Singapore Youth Delegation have different interests, perspectives, and ideas on tackling this existential threat to humanity but we are united in our determination to make a difference. By sharing our experiences at COP20, we hope to give you a better understanding of the opportunities available to you to get involved in contributing to the fight against climate change. Climate change is real, and the time to act is now! The ECO Singapore Team February 2015

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LIMA COP20 OUTCOMES The Lima COP20 resulted in what negotiators refer to as the Lima Call for Climate Action.3 The 37-page draft text paves the way for a new climate change agreement to be adopted COP21 in Paris, France in December 2015 and implemented by 2020. Notably, the new agreement (often referred to as the Paris Agreement or 2015 Agreement) will have to take the form of a protocol, a legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force and will be applicable to all Parties.4 The process for negotiations is known as the Ad hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP). In Lima, countries agreed to produce their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) as the foundation for climate action post 2020 when the new agreement is set to come into effect. Notably, the Lima Call for Climate Action is but 1 of 32 decisions that came out of the Lima COP20. There were also unprecedented breakthroughs that either took place in Lima or came out of negotiations, which include:

Pledges to the Green Climate Fund Pledges made by both developed and developing countries prior

to and during the COP that took the capitalisation of the new Green Climate Fund (GCF) past the initial USD $10 billion target.

Multilateral Assessment of 17 industrialised countries The MA was conducted as part of the International Assessment

and Review (IAR) process. These countries, following the submission of their 6th National Communications and 1st Biennial Reports, submitted themselves to questioning about their emissions targets, reflecting a concerted effort to improve transparency.

The Lima Ministerial Declaration on Education and Awareness This declaration highlights the need for governments to put

climate change into school curricula and climate awareness into national development plans.

3 Decision 1/CP.20, Lima Call for Climate Action, UN Doc. FCCC/CP/2014/10/Add.1, 2 February 2015. 4 Decision 1/CP.17, Establishment of an Ad hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, UN Doc. FCCC/CP/2011/9/Add.1, 15 March 2012.

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Lima Work Programme on Gender

This work programme aims to advance gender balance, promote gender sensitivity and equality within the context of climate change policies.

National Adaptation Plans

Party delegations also put emphasis on global adaptation and recognise the importance of National Adaptation Plans (NAP) in delivering resilience. Countries will work closely with the GCF to find ways to support their NAPs. They agreed that the primary focus should be the Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States and Africa.

Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage (WIM) The Executive Committee WIM met ...was commissioned for two

years and include balanced representation from developed and developing member parties. A work programme was established under the Committee with a spectrum of mandates, including seeking deeper understanding of how climate change affect vulnerable developing countries and the indigenous people and the minority. It will also seek to enhance the understanding of how climate change impacts human migration and displacement.

Financing the response to climate change Governments made progress on coordinating the delivery of

climate finance and of the various existing funds. Further pledges were made to the Green Climate Fund in Lima by the governments of Norway, Australia, Belgium, Peru, Colombia and Austria--the pledges brought the total sum pledged to the Green Climate Fund to close to USD 10.2 billion.

In a further boost to the adaptation ambitions of developing countries, Germany made a pledge of 55 million Euros to the Adaptation Fund.

China also announced $10 million for South-South cooperation and mentioned they would double it next year.

Forests and the Lima Information Hub for REDD+ Countries meeting in Lima made progress on providing support

to avoid deforestation. Colombia, Guyana, Indonesia, Malaysia

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and Mexico formally submitted information and data on the status of their greenhouse gas emission reductions in the forest sector to the UNFCCC secretariat following a similar submission by Brazil earlier in the year.

These baselines are likely to increase the possibility of obtaining international funding under initiatives like Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).

In support of this, the COP President announced that an information hub will be launched on the UNFCCC web site, spotlighting actions by countries carrying out REDD+ activities. The aim is to bring greater transparency on both the actions being undertaken, including safeguards for communities and the payments being made.

Providing technology to developing countries The Lima meeting sent an important signal that the transfer of

climate technologies with the assistance of the UN and other international agencies is picking up speed. The Climate Technology Centre and Network reported that it had received around 30 requests for assistance this year, and expects the figure to grow to more than 100 next year. The UNFCCCs Technology Mechanism was further strengthened through the consideration of a link to the Green Climate Fund and the UNFCCC Finance mechanism. A project monitoring of the impact of climate change on Chiles biodiversity was announced just prior to the Lima convention. The research project was the first funded under the technology mechanism.

Overall sentiment about Lima5 Overall, the Singapore Youth Delegation feels that Lima COP20 was a success in the sense that it continued to clear the pathway to Paris COP21. On 9th December 2014, which was the start of the second week of Lima COP20, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources delivered the National Statement of Singapore (Please see full statement here). Among the things he mentioned to help us move forward, was the need to use the entire Framework Convention, recognising each others unique national circumstances, as well as the importance of having a universal participation.

5 Find out more about the key outcomes and highlights from the UNFCCC website. Available at: http://newsroom.unfccc.int/lima/lima-call-for-climate-action-puts-world-on-track-to-paris-2015

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Being in Lima and being able to sit in some of the plenary sessions, the team saw how slow the negotiation process was moving initially; in the first week alone, a lot of time was spent on hearing how some countries wanted to have the text on screen, and in all fairness, it was for better reading, especially for countries which did not have English as their 1st language. Additionally, the team saw how some countries tend to speak up more than the others and we were left wondering for countries, which did not speak up, what exactly did they have in mind? Furthermore, with such diverse interests from so many countries, the team saw how complex the whole negotiation process can be, and how tedious it might have been for the chairs for each session. On the flipside, given the context above, the team also acknowledge how things sped up during the second week. There were a number of revisions done to the draft. Moreover, negotiations even went a day behind schedule, suggesting that our climate change negotiators and their teams were working hard to make sure what was finally drafted and released is something of value for their respective countries. Some groups have slammed the final draft, calling it watered-down. The Singapore Youth Delegation sees this final draft as a document built on compromise. There will always be a divide between what developed and developing countries want. There will always be an argument over what kind of measures have to be taken or what kind of assistance has to be given. We do not think it is possible to please all countries, but at least this was a start. At this starting point, a new structure has been established- as shared earlier, countries have agreed to produce their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) as the foundation for climate action post 2020 when the new agreement is set to come into effect. Here, we see a universal participation. Here, we see an alignment with the main goal of the treaty which is to stabilise greenhouse gas equality and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities. At Lima, we see breakthroughs such as pledges to the Green Climate Fund and Multilateral Assessment. We see the creation of The Lima Ministerial Declaration on Education and Awareness. With all these milestones achieved in Lima, we reiterate our view that overall, Lima COP20 was a success.

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SINGAPORE SUBMITS 3RD NATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND 1ST BIENNIAL UPDATE REPORT On 8 December 2014, Minister for Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, submitted Singapores 3rd National Communication (NC) and 1st Biennial Update Report (BUR) to the UNFCCC.6 As a non-Annex I Party to the UNFCCC, Singapore is obliged to submit a National Communications every four years,7 and its first Biennial Update Report by December 2014. 8 Singapore previously submitted its first two National Communications in 2000 and 2010 respectively.9 At the time of writing, there were a total of 10 BURs submitted to the UNFCCC. The 3rd NC contains updates of Singapores national GHG inventory, information about mitigation measures, which are on-going and planned until 2020. The BUR will be subject to an international consultations and analysis (ICA) process under the UNFCCCs Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), in a manner that is non-intrusive, non-punitive and respectful of national sovereignty. The aim of the ICA is to increase transparency of mitigation actions and their effects, through analysis by technical experts in consultation with the Party concerned and through a facilitative sharing of views resulting in a summary report. Given that the first rounds of ICA will be conducted for developing country Parties commencing six months of the submission of the first round of BURs, Singapore will likely participate consultation and analysis at the Bonn intersessions from 1-11 June 2015. The Singapore Youth Delegation looks forward to Singapores participation in the ICA.

6 Singapores Third National Communication and First Biennial Update Report under the UNFCCC, December 2014. Available at: https://www.nccs.gov.sg/sites/nccs/files/NCBUR2014_1.pdf 7 See Section III, Part B, para 60 of Decision 1/CP.16, The Cancun Agreements: Outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention, UN Doc. FCCC/CP/2010/7/Add.1, 15 March 2011. 8 See Section II, Part B, para 41 of Decision 2/CP.17, Outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention, UN Doc. FCCC/CP/2011/9/Add.1, 15 March 2012. 9 Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Singapores Initial National Communication, August 2000. Available at: http://www.nea.gov.sg/docs/default-source/weather-and-climate/initial-nc.pdf?sfvrsn=2 and National Environment Agency, Singapores Second National Communication, November 2010. Available at: https://www.nccs.gov.sg/sites/nccs/files/SINGAPORE'S%20SECOND%20NATIONAL%20COMMUNICATIONS%20NOV%202010.pdf

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2015 Public Consultation on Climate Change At the national level, Singapore is conducting a public consultation from 20 January 2015 - 31 March 2015 on measures that can be taken to further enhance the nations plan to reduce carbon emissions and promote green growth beyond 2020. 10 We think the public consultation is an excellent opportunity for youths, as key stakeholders for a greener and more sustainable future, to contribute views on the five key areas identified by the National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS). These include Energy Efficient Homes; Carbon Efficiency in the Transport Sector; Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Opportunity for Businesses; Carbon Efficiency in the Power, Waste & Water Sectors; and Economic & Green Growth Opportunities. We think that the documents prepared by NCCS informing the public of the governments policies and measures are useful. There are on average 5 questions per survey for each key area. However, each answer box only allows a maximum of 2000 characters, which limits the feedback that members of the public can give. We are also concerned that the target audience might be limited only to the Internet savvy. With this in mind, we look forward to a broader stakeholder consultation, perhaps in a forum similar to the SG Conversations held in 2013, which would consider youths as a key stakeholder. The public consultation wraps up on 31 March 2015 and we urge NCCS to share a summary of the findings with the public. Post-2020 Green Future for Singapore Work on envisioning the post-2020 future and how Singapore can stabilise long-term emissions has already started under the Long-Term Emissions and Mitigation Working Group established under the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change. Singapore has a current pledge under the Copenhagen Accord to reduce or limit the growth of emissions to 16% below 2020 business-as-usual (BAU) levels conditioned upon a legally binding global agreement in which all countries implement their commitments in good faith. But this target is conditional. Singapore has embarked on mitigation and energy efficiency measures to reduce emissions by 7-11% below 2020 BAU levels, regardless of an agreement being signed by the end of 2015 in Paris. The principle of non-regression should be adhered to when deciding Singapores future post-2020 nationally determined contributions. Singapore should not backslide or do less than its current mitigation efforts.

10 The online public consultation will end on 31 March 2015. For more information please visit https://www.nccs.gov.sg/consultation2015

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Climate change presents a grave threat to Singapore mainly because of its dependency on external sources for its water and food supply. In a world affected by climate change, any increase in the intensity of global weather variability can affect the availability of food and water in Singapore. Sea level rise and coastal inundation is of concern, with about 30% of our island being less than 5m above the mean sea level. The rise in sea level also poses a threat to Singapores geographical integrity. Other dangers that climate change poses include vector-borne diseases, heat-related health problems, ecological destruction and increasing dependency on air-conditioning, which increases the nations energy demand.11 Meeting with Singapores Chief Negotiator for Climate Change and Minister for Environment and Water Resources The evening before Day 1 of COP20, the Singapore Youth Delegation had the privilege of meeting Ambassador Kwok Fook Seng (Singapores Chief Negotiator for Climate Change). Ambassador Kwok answered questions on issues ranging from universal participation in the fight against climate change and public consultation, to Article 6 and the importance of education. Ambassador Kwok contextualised the climate change negotiations leading up to COP21 in Paris next year. There was an opportunity to build an agreement, which could bring the major emitters on board. The present state of the global economy presented different circumstances at the national level for each country. Nevertheless, countries would have to work together to reconcile such competing pressures in order to step up on mitigation efforts for a successful Paris agreement. Ambassador Kwok impressed upon us how Singapores desire for universal participation in the 2015 Paris Protocol stemmed from our belief in the importance of upholding the primacy of the UN system. It was also particularly important for the global climate negotiations to maintain credibility with a Paris agreement, which was upheld by all Parties to the UNFCCC. Climate change is a global problem that the international community needs to tackle together. Ambassador Kwok also spoke about the importance of public consultation and incorporation of public feedback during the policymaking process. As members of the public, youths have the capacity to influence and encourage positive changes in the fight against rising global temperatures. The Singapore Youth Delegation was heartened by Ambassador Kwoks

11 Singapores National Climate Change Secretariat on Singapores national circumstances and Actions: https://www.nccs.gov.sg/climate-change-and-singapore

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encouraging message and hope to inspire and empower other youths to make constructive changes within their respective communities.

From left to right: Melissa, Christl, Siang Yu, Zen, Ambassador Kwok, Wilson, Lastrina and

Juliana On 12 December 2014, our delegation had an enlivening chat with Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, who shared with our delegation his vision for a greener Singapore. Given the global trend towards urbanisation and city dwelling, Dr Balakrishnan shared that well-designed cities hold the key to achieving zero carbon living in the future. As such, land-scarce Singapore needs to carefully balance competing land uses if the country is to continue enjoying a green living environment and high quality of life for residents. The Singapore Youth Delegation was delighted to hear about Dr Balakrishnans vision for integrating green corridors and green lungs within our city. Dr Balakrishnan also discussed how Singapore, despite being a small island state, could contribute at international climate negotiations because the nation had built up a reputation for being credible, responsible, and pragmatic

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stakeholders who were open to dialogue and engagement. Later in the week, the youth delegation had the honour of witnessing this in action as Singapore and Norway were invited by the President of the COP to conduct informal consultations amongst delegations in order to progress ADP discussions. This was a proud moment for Singapore as we saw first-hand how Singapore can punch above our weight and contribute constructively at international negotiations.

Meeting with Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Formal (Above) & Casual (Below)

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Reflection Notes from Meetings with key members of Singapore Delegation on Climate Change Climate change is a danger faced by all and is therefore the responsibility to solve it is borne by all. Singapore will continue to build its resilience in anticipating and adapting to climate change. An effective resilience building has to involve all facets of the society and not be solely dependent on a top-down approach. The problems of climate change cannot be solved by the government alone. The public has to be well educated and adopt attitudes and values that empower them to be environmentally responsible citizens.

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SIDE EVENTS Apart from the official climate negotiations, over 180 side events were held as a platform for observer organisations to highlight diverse climate change issues at the UNFCCC conference. The Singapore Youth Delegation attended several side events on the side-lines of the formal negotiations and will share key highlights in the following section. The Climate March 10 December 2014, Campo de Marte to Plaza San Martin

In 1950, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day to bring to the attention of the people of the world the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all people and all nations. In 2014, the commemoration of Human Rights Day tackled an issue more than human rights. Last year, the world was mobilised to defend living systems right to last on this planet. It was especially poignant that such a mobilisation happened during the COP20 period as such a voice

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was much needed to put more pressure on the climate negotiations so that the importance of conserving and saving the environment was addressed with more urgency. To commemorate last years Human Rights Day, delegates of COP20 and members of the public were invited to the Peoples Climate March that took place in Lima, Peru. The march began at Campo de Marte and ended at Plaza San Martin. As the largest climate march in Latin America, estimated to have gathered more than 15 000 people, marchers were organised into blocks representing different civil society groups such as trade unions, environmental groups and student organisations. At the end of the march, people gathered for rallies and speeches. The Young NTUC-ECO Singapore delegation joined in this people-powered movement for global climate justice and immersed in the liveliness and high emotions of passionate people from social movements around the world, agreeing with the march declaration of Defend YOUR rights, OUR rights and those of LIFE on Earth."12

12 See more pictures of the march at the Official Facebook page of Cumbre de los Pueblos frente al Cambio Climatico (Peoples Climate March in Spanish). Available at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1578446945721153.1073741861.1507440712821777&type=3

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Convergence Space 1-12 December 2014, CasActiva, Nicols Aranibar 510, Lima, Peru

Casa de Convergencia TierrActiva (a.k.a TierrActiva Convergence Space) is an activist hub managed collectively by TierrActiva Peru and Bolivia with the support of Global Call for Climate Action. It is an independent, autonomous space, collaboratively created by dozens of local and foreign activists and artists. The space is open and can be used for meetings, workshops, presentations, discussions, making art, cultural events, and generally for bringing together and nurturing the movements for alternatives.13 While COP20 at Pentagonito was filled with more than 10, 000 delegates moving around in mostly formal attires and focusing on the policy papers, the Convergence Space was filled with perhaps no more than 50 people at any one time in casual attires, networking, sharing and collaborating in different ways in preparation for the Peoples Climate March. Lastrina actively went to the Convergence Space in the evenings after COP20 sessions as she found the alternative space suitable for winding down, eating home-cooked organic food prepared by Comida Consciente (Conscious

13 Pop by the Official Facebook Page of TierraActiva Peru for more still moments from the Convergence Space. Available at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.786969578049308.1073741832.692888957457371&type=3

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Food) crew from Bolivia, and painting face masks as part of her contribution to the march.

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Fossil of the Day 1-12 December 2015, COP20 Venue

During United Nations climate change negotiations, members of the worldwide environmental network, the Climate Action Network (CAN), would vote for the country judged to have made the worst input to the negotiations daily. Usually, three Fossil-of-the-day awards are presented on each day, sometimes only two or one - depending on the number of countries with outstanding efforts to block progress at the negotiations in the last days.14 Every day at 6pm, conference participants would gather outside the main plenary hall to watch this one of a kind award presentation. The group that gathers around the simple stage would join in singing Fossil of the day, Fossil of the Day, Who is bad, Who is Worse..~ to the tune of the Jurassic Park theme song. Through a short skit which is prepared about three hours before the show, shots of facts from the daily UN meetings, subtle hilarious antics

14 Read which countries received these Fossil of the Day awards and why at the dedicated Fossil of the Day site under Climate Action Network Internationals website, available at: http://climatenetwork.org/fossil-of-the-day The short posts are also accompanied with short clips on the same issue, hosted by Kevin Buckland, an artivists who leads the Fossil of the Day skits, and taped by the Adopt a Negotiator team, which is part of the Global Call for Climate Action.

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and punches of sarcasm are put together and unveiled to the mostly young audience. Winners of these Fossil-of-the-Day awards are then given trophies filled with coal. More than 10 countries received these Fossil of the Day awards over the span of two weeks for various reasons. The Fossil of the Year Award, though, went to Australia who took the Colossal Fossil award for collecting more Fossil awards than any other country at COP20. A quick check on the CAN website shows that Singapore received a Fossil of the Day award in 2013.15 This goes to show that civil society is closely monitoring what countries are saying and submitting to the UNFCCC. The Singapore Youth Delegation hopes that is the first and last time Singapore would be put on that spot. Global Landscapes Forum 6 7 December 2014, The Westin Hotel and Convention Center, San Isidro, Lima, Peru

Held alongside the UN climate negotiations, the two-day event brought together researchers, policymakers and business leaders in the fields of agriculture and forestry. Youth participants at the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) were invited to attend a dedicated Master-Class held a day prior to the event. The Master- 15 See http://www.climatenetwork.org/fossil-of-the-day/colossal-fossil-australia%E2%80%99s-new-government

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Class covered three topics: Pitching an idea, Facilitating a discussion, and Critical Thinking and Understanding Landscapes. Siang Yu attended the Master-Class on Critical Thinking and Understanding Landscapes while Christl attended the Pitching Master-Class. Siang Yu and Christl both had a very good experience at the Master-Classes as they found it useful to young people navigating the complex world of environmental advocacy. Dr Andy Jarvis from the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) led the Pitching Master-Class. Dr Jarvis presented an overview of the importance of effective pitching, and introduced the essential aspects of a successful pitch:

First, understanding your audience is crucial. An effective pitcher should have a keen sense of the main problem on the audiences mind. Your pitch should speak to this problem and address how you can help.

Second, total clarity on the ASK (i.e. what you are asking for). Make it clear what it is you want from your audience.

Third, be clear on what you want to achieve. Knowing what you can realistically achieve from your pitch is important.

Fourth, play to personal biases. Engage people on their biases. Everybody likes being flattered.

Fifth, simplify the message. Keep your pitch simple. Avoid inundating your audience with information.

Sixth, use numbers to buttress your arguments (where appropriate).The strategic use of numbers/statistics makes a stronger and more convincing pitch.

Seventh, be confident. Besides the aspects listed above, Siang Yu and Christl also learnt the importance of figuring out power networks knowing the entry points to an organisation, where to start, and who to speak to in order to accomplish your goal. In addition, preparation for a meeting is key. It really helps to prepare by doing research beforehand on specific individuals one wants to meet. In the Master-Class that Siang Yu attended, participants were assigned several tasks which include practising active listening to presentations by the speakers, identifying the main arguments or key points made and providing critical feedback on the presentations given. The tasks helped her develop analytical skills needed for active participation in conferences and decision-making processes. On understanding landscapes, it was demonstrated that discussion on landscapes goes beyond the spatial aspect. Instead, a landscape is an integrated system within which different actors such as the forest, smallholders, communities, biodiversity, investors and government

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interact with one another. The landscape approach therefore involves bringing together different discourses, which are connected by the landscape they share. It was further discussed that in order for landscape approaches to be sustainable, big changes to our institutional frameworks, governance, businesses, investment methods and citizens will be required. This includes considering the value of nature returns such as social and environmental improvements in addition to solely financial returns. The youth session of the Global Landscapes Forum took place on 6 December, which began with a series of roundtable discussions on four themes - Green Economy, Implementation of Integrated Landscape Approaches, Sustainable Development (Rural-Urban Migration), and Climate Change (REDD+). Each group developed a pitch on each theme, and four youth participants presented their pitch to leaders in the field at a Dragons Den Session. The Dragons Den panel, which included World Bank Vice-President Rachel Kyte, provided constructive suggestions on how each pitcher could improve his or her pitch.

The GLF had some excellent plenary sessions, including the high-level opening plenaries on Negotiating Landscapes for Multiple Benefits and Landscapes for Climate and Development. Rachel Kyte Vice President of the World Bank, spoke at the high-level opening plenary session on Negotiating Landscapes for Multiple Benefits . She delivered an impressive speech that inspired many in attendance. She spoke about the importance of managing our global landscapes differently to provide the necessary sustenance for people in terms of nutrition and jobs. She succinctly captured what was at stake at COP20 - integrating the compelling economic argument for tackling climate change into each countrys vision and plan of action in the run-up to Paris in 2015. She also spoke about a fundamental shift in multilateral development and multilateral aid - development organisations must work with governments to achieve decarbonisation and development of their economies at the same time. After attending the Global Landscapes Forum, the two participants shared that they have acquired valuable knowledge on the importance of policymaking and the complexity of implementation these policies. Instead of feeling helpless, the two are inspired to do more and feel empowered to expand their passion and interest in the area of agriculture both at the policy level and grassroots level.16

16 Find out more about the Global Landscapes Forum here http://www.landscapes.org/ Infographics, Publications, Presentations and Videos are available for viewing.

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World Climate Summit 10 December 2014, Hilton Hotel, Miraflores, Lima, Peru

This event was held outside COP20 and was a full day programme primarily targeted at senior business and governmental leaders to discuss areas of cooperation between the two sectors, with more focus on the business sector. 17 This event provided a good opportunity to hear the business perspective on climate change. The business leaders agreed that the climate change conversation needs to be based on not just reason and analysis, but propelled by compelling, irrefutable evidence of economic interest. Industries to shift from a rear view mentality of looking back and fixating on who is to blame for climate change problems, to a windscreen mentality where people look ahead and focus on tackling issues at hand constructively.

17 Visit the World Climate Summit 2014 website for more information, available at: http://www.wclimate.com/world-climate-summit-2014/.

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MEETINGS WITH CLIMATE LEADERS At COP20, our delegation had the honour of meeting with leaders in the climate change sphere to engage them on a gamut of issues ranging from youth activism, national environmental policies, and our vision for the future of the environmental movement. Apart from meeting with Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapores Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Ambassador Kwok Fook Seng, Singapores Chief Negotiator (refer to earlier section), the Singapore Youth Delegation had the privilege of spending time with Professor Lord Nicholas Stern, of the famous Stern Report. Professor Lord Stern is currently the IG Patel Chair of Economics and Government at the London School of Economics, and he took time out from his busy schedule to meet with our delegation on the sidelines of COP20. We also met with COP20 President, Mr Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Ms Christiana Figueres during an exclusive dialogue session with youths at COP20 on 4 December 2014. A common thread throughout these meetings was the emphasis on the importance of enthusiasm and action supported by a clear vision. There is a need to be driven by a clear mission as people are mobilised and act to further our cause. Professor Lord Nicholas Stern The Singapore Youth Delegation had the honour of setting up a meeting between Professor Lord Nicholas Stern and AYCN youth members on the sidelines of COP20. The team introduced Professor Stern to the AYCN and youth efforts in the region, as well as sought his advice on the various change-related projects the team was involved in back home. AYCN representatives from China, Japan, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan attended this meeting. Professor Stern was very pleased to hear about all our advocacy efforts, and gave AYCN youths a clear and inspiring message on furthering the climate change cause. He urged Asian youths to engage in our national conversations on climate change, emphasise the scale of risks posed by climate change, and highlight the attractiveness of alternative, climate-friendly policy pathways. Professor Stern applauded the work of youths in our communities and urged us to continue working within our local communities to make a difference. He also emphasised the importance of transnational

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collaborative efforts because the effects of climate change transcend national boundaries. It was indeed a rewarding session.

Meeting with Professor Lord Nicholas Stern on the grounds of COP20

COP20 President, Mr Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Ms Christiana Figueres UNFCCC Executive Secretary Ms Christiana Figueres held a closed-door dialogue session with youths at COP20. At the meetings outset, she motioned for youths to gather round on the floor for a more intimate discussion instead of speaking from conference microphones around the round table. This, along with the meeting, was a good gesture of inclusion by the UNFCCC Secretariat, signaling that the UNFCCC does take the views of youths into consideration at climate change talks. COP20 President and Perus Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, joined the meeting subsequently. Issues discussed centred on youth participation and inclusion at UNFCCC meetings, as well as the role of youth in furthering the climate change cause.

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Dialogue with COP20 President, Mr Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary,

Ms Christiana Figueres.

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YOUTH GROUPS AND CONSTITUENCIES Asian Youth Climate Network (AYCN)

The Singapore Youth Delegation organised the annual Asian Youth Dinner on 5th December 2014. A total of 36 youths from Taiwan, China, Nepal, India, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, The Philippines and Singapore gathered to broaden their networks and to discuss on working together in the future. One main idea emerged; coordinating an Asian Power Shift (APS) in mid-2015. The idea of the Asian Power Shift is parallel to that of the Global Power Shift that took place in Turkey in 2013. This APS would serve as the chance for Asian youths to refine their skills, create bonds and a community that collectively shares a global vision for change. It would also help youths strategise how to organise different actions and similar summits in their respective countries in order to mobilise more Asian youths to be active in the fight against climate change. AYCN also held two Strategy Meetings - one in each week throughout the duration of COP20. The vision, aims and direction of AYCN were discussed and an overall structure of AYCN was proposed. Lastrina and Juliana both volunteered to be representatives of the South-East Asian region in the Bottom-Lining Team for AYCN up until at least COP 21.

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Youth Non-Governmental Organisations Constituency (YOUNGO) It was extremely inspirational to see so many youths from all over the world gathered at COP20. Youths from both the Global North and Global South were present and this allowed for more equitable negotiations among all youths. Youths also took charge, displaying their determination to combat climate change by organising pre-approved actions during COP20 as well as spearheading the Conference of Youths 10 (COY10). COY 10 was held over 3 days from 28 November 2014 to 30 November 2014, just before COP20 began. COY 10 brought together youths from all over the world with the vision of turning voices into action by strengthening the global youth climate movement and engaging the next generation in the development of action on climate change within the framework of international cooperation. Events held during COY 10 were thought provoking and the Singapore Youth Delegation felt the sense of urgency for more youths to be engaged and thus hope to inspire more youths in Singapore to jump on the bandwagon and to positively contribute in making changes that would benefit our shared environment. At COP20, YOUNGO meetings were also held daily, where two volunteers, one from the Global North and the other from the Global South would spearhead the hour-long discussion. Trade Union Non-Governmental Organisations (TUNGO) During COP20, Siang Yu attended the daily trade union meetings where members of trade union non-governmental organisations could share any updates on the climate negotiations from the previous day, as well as promote activities where they were organising during the conference. The trade unions called for a just transition for workers, contributing to protecting them in times of hardship, strengthening social dialogue between governments, employers and unions at all levels, securing their rights, greening existing sectors, and growing new sectors to ensure prosperity and sustainable development. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) invited members of the Peruvian indigenous community during one of the daily meetings to give a statement regarding the murder of four environmental activists in September 2014. The widows and daughter of Edwin Chota Valera, Leoncio, Quincima Melendez, Jorge Rios Prez and Francisco Pinedo were present to express

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their struggles as the indigenous community continues to fight for their right to land use as well as basic human rights. ITUC also expressed their solidarity with the indigenous community at an action held on the conference grounds, holding a banner that says, We are Saweto.

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KEY TAKE HOME MESSAGES FOR SINGAPORE Enhancing Education on Climate Change Climate change education has a crucial role to play in ensuring the effectiveness of Singapores and the worlds effort to mitigate and adapt to climate change. From consumers to policy makers, each individual must be well versed in climate change issue and has the values and attitude that would direct their actions. Climate change education should occupy more of the discourse in UNFCCC negotiation and become the key focus of the international efforts. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has proclaimed climate change to be the defining challenge of our time. However, the question remains whether the Singapore population perceive climate change and environmental destruction with the appropriate urgency. The Singapore Sustainable Blueprint, produced by MEWR, has indicated the importance of education in raising awareness and cultivating an environmentally responsible culture in the society. Education plays a crucial role in developing a Singapores population that is truly environmentally friendly and resilient. Small changes in the lifestyle of the individuals can translate into crucial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions collectively. These changes in lifestyle can only happen when the individual has the pro-environmental knowledge, attitude and values. The Singapore school system which is known to be broad and robust can include further integration of climate change education. This will in time ensure that Singapores next generation will be well-informed decision makers and consumers that champion sustainable development and are environmentally responsible. The Singapore school system can and should place more emphasis on climate change education. There should be more intensive integration of environmental education into the academic subjects across all levels of the school systems. Environmental messages should also be present in the schools programs and co-curricular activities. The ministry may also look at allocating curriculum time, for e.g. the Form Teacher Guidance Period (FTGP), for climate change or environmental education that is engaging and relevant. The training of teachers is needed so they are well versed in the issues of climate change and be effective in imparting environmental knowledge, values and attitude to the students. Educators and the public should also see more visible collaboration between the ministry and other government bodies such

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as MEWR and the NCCS and with the UNFCCC. MOEs involvement in inter-ministerial and international climate change efforts would signal the governments commitment and belief in the importance of climate change education. The Article 6 National Focal Point who oversees international communication on matters of awareness raising and capacity building can also be from the MOE. Food Security Concerns for Singapore One of the key issues discussed during the side events at COP20 was food security. Smallholder farmers, researchers and policymakers were gathered to hold dialogues about the challenges and opportunities facing the various stakeholders involved in agriculture and food security. The World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) organised side events to share climate analysis data and innovative work on climate adaptation. These include food security early warning initiatives - hydro meteorological stations and the use of crowd sourced weather information. Success stories and approaches that addressed the challenges of climate change especially by low-income countries in Africa, Asia and Central and South America were also explored. While the issue of food security was not brought up in the main negotiations, panellists encouraged civil society organisations to continue discussing the theme in their home countries, as well as to work with governments to incorporate it into future negotiations. A key message about food security and food education that was shared by Jethro Greene, Chief Coordinator of the Caribbean Farmers Network, is to know what you eat and where it comes from. It was interesting to gain perspective from smallholder farmers and policymakers about food security and agriculture. However, there was little mention of food security and the role of agriculture in the urban context. Being an active member of the urban agriculture community in Singapore, Siang Yu hopes to take what she has learned at the conference and put them into practice back in Singapore. Singapore imports more than 90% of its food. As a result, an increase in the price of key food imports or export bans by major food suppliers is likely to threaten Singapores food security. The negative impacts of climate change such as alteration of ecosystems and disruption of crop yield also has implications on food security. In order to adapt to the impacts of climate

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change and to strengthen the resilience of Singapores food supply, one solution is to work towards maximising our local food production. Siang Yu hopes to raise awareness on Singapores potential to increase local, sustainable food production despite our land scarcity issues, and to see a greater interest in agriculture among Singaporean youths.

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CONCLUDING NOTES AND REFLECTIONS Overall, the experience at Lima COP20 was fulfilling and had helped to broaden our insights not only about the negotiation process, but also made us more aware of youths roles in this global issue. The conference opened our eyes to the issues that different nations face or are concerned about, such as health, gender and the rights of the indigenous people. It gave us a better perspective of how climate change has affected and will continue to affect communities worldwide. We had the opportunity to interact and exchange ideas with active youth NGOs worldwide, and plans are already underway to connect youths in Asia. As youths, we feel empowered to contribute in any and every way that we can, from raising awareness on the issues surrounding climate change to attending and actively participating during COP. Through the connections and friendships made with like-minded youths, we hope to draw inspiration from them and to further encourage youths in Singapore to take on a more active role in the fight against climate change.

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