Love, from the Streets of Paris

Love, from the Streets of Paris

In the last week of the Climate Change Negotiations here at COP 21 in Paris, I heard gripping stories of global change, saw troubling documentaries where Einstein is quoted as saying “When the bees are gone, mankind will have four years left.” I have seen so much in the last week from Le Bourget Green Zone, where non-government groups, UN outreach, UNESCO, corporate entities and indigenous peoples have gathered, that I am struck dumb with overwhelm of the crisis we earth dwellers face. Here is todays’ report from le Bourget, Blue Zone.

It is the state of the planet itself that brought every country here together two weeks ago and each came to put their nations needs and climate promises on the table.

“Today, the planets are aligned.” Said Laurent Fabius, French Foreign Minister, President of COP21. Final negotiations finished at 2 am. And now at 11 am, the draft agreement is being sent to the floor, to all 170 nations represented and it seems from all on the official stage, the consensus is: the deal is fair, lasting and balanced. Ambitious and realistic. Recognizing responsibility. This is the overview of what brings us here together … which is the planet itself.

They say this is the first universal legally binding agreement – a major leap for mankind. There is a lot of applause and the overview given Laurent Fabius, is confirmation that the objective of reducing carbon emissions to take the earth temperature to 1.5 degree Celsius ~ is a surprise. Though this is severe for some places – it is much more ambitious than the idea of dropping below 2.0 which was the goal at the onset of these negotiations. This would require all nations to phase out fossil fuels. Current reserves of oil need to be kept in the ground if we are to offset the present disastrous course.

They feel the agreement should make it possible to secure Food security, public health, poverty, essential rights and ultimately peace. There was no mention of water security or population stabilization. Agreeing on an update and accounting every 5 years, recognizing a need for co-operation on loss and damage, for a climate resilient future, the text has some vague spots.

The text is of a nature to strengthen mutual trust; thanks to transparency and compromises based on current provisions – and that every five years there will be stocktaking and a result of the goals and promises. They say, “it is a universal legal agreement, that today is a true turning point for the world.”

Whatever the text says in detail, what is good is that almost every country in the world has completed their economic analysis of what it will take to convert to or introduce, clean energy – which is the first practical step. Developing nations can leap directly to renewable clean energy whereas in other parts of the world we must retrofit and retool and re-educate. But all around it’s about monetary alignment. Even though we can’t put a monetary value on systems that will break down and countries that will be wiped out – after years of failed negotiations, agreements ignored, and global change being bandied around the political court, we are all hopeful that the course is at last being set on the most difficult issue facing civilization.

Over the past days China ~ with their pollution so bad in Beijing you can’t see a half mile down the road; schools closed and citizens told not to go outside ~ became a bit of a bridge between the developing world and developed, while keeping their goals intact.

Christina Stevens for Climate Change in Paris

“We are one people. We are one planet. We are earth. We are sky. We are one with all. “ Clear and obvious truths from Deborah Parker, Indigenous leader from British Columbia. I spent time with many Indigenous leaders at the Indigenous Embassy (Paris has provided one for them) as they carry the burden of global change yet do not have a voice or a vote. They tend to bring the spirit of the heart and the voice of nature into the room, which is a vital presence to the scientific facts and economic realities presently on the table.

President of COP ended with Nelson Mandela’s quote: “It always seems impossible until its done.” Adding, “None of us acting alone can be successful.” And finally, “Success is built collectively in this room, the world is holding its breath.”

So now they are sending the delegates off to review the draft – suggesting everyone go have lunch … a perfectly French sentiment. Every nation must agree to every word in the draft … Lunch or no lunch, the document will be signed.

UN Climate Change Conference in Paris at La Tour Eiffel

Photo courtesy of Marta Getty

Meanwhile, thousands gathered at La Tour Eiffel in an effort to draw a line in the shifting sands for the people of the world.


There are no carbon police out there and these agreements require transparency as President Obama called for. China doesn’t want anyone going through their books and they are not alone. So it is all in how we go forward. What is needed now is respect, passion, com-passion, truth, honor, responsibility and trust. Which can be summed up in one word: Love.

Einstein Love is the Answer

And today in Saudi Arabia, women are allowed to vote for the first time! Lots of movement in this time of people change and lots of steps, big and little, on this day, December 12, 2015.

Love,
Christina

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