Today was the start of COP18/CMP8! I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Welcoming Ceremony! I had a balcony seat in the conference hall where the ceremony was held. Before the ceremony started there was a bunch of chatter in all different languages. I sat, listened, and took in my surroundings. The hall was amazing! Huge with nice seating and a beautiful ceiling. There was an extraordinary amount technology, from the panel showing the Doha COP18 logo that would later have a short video on it to the cameras and video recording devices to all the laptops and cell phones in everyone’s’ hands. Technology plays a large part in this conference. They are even using the Paper Smart system to reduce the amount of papers and documents. In previous years, there has been about 5 million pieces of paper used and they are hoping, here in Doha, to reduce that number to about 3 million (http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/215536-cop18-set-to-be-first-%E2%80%98paper-smart%E2%80%99-summit.html).
In addition to the Paper Smart systems, this conference is unique in a few other ways. First, the Geo Political location; this is the first time COP is being held in a Gulf Region. The focus here will be to make the area less vulnerable to food and water scarcity as well as make the regional energy growth more sustainable. This conference will mark the end of the first implementation of the Kyto Protocol and launch the second implementation of it. I am curious and excited to see what the final decisions of the protocol will be! Also, the challenge of looking at the present as well as into the future still remains. The parties will be looking at equity as well as the science behind the climate change to make their decisions.
There were a few themes for this year brought up during the welcoming ceremony as well. “7 Billion One Challenge” and “Count me in” were two of them. Also mentioned was an African proverb: “If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk with others.” The main message the speakers were trying to get across this year was that we need to do this together. We need to work together on our mitigation and adaptation plans to rid ourselves and our children of the negative impacts of climate change. We can find strength in unity. Count me in!
In addition to the Paper Smart systems, this conference is unique in a few other ways. First, the Geo Political location; this is the first time COP is being held in a Gulf Region. The focus here will be to make the area less vulnerable to food and water scarcity as well as make the regional energy growth more sustainable. This conference will mark the end of the first implementation of the Kyto Protocol and launch the second implementation of it. I am curious and excited to see what the final decisions of the protocol will be! Also, the challenge of looking at the present as well as into the future still remains. The parties will be looking at equity as well as the science behind the climate change to make their decisions.
There were a few themes for this year brought up during the welcoming ceremony as well. “7 Billion One Challenge” and “Count me in” were two of them. Also mentioned was an African proverb: “If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk with others.” The main message the speakers were trying to get across this year was that we need to do this together. We need to work together on our mitigation and adaptation plans to rid ourselves and our children of the negative impacts of climate change. We can find strength in unity. Count me in!
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