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2009-12-28：绿色家园的美国代表从哥本哈根发回的参会消息

美国西雅图大学的奥凯文同学今年暑期在中国云南省的丽江市玉龙县拉市乡安上村的丽江市能环科普青少年绿色家园实习。奥凯文对拉市海湿地保护、拉市海农村可再生能源、尤其是农村沼气的教育与普及十分关注。他非常关心沼气应用中的碳减排问题，对中国农村普及和应用沼气技术、减少甲烷气体的排放表示赞赏。下面是他作为绿色家园的代表，参加了12月7日至18日在丹麦的哥本哈根会议发回来的参会消息。

Hello,

My name is Kevin Osborne. I am a 21 years old and a senior at Seattle University in Seattle, Washington. Over the summer of 2009, I was an intern for the Yunnan EcoNetwork at the Lijiang Green Education Center (GEC) in Lijiang, Yunnan. From December 8th to the 21st of 2009, I served as the official delegate for the GEC and Biogas Carbon Offset project at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen, Denmark. My purpose was to inform different audiences such as youth, business leaders, and politicians about rural biogas education currently conducted by GEC in Lijiang, China as well as BCO. I was not accredited to attend the Bella Center (the location of all the negotiations) because I registered too late. However, I participated and attended most of the side-events and several receptions. The pictures below are some of the big events that I got involved with.

Kevin Osborne and Star Young, a Chinese student on the campaign team for the China Youth Climate Action Network (CYCAN), at the "China-US Youth Workshop: Our Shared Future" at the University of Copenhagen (December 10th, 2009). The workshop was unique in bring together youth . There were 50 Chinese and 50 American youth present. The session was broken into two parts: 'Nihao and Hello' and 'Our Shared Future and Climate Strategy.' We first introduced ourselves and talked about why we came to COP15 and then discussed what were some 'real' solutions to Climate Change. In addition, we built new relationships that transcend language and cultural differences, and pioneered a new generation of US-Chinese diplomacy built on shared trust and ambition. This was a very important dialogue because it focused on collaboration and mutual understanding. It was a chance to break cultural barriers and build friendships.

The speaker in the center of the picture is Shane Zhao, the president of CYCAN.

This workshop was organized and put together by Holly Chang, the co-organizer of the China delegation and CEO of Golden Bridges. The purpose was to illustrate that this is one of the important relationships of 'our time' in respect to these two countries, and it is that partnership that needs to be cemented in order for our world to thrive in the future. Furthermore, climate change is a problem that's will be shared between our two countries for decades, and this event was an opportunity to break down a lot of the cultural barriers that can hinder progress in the negotiations.

I was in a group of 5 people. I recall two specific Chinese youth and their specific reasons for coming. One was a graduate student from Beijing. When she was an undergraduate as an English Literature major, she did her final project on energy demand comparing China to the US. As she learned more about this issue, she was prompted to get involved in this NGO, China Youth Climate Action Network. Another student, Li na, talked about her experience with 'Students on Ice' - an educational expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic. Through a very competitive program, she was one of the few selected and highlighted her trip to us. The most significant thing she point out was that it gave her an appreciation for nature, that the world is not just about human. It appeared that experience gave her a very unique hands-on understanding and appreciation of the situation.

I was able to talk about the GEC with one of the small groups and the Chinese student were particularly receptive, interested and excited to meet a foreigner who was representing a Chinese NGO. As we talked about potential solutions, I brought up a couple key aspects. First was the significance of biogas digesters for rural farmers and highlighting the importance of the diversity of renewable energy, not just solar and wind power. Second was on education. I mentioned the GEC with its strong focuses on environmental education for youth. I gave an example of the GEC's 2-day summer camp in which we had 70 primary school children attend. On the other hand, one of the Chinese youth who had been doing a study abroad in the US and said that there is a very negative connotation especially on environment protection in China. Yet, China has taken many initiatives with high fuel standards for cars (higher than those in the U.S under C.A.F.E), wind power, solar water heaters, and biogas digesters as examples. We agreed that there needs to be understanding about what the efforts the countries are putting forth and work in cooperation rather than the using the 'blame game.'

This is a group picture of all 100 happy students at the end of the workshop.
The major event on December 12th was the public demonstration. There was an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 participants who joined a long march from Christiansborg Slotsplads (Castle Square) southward to the Bella Center. From news reports, there were delegates and observers from nearly 200 nations who gathered to seek a consensus on climate action. There were a broad coalition of hundreds of environmental groups, human rights campaigners, climate activists, anti-capitalists from dozens of countries. The climate demonstration began at 1:00 PM with speakers and the march started at 2:00 PM. I arrived about 2:45 and the march was massive. I walked out of the subway station and was in engulfed in the march. There was signs saying 'There is no Planet B, ' 'Change the Politics, Not the Climate,' and 'Nature Doesn't Compromise'. There was police standing in front of large corporation buildings and fast food chains such as McDonalds and KFC to stop an anti-sentiment of throwing rocks and stones at the windows. Since I had come alone as the representative for the GEC, I just walked in the march and joined different organizations and looked for anyone I knew. During this time, I was realizing that I was part of history. I had been told that 100,000 were participating in this march. In the United States, 15,000 to 30,000 participants is a huge deal. This was unlike any other demonstration in terms of the amount of people from all over the world marching for climate action. My hope as I saw the helicopter filming the crowds of people, that the politicians including Barack Obama would see that the world wants 'A REAL DEAL' with a strong, ambitious, and fair Climate Change agreement. I saw multiple groups such as GreenPeace, 350, Friends of the Earth, and Oxfam International to name a few. The streets were crammed pack and people were waving from their windows in support. Media and photographers climbed up light poles designed as ladders to try to photograph the moment. It was freezing that afternoon but everyone's spirits were high. It was amazing to be part of something that the whole world was watching. It sent chills down my back just realizing what I was engaged in it.

On the morning of December 16th, I met Governor Gregiore of Washington State. I am from Washington State so it was great privilege to met Governor Gregoire. I was invited by Mark Rupp to met a group of Washingtonians at the Fields shopping mall. There were employees from Microsoft, a micro-finance group, Department of Ecology, and Climate Solutions. I was the only student there. I was happy to see how friendly, warm, and inviting she was. We sat down around a small rectangular table and the governor asked two questions.

1. Go around the table introduce ourselves.
2. What has been our impression from the neogiations that have taken place?
I introduced myself with the GEC and as a student from Seattle University. However, I want to focus on the second question in respect to two responses.

One response was on the disconnect between policy and businesses. For instance, the man's remark from his observations was that policy needs to be comprehensive and explicit, otherwise it is difficult for businesses to make concrete strategies. I brought up the disconnect between China and the US in regards to emission targets and financial aid. I said it concerned me greatly that we are still at the point of criticizing each other such as calling names of 'irresponsible' and 'lack of common sense'. I felt the time had well gone beyond this point to act and work closely together. I said I want to see more collaboration and understanding between the two countries. I explained that I had attended a China-US Youth Workshop last week, which was geared towards bridging the gap between our two cultures and in turn we can work together as partners to solve the climate crisis. I said I want to see at least the same efforts by the Obama Administration and especially Special Envoy for Climate Change, Tod Speth. I said we need to put our egos aside and demonstrate global leadership. The environmental stake are enormous. We need to focus on being partners, not enemies.

This is a group of Washingtonians with Governor Gregoire (center of the picture wearing a white plaid suit) of Washington State at restaurant in the Field shopping mall. I am directly behind the governor wearing glasses.