Negotiations at the COP21 : how it works ? By Hôtel★★★ Restaurant gourmand Coco Lodge Majunga.
Negotiations at the COP21 : how it works ? By Hôtel★★★ Restaurant gourmand Coco Lodge Majunga.
How are NGOs and negotiators ? Meetings.
Time is running out. Yet a few hours for the parties deliver to the president of the COP21, Laurent Fabius the final version of the agreement which will then be discussed by the Ministers of the environment of each country. A draft of this text was published this Thursday 3 December.
If it is shorter than the previous draft, There are still too many options in the formulations, considers the Nicolas Hulot Foundation, which gave a conference in this regard Thursday 3 December, morning. "To change pace and method., stressed his spokesman Matthieu Orphelin. Go faster so. And yet, no respite in these negotiations for the private lobbies or NGOs and delegations of negotiators.
In the corridors or coffee, discussions are continuing throughout the site of le Bourget. Outside of trading rooms, of which some are closed to journalists and NGOs, Exchange everywhere. Each strives to make its concepts, and in terms of his choice.
Mobilised since the preparatory meetings, NGOs themselves, yet, often away from those negotiations in Paris. Difficult, for them, to support their advocacy but cannot intervene in certain meetings that take place behind closed doors.
Of the NGO to the negotiator, We met actors who participate in the drafting of the agreement or attempt to influence its content, particular with regard to the “food security” (Read in box below)
For what NGOs are mobilizing them ?
At this stage of the negotiations, These are mainly of the words … but not only. Peggy Pascal is responsible for advocacy on food safety to Action against hunger (ACF). This French NGO asked what the terms of 'food security' appear in the body of the text of the agreement.
These are months that NGOs such as Peggy Pascal fight to bring up some specific terms : . En 1992, When States have written it, they thought about the issue of food security, except that at the time they called him 'food production '., because in the years 1990, food insecurity was primarily due to a question of production but, today, This is no longer the case. We push to negotiators for the term of “food security” either in article 2 which gives the objective of the convention. For the moment, It appears that in the preamble. And it is not suitable because the production is only one of 4 pillars of food security defined by the United Nations in 1996 : production, access, use and the fact that these three pillars are insured at all times. The mention of the “production” is very much in favour of agribusiness, the extremely polluting States because their agricultural model such as the Argentina and the United States."
How NGOs exert their influence ?
During these negotiations, NGOs must support an arm wrestling says Peggy Pascal : "Agribusiness lobbies are very powerful.". Monsanto or Cargill are here. They influence the negotiators and the negotiations that certain terms that interest them, as “agricultural production” Enter the text. So there is a struggle between NGOs and certain countries of the South – including latinos – carrying the concept of “food sovereignty” and, on the other side, a private sector armed large lobbies with high-polluting countries which, them, prefer “agricultural production”. »
Civil society is completely excluded from negotiations.
Without being able to participate in the drafting of the text, NGOs can intervene with negotiators to advise, influence them and advocate for the terms or concepts they want to see appear in the text.
It is the work conducted by Peggy Pascal for Action against hunger. But in this COP21, many meetings are remained closed. It must therefore be found for the interpeller.Comme other times evidenced by Peggy Pascal :
Information is also circulating on the Internet, via discussion groups, to find out where the negotiations are and on what points more urge negotiators. NGOs are coordinated at the national and international level to push together on a same subject. "There are meetings at regular times., says Peggy Pascal, where we exchange info and on implementing communication strategies. "A permanent lobbying work that stops at the door of some rooms, but continues in the shadow.
In some delegations, as that of Niger, NGOs are in contact with negotiators from the civil society. They cannot speak on behalf of their countries, because they are not State officials, but they attend all meetings. During the huis clos, they take notes and relay them to the NGOs that may not have access to certain meetings.
This is the case of Ali Abdou Bongere, Member of the international network climate development in Niger (see our story), came with the delegation of his country. It explains what is the advantage of his dual status : Member of the civil society and bargaining.
In the French delegation, as in many countries of the North, There is no or very little NGO representatives.
Who are the negotiators ?
'In general these are public officials who represent their Governments', explains Ludovic Larbodière, Chargé de mission at the Ministry of agriculture and negotiator in the French delegation. He is also the partner of Peggy Pascal of ACF on 'food security' for negotiations.
Negotiators are therefore generally "representatives of States"., officers of the departments most often from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Ecology, sometimes Agriculture or finance, details Ludovic Larbodière. In some countries which have less ability or expertise, There are also NGOs or consultants who are available to the State to advise and support. "As Ali Bongere for Niger.
With which are negotiators in contact civil society ?
During this COP21, the French delegation is more a role of “Facilitator” in the negotiations of the fact of the French Presidency. The negotiators must be tuned to each, to be in close contact with all to facilitate consensus and reach an agreement at the end of this conference on climate.
NGOs who deplore that access to the negotiating sessions, Ludovic Larbodière brings its response, ahz that it is also an opportunity for countries to address issues that they dare not raise in the presence of observers.
To Peggy Pascal, these camera especially allow countries to Exchange without pressure from civil society. The standoff continues…
By Hôtel★★★ Restaurant gourmand Coco Lodge Majunga
