But among delegates of almost 200 states and more than 16 000 participants in the Bula zone in total, it´s easy to get lost and to lose track. Clearly, you do recognize some faces. Nobody would confuse Schwarzenegger with Al Gore or Merkel with Macron. However, I wanted to get some more profound impressions and decided to get in touch with the people.

“I am here at COP 23, because I think climate change…”

I asked participants to complete this sentence in order to find out about their motivation or ambition, their specific interest in, personal connection to or simply their understanding of climate change itself. The answers I received in these candid interviews were as diverse as you can imagine them to be, if you, more or less randomly, select individuals for a quick chat at a conference where the whole world comes together.

“… is real!”

First of all, it should be noted that climate change “is real”, it “is happening”. These statements might refer to the unbelievable denial of the obvious ongoing environmental variations by the official position of one particular country. Nevertheless, I spoke to a representative from the very nation who described climate change as “an urgent problem we have to deal with”. That´s why we all came together these days in Bonn, because in fact it “is a problem”, it “is a life or death issue for the planet”, but it also can be understood as “the most important justice question of the 21^st century”.

“… is a threat.”

Furthermore, people see a threat in the continuing climatic changes. Especially the interviewees from the Small Island Developing States like Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and the Seychelles, expressed that. They attended the COP because of climate change being “the biggest threat to our planet” and “a crucial factor regarding the survival of Small Island Developing States”. On a very personal level, climate change “is threating everyone and everything I love” or “negatively impacts my community and I want decisions that reduce climate change vulnerabilities”. “We are all affected”, but it is these nations who are currently suffering the most from consequences they didn’t cause.

“… is important.”

Actually, climate change is seen as “the most important thing to deal with in our and in future generations”. “Fighting against it´s devastating nature is crucial for mankind”. Therefore, generally all participants at the COP are busy. The time for every statement is limited, decisions will have to be made and even the most protracted negotiations have to come to an end in order to be able to present a satisfying outcome. Considering this, I understand all people who did not want to answer my question.

“… can draw attention.”

An international conference of the magnitude of the UNFCCC COP 23 provides great chances for every participant. You can connect to people from all around the globe and get into touch to important politicians and famous personalities. That’s what makes the COP an excellent platform to draw people’s attention on aspects related to the core topic. For example, on human rights: “climate change and human rights are related to each other and we need to incorporate the rights into the core of the Paris Rule Book”. Other aspects comprise the importance of the “involvement of indigenous people and their traditional knowledge” or the “integration of young people into the decision-making processes”. Ultimately, climate change can be considered to be “paramount of sustainable development”.

“… can be mitigated.”

Some interviewees pointed out solutions and ways to handle the challenges we are facing: “climate change is a critical issue; the impacts must be collaboratively addressed”. “All nations need to take part in order to make a “good life” for all people possible!”. This emphasis on the significance of international cooperation and joint implementations were complemented by personal advice: “climate change can be mitigated with simple ideas, changes of our daily habits and the way we view things”. We need to act now! It’s about you to make a difference.

I thank all my interview partners for their cooperation:

• Mr. Alden Meyer (Director of Strategy and Policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, USA)
• Ms. Alice Gaustad (Chief Engineer in the Norwegian Environment Agency, Norway)
• Mr. Arana Pyfrom (Technical Advisor at the Office of the Prime Minister, Bahamas)
• Ms. Barbara Hendricks (Federal Minister at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany)
• Ms. Brigitte Beyer (Head of Political Staff at the Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture, Germany)
• Ms. Clara-Luisa Weichelt (Desk Officer for Adaptation, Policy and Global Challenges at MISEREOR, Germany)
• Ms. Doriane Mollard (UNFCCC COP 23 Volunteer, France)
• Mr. F. Umiich Sengebau (Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism in Palau)
• Ms. Janinka Lutze (Naturefriends International, Germany)
• Ms. Joy S. Juma (Kenya)
• Ms. Mai Tina Ichihara (Climate Change Consultant at the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Seychelles)
• Ms. Mariana Balau Silveira (PUC Minas, Brazil)
• Ms. Mélissa Dumont (University of Lapland)
• Mr. Muawia Hamid Ibrahim Shaddad (University of Khartoum, Sudan)
• Mr. Nawaf Alshatti (Team Leader Maintenance at Kuwait Oil Tanker Company, Kuwait)
• Ms. Patriciah Roy Akullo (Programme Officer for Advocacy at DanAid, Uganda)
• Mr. Roy Harris (Secretary for National Emergency Service, Government of Nauru)
• Ms. Sarah N. Baashan (International Policies Advisor, APA Chair, Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia)
• Ms. Shema Roberts nee Nsabimana (Environment Officer at the Ministry of Environment, Antigua and Barbuda)
• Mr. Tesfaye Gashaw Yeshanew (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ethiopia)
• Ms. Tui Shortland (Director at Pacific Indigenous and Local Knowledge Centre of Distinction, New Zealand)
• Mr. Vegard Tørstad (Researcher at the European University Institute, Norway)
• Mr. William N. Kostka (Director Micronesian Conservation Trust, Federated States of Micronesia)

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<< Climate Change is not an academic subject, it´s a matter of life and death.>>
– Henry Puna

In the early morning hours of the 18^th November 2017, the climate change COP 23 in Bonn came to an end after two weeks of negotiations, discussions and debates. The conference didn’t result in tremendous progress but met the overall expectations. Progress in implementing the Paris Agreement was achieved and next steps towards the coal phase-out were undertaken. Bonn was a necessary step on the way to Katowice next year where the members of the parties will come together again.

One main outcome of COP 23 consists of the further elaboration of the Paris Agreement’s Rule Book. Clear and consistent standards were needed regarding measuring and reporting CO₂ emissions as well as advances in climate protection on the national level within all participating nations. Aiming for the prevention or at least for slowing down the global heating, a draft of around 200 pages was presented. This document will be finalized and adopted at COP 24.

Despite the disappointing German position concerning the withdrawal from coal use, the initiation of the global “Powering Past Coal Alliance” was a great step towards a coal free future. Under leadership of Canada and the UK, more than two dozen countries, provinces, states and cities agreed on the phasing-out of the climate killer within the next decades. Germany might follow in 2018. Its role as a financial supporter of climate protection is very important but others took over political leadership.

Contrasting Americas official position, positive signals came from other US representatives including civil society members, companies, states and cities: “We are still in!” – a clear message and support to keep the spirit of Paris alive in Bonn.

Further achievements are the adoption of the Gender Action Plan, the development of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform and the launch of the Ocean Pathway Partnership. In order to promote and stimulate the process of inclusive, participatory and transparent dialogue, the Talanoa Dialogue was initiated. This facilitative exchange encourages action in climate mitigation by bringing together science, industry and the civil society.

Apart from the negotiation processes in the Bula (Fijian for “hello”) Zone, the organization of the climate conference in Bonn in two zones, also provided room and opportunities for showcasing projects and examples of implementation. Countries, industry and civil society presented a wide spectrum of climate action solutions in hundreds of events in the Bonn Zone.

The COP 23 was characterized by the shared general consensus to get active in climate policy. That is a strong signal but a lot of work remains until more groundbreaking decisions will have to be made in Poland next year. From our perspective as scientists, the statement of His Excellency Mr. Henry Puna, Prime Minister of Cook Islands, should provide motivation and be seen as a mandate: “Climate Change is not an academic subject, it´s a matter of life and death.”

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The first speech was given by Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, which was accompanied by high expectations from the public, as the German “Energiewende” is internationally appreciated. Many hoped that she would announce a date for the coal phase out in Germany.

A fast phase-out would be the only possibility to come close to the achievement of the German climate goal of reducing the carbon emissions by 40 % until 2020 compared to 1990.

However, Mrs. Merkel only admitted to the high importance of coal mining considering climate change, but then outlined the importance of the coal industry for guaranteeing jobs and that a phase-out takes time due to additional costs. Moreover, she mentioned difficulties of giving concrete statements in regard of the ongoing formation of the new government in Germany.

President Emmanuel Macron from France held the second talk. One of his main statements was that the EU should replace the US in the future and take the leading role in climate policy. He further emphasized that in Europe CO₂ should be taxed with 30 Euro per ton and that he would be willing to punish other countries through increased import tariffs.

President Macron announced that France will end the use of coal for energy production by 2021, but that they cannot make any statements towards nuclear energy at the moment.

He said France “is obsessed” to get active in climate protection and that the moment of action is now. His speech was accompanied by great applause from the audience.

A large number of heads of states of small island developing countries, many of them already facing the consequences of climate change today, felt the urgency to attend the COP 23 lead by Fiji and give their statements at the high-level segment on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Among these were for example the presidents of Vanuatu, the Cook Islands, St. Lucia and Dominica. The president of Tuvalu, Enele Sopoaga, held one of the most vigorous speeches using many strong metaphors to directly or indirectly address other parties and stakeholders, in particular the United States: “Deniers of climate change must go home” and “Jump out of the canoe and face the consequences”. He also said that without appropriate actions taken in the near future, our children would have to face a life in “living hell”.

In general, many representatives of developing countries are disappointed that concrete commitments regarding the adaptation fund and financial support for loss and damage, for example due to hurricanes such as Irma, José and Maria in the Caribbean earlier this year, are not yet decided upon. Moreover, many among them think that pledges from developed countries are not yet sufficient.

Authors: Sophie Reinermann, Jan-Christopher Fischer and Georg Küstner.

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Presentation of the recent report: a pathway to zero deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon by the Amazon Environmental Research Institute.

Summing up their findings, the speakers underlined the availability of public forests for a potential designation to protected areas. Apart from law enforcement campaigns and credit restrictions for deforestation, the installation of protected areas is a key tool for forest protection. Generally, an active engagement of stakeholders from public and private sectors involved in the related supply chain is required to achieve the goal of zero deforestation.

There is a high pressure within the society to reduce deforestation, however in the current phase of political instability and ongoing corruption, this is not well represented by the officials.

Comparisons on the municipal level showed best conservation performances in districts inhabited by indigenous people. Generally, all instruments for successful forest conservation are already installed but lack in sufficient implementation and enforcement. At the moment the Amazonian rainforests decline by 5000 m² annually. The associated fire events and resulting deterioration of air quality costs the Brazilian health care system 20 mio. USD per year.

A crucial factor in the region is the link between the forest and the rain regime: natural rainforest ecosystems preserve the local climate and therefore maintain the level of agricultural production. Especially important in that regard is the inclusion and information of the agrobusiness sector. With a decreased rate of deforestation, the value of agricultural production increases. This is an incentive for local farmers to support forest conservation. Furthermore, no further deforestation is needed. An increased livestock productivity can be realized by a more effective land-use of the already existing farm lands. A pathway of zero deforestation contributes to the Paris Agreement and should be seen as a vivid contribution to climate conservation.

Less deforestation leads to increases in the agricultural production.

By Sophie Reinermann, Jan-Christopher Fischer and Georg Küstner.

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