Day 2 (Sunday 7th December)

There were no negotiations today at the UN climate change talks, but there was still plenty going on. Our joint campaign with CIDSE and Caritas Internationalis (two coalitions of aid and development agencies that together represent over 170 organisations worldwide) was launched today!

We started with a press conference in the Dzialynski Palace in Poznan's central market square. The panel was made up of Bishop Theotonius Gomes from Bangladesh, Rene Grotenhuis, President of CIDSE, Nafisa D'Souza from Laya, India and Bishop Marian, President of Caritas Poland. They laid out the campaign for the gathered press, explaining that climate change is not just about the environment - it is an issue of justice and morality.

They explained that we have a moral obligation to act. We have a duty to reduce our emissions in the industrialised world, because the people who are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change are those least responsible for the problem.

They also highlighted the urgency of the situation, as people are being affected now. The UN process of securing a replacement for the Koyoto Protocol is already half way through and with only one more year to reach a fair and equitable deal, we all need to act now and push our leaders to commit.

The press conference was followed by a special mass held in the Cathedral of St Stanislaus. The church was packed, despite the cold, and prayers were read out by members of CIDSE/Caritas from around the world.

The day ended with a reception in the Dzialynski Palace. The event was filled with people from various delegations attending the UN conference. Our guests ranged from members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to Ricardo Navaro, the Director of SCIAF’s partner organization in El Salvador, CESTA. It was great to chat to so many passionate people and hear so many ideas of how we can all work together on this global challenge.

Our press conference and campaign launch was covered on Polish television, including interviews with the Bishops and our partners. Given that the EU is still struggling to reach an agreement on their position, and that Poland is a key country in holding back the agreement, we hope that this coverage will help add pressure. However, the danger is that some countries are so keen for an agreed position to be reached that many concessions are being made, and the EU’s position as a leader on climate change action is in danger of being eroded.

More on the talks tomorrow!