Last day of what could have been done

So now the big boss is there but what does he bring? Probably nothing.
But, It was long since I left "the chock stage" and I´m already past the acceptance too. So, I see the light. Or something like light("i eftertankens kranka blekhet"). Those who didn´t want things to change into the better were very clearly stronger than us who wanted to see that science meant something and that what we know has some consequences to the world's future development. But now we have seen the face of the resistance and we can mobilize from what we know. Yes, the time is beaten, we will not be able to resolve the disaster we´re created and are in but we can still reduce the impact of it. Yes we can! So, Forward!´
/ Alice

Last attempt

Now it's time to show that we citizens -children, fathers & mothers, workers & pensioners, students and everyone else to take action. I therfore forward the petition send out by Gordon Brown to show that WE can make diffrence.

Take care! /Johan

Dear friends,

Copenhagen's last-ditch summit to stop catastrophic global warming is failing; world leaders are appealing for massive public pressure to save it. Sign the giant petition below - it may be the largest in history:

With just 2 days left, the historic Copenhagen climate summit is failing.

World leaders have begun the final hours of direct negotiations. The UK Prime Minister has directly appealed to Avaaz to build the tidal wave of public pressure needed to reach a deal that stops catastrophic global warming of 2 degrees.

Click below to sign the petition for a real deal -- the campaign already has a staggering 11 million supporters -- over the next 48 hours let's make it the largest petition in history! The name of every signer is being read out right now in the summit hall -- sign on at the link below and forward this email to everyone!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_copenhagen

We are making history in Copenhagen. A group of young people have sat down in the middle of the summit and begun reading the names of every person who signs the petition for a real deal. Another group is doing the same 'petition reading sit-in' in the Canadian Prime Minister's office, and rumours are that more such actions will happen tomorrow. On an emergency conference call with 3000 Avaaz members today, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said:

"What you're doing through the internet around the world is absolutely crucial to setting the agenda. In the next 48 hours, don't underestimate your effect on the leaders here in Copenhagen"

Earlier, millions watched the Avaaz vigil inside the summit on TV, where Archbishop Desmond Tutu told hundreds of delegates and assembled children:
“We marched in Berlin, and the wall fell.
"We marched for South Africa, and apartheid fell.
"We marched at Copenhagen -- and we WILL get a Real Deal.”
Copenhagen is seeking the biggest mandate in history to stop the greatest threat humanity has ever faced. History will be made in the next 48 hours. How will our children remember this moment? Let's tell them we did all we could.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_copenhagen

With hope and determination,
Ricken, Alice, Ben, Paul, Luis, Iain, Veronique, Graziela, Pascal, Paula, Benjamin, Raj, Raluca, Taren, David, Josh and the whole Avaaz team.

Poland, Latvia and East European countries

This is really a spectacular conference. Here is participants from the entire world, discussion the energy, climate and the future around these.
There are people sitting beside of me sending e-mailing back to their countries and here is media people and delegates everywhere. At the entrance there are a lot of exhibitions from as an example IAEA Nuclear association.

Implementation of Poland’s climate policy.
The first seminar I went into was the Polish with ministers and government people.They talked about reduction they have been done since they went into the west economical system 1989. The industry has also been privatized during same period. They were very proud about this.
Some energy production data from 2009:
553 MW from Windfarms
994 MW from Hydropower

Approx 90 % of the power are coming from coal power plants. Poland will think about to use CCS method for storage and cleaning. Modern solutions for using coal must be developed. They will invest in low carbon energy systems.

There is very less production of biogas in the country and no solar energy for the moment. Biogas plant with methane gas from agriculture could be something for the future. The government will push the industries and public sector to do more energy savings projects.
The first nuclear station in Poland will be completed 2020. They will agree in the target 20 % reduction of CO2 to 2020.

Early adaption actions
The second seminar I went into was about Red Cross and Red crescent association and what they are doing in Kenya , Zambia , Malawi and Columbia. Some disasters depending on the climate changes has already occurred.


Options for flexibility under quantified GHG ( Green House Gas) reduction target in post 2012
The third seminar I went into was about Latvia and former East European countries such as Albania, Serbia, Monte Negro, FYR of Macedonia.
There is huge opportunity to upgrade the industry in these countries. In Latvia they have launched and implemented a GIS system. Renewable energy is very important for Latvia.
It looks like that Latvia will take lead.

Business Europe Seminar
The fourth seminar I went into was about business in Europe forclimate change. The seminar was very crowded.
Maud Olofsson Energy minister of Sweden talked about the golden opportunity to make changes and differences. Business partners and government will sit around the same table, as they finally are doing in this seminar. Eco efficient economy gives more wealth. Environmentally products must be developed. All heat losses which are around 60 % of total production must be minimized. All parties in this COP 15 must be winners.

Ulla Hamilton major of Stockholm was talking about reduction of environmental impact, waste management and new power plants. The city part Hammarby Sjöstrand is a really good reference for Stockholm. ABB and Fortum are good suppliers who are developing smart grids.

Hans Straberg CEO of Electrolux was talking about that they have decreased the power consumption with 70 % for a refrigerator since 15 years back. Price for CO2 emissions must be an agreement all over the world. Clear rules globally must be implemented.


Kjell Andersson

Chaos in Copenhagen!

The tension is growing as the days of the meeting ticks off. The media is primarily dominated of what doesn´t work, what´s NOT received. A little bit eh... "tiring" but it is the way media work. Dramatization is more important than the dialogue.

I'm trying to see past the "black and white" but dazzled by the fact that I am not one of the 90 lucky persons who had the luck to maintain my accreditation Thursday to Saturday. Instead I´m one of the 9 910 people, not from the political side and therefore I may not enter the Bella Center.

It´s of course, when compared to stalled negotiations, a "worldly problem". But the Swedish Television, in which I was (I am?!) supposed to comment on the meeting on Thursday and Friday morning do not like the consequence. So yes, we'll see how it all will work out. Perhaps part of the morningshow will be broadcasted OUTSIDE Bella Center?! Thursday morning, around eight, we know.

Johan! Thanks for the reporting. And for not giving up on the world (and ÅF) since we badly need you!
/Alice

A day at COP15

Today will be a day to remember. I was heading for Copenhagen 06.30 with my friend and we were at Bella Center already 07.15, and thought that I will be part of COP15 in the early hour. How I was mistaking. The queue that I was standing in was totally still and didn’t move an inch. After two hours the people in the queues begun to get really inpatient and one understood that it begun to become a cries situation. Because, the delegates and speakers for the day couldn’t either enter the Bella Center. After 3,5 hours in the chilly Copenhagen I received my pass and could join with the other delegates.




The consequence of the chaotic situation outside is that he organizers will restrict the possibilities for all NGO members to take part f the COP15 meeting. From Thursday “only” 1000 NGO:s will be able to take part in the meeting and on Friday only 90 people from NGO:s will be allowed to comment the results from the negations.

But even if it’s chaotic one sense that a huge activity are talking pace inside all the closed room but also in the open sessions there were a very high activity. All meetings with the one that are responsible for the negations and the press people together with the NGO:s were cancelled because of the very intense discussions. The temperature raised even more on the afternoon when Al Gore joined the COP15. One really understands that he is or can be a very important player because he is still treated by media as a climate superstar. So even if he not have any legitimate input to influence the COP15 process it seems that he still could have some impact on the outcome of this meeting of the decade.

My evening ended with a session or side event that Business Europe arranged. We could hear a very positive vice Prime Minister Maud Olofsson how Sweden have achieved both a growth in BNP but in the same reduced the carbondioxide emissions. She talked a lot of Eco effiency economy which I think will be a buzz word in the environmental business sector. It was also very interesting to listen to European Commission Deputy Director-General of DG Environment Jos Delbeke. A lot of what he said was very technical but very important if one should understand why we were in Bella Center this evening.


Even if this has been a very cold and long day for me it has also been a day with a lot of impressions what I can do as an environmentalist, technical consultant or a dad, -strive for a green and prosperous planet.
Over and out/ Johan

Above some more pictures of ÅF activities at the Bright Green Expo the past weekend. This time showing Roland in the energy part of the SymbioCity stand toghether with the Swedish Minister of Trade Ewa Björling and HRH Crown Princess Victoria and one picture from the opening of SymbioCity

Johan entered HOPENHAGEN

Today I was in HOPENHAGEN for the first time, now with my family. We entered BRIGHT GREEN after having travelled 2,5 h with public transportations, a journey that would take approximately 1 h with car. This is something that is a serious obstacle that must be solved in the future if we should succeed to change ordinary people transport behaviour.

The BRIGHT GREEN exhibition was an arena mainly for businessmen and -women in dark suites. My gut feeling is that clean-tech and smart energy solution has become serious big business. The people in this arena were there foremost to earn for a good living. Is this a prerequisite to achieve the environmental goals that the society should agree on the following week to come –that the commercial sector goes hand in hand with the life necessary environmental solutions? Yes maybe, but I think we never should forget what the core is, and that is to create a safe and fruitful future, and that should be done without harming other interests.

Tomorrow I will join the COP15 and I am looking forward to this maybe most important meeting in my generation.

Over and out/ Johan