IYCN BaseCamp on UNFCCC CoP 15 conference in Copenhagen, Denmark

PRESS RELEASE: My special thanks to Mr.Vikramaditya for helping me prepare this .!

14-16^th December, 2009

Taramati Baradari Cultural Centre, Hyderabad

The Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) has conducted a three day Base Camp at Taramati Baradari in Hyderabad, coinciding with the UN CoP 15 climate talks happening from 7^th to the 18^th of December in Copenhagen, Denmark. The aim of the Base Camp was to apprise Hyderabadis of the international climate change movement, and the UN climate talks happening currently in Copenhagen, Denmark and the need to press for immediate action. Around 200 participants including students from different colleges, NGO representatives, academics and interested individuals participated in the Base Camp.

The youth present at the Base Camp and the IYCN called for urgent and immediate action to fight climate change by all stakeholders. The youth appealed to the global leaders at the talks to produce a fair, ambitious and equitable global climate change deal, where developed nations demonstrate their commitment by taking steps to curb emissions, as well as assist developing nations through finance for adaptation, mitigation and exchange of technologies.

The inaugural ceremony started with the lighting of the lamp by Mrs. Ramalakshmi, IFS, CCF, APEC, Andhra Pradesh Forest Department. The thematic sessions included presentations on science and history of climate change by Mr. Vikram Aditya, Causes of climate change by Prof. Babu Rao, faculty at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology; Impacts of climate change on human health by Prof. Maala Rao, Director, Indian Institute of Public Health, Impacts of climate change, mitigation and adaptation to climate change by Mr. Vikram Aditya. Other sessions included daily life practises for a sustainable future by Ms. Indira Sampath, Manager – Operations, Centre for Media Studies (Environment); session on sustainable livelihood and vocational opportunities in the area of climate change; and a presentation on the Right to Information Act and its implications for responding to climate change.

Aside from the thematic presentations, the base camp also included screening of a number of documentary movies on climate change. The movies included Seshasha – the lasting hope, an Assamese movie by Dib Bhuyan about flooding of the Bramhaputra river and the Kaziranga National Park where the resident rhinos were being affected by the floods; The Stone Spouts, about water for all and the various water problems in Nepal, despite Nepal having the second largest water resources next to Brazil; and Ovvuru Sottum, a Tamil movie which says every drop counts by Vaigai Selvi; Melting Point, a set of episodes collected from CNN-IBN on the meltdown of the Himalayan Glaciers by Bahar Dutt, and Home, a visually enthralling documentary on the evolution of the planet and the challenges confronting it because of humans.

The objective of the Base Camp was to highlight the progress, or lack thereof, at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen. A number of videos from the Copenhagen talks were also played, along with clippings of youth actions, including a video address by Ms. Ruchi Jain, IYCN member of the Indian Youth Delegation at the UN climate talks.

A Hot Seat debate was organized, bringing together political party representatives Mr. Katari Srinivas Rao, from the Lok Satta Party, Mr. Shravan Kumar from the Praja Rajyam Party, and Mr. Ram Narasimha Rao from the Communist Party of India, and MLC Professor Nageshwar Rao, students and academics. Mr. Katari Srinivas Rao spoke about how climate change issues received less priority when compared to socio-political issues, and advocated the planting of trees as a solution to climate change. Mr. Shravan said that developed nations were responsible for climate change, and that governance was ineffective and lacked proper enforcement, and that vested political interested were undermining effective long term policy making. Mr. Ram Narasimha Rao, commented that human extravagance was causing wastage of resources, and pollution, such as in the form of plastics and urged for the protection of the environment. Subsequently, participants interacted with the politicians, and questioned them on their views on implementing green policies. Issues covered in the debate included green technologies, green policies, greenhouse gas emissions targets, environmental activism and responsibility by political parties.

A Telugu language drama performed was also organized in the Base Camp, and delivered the message of saving the environment and fighting climate change. A very creative play on nature conservation and climate change was also enacted by young students from the Oxford Grammar School.

The Base Camp was organized with generous support from the Embassy of Denmark to India; the Climate Consortium, Denmark; the Andhra Pradesh Environment Connect; and Red FM apart from support from other individuals