Singapore Youth Delegation

Post Trip Report

United Nations Framework on the Convention

of Climate Change (UNFCCC)
th
20 Session of the Conference of Parties
(COP20)

1st to 12th December 2014

Lima, Peru

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It gives us great pleasure in expressing our gratitude to all those people who
have supported us and who helped make this report possible. We would like
to extend our deepest appreciation to ECO Singapore and Young NTUC for
their generous support throughout the climate change journey. In particular,
Wilson Ang and Ang Jia Da for their unwavering encouragement and
guidance over the last 7 months.
A special thanks goes to Ambassador Kwok Fook Seng, who took time to
meet with us in Lima despite a busy schedule. We are grateful to Mr..Syed
Noureddin Syed Hassim, Mr. Terence Tan, and Ms.Gan Ann for organising
the meeting and also contributing to the discussion.
We would also like to thank Minister Vivian Balakrishnan for his valuable time
and for sharing his vision for a greener Singapore. Encouraged, we hope that
can contribute to making a positive difference.
Special mention goes out to Professor Lord Nicholas Stern, COP20 President,
Mr. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Ms. Christiana
Figueres for their valuable time and insights.
Our time in Lima was made even more meaningful as it brought us in contact
with many different people, who in all their special ways contributed to the
fruition of this report. They include (in alphabetical order): Alba Romina,
Andrea Pierina Rivera Garre, Andrew Lei Yan-lin, Angus Joseph, Avik Roy,
Chao Wei-hsiang, Chen Chiao-chi, Chris Wright, Daniela San Roman,
Elizabeth Elizinha, Erika Condori Toledo, Francis Joseph Dela Cruz, Hannah
Smith, Hsu Wan-ting, Jin Young Kim, Kaori Shiohara, Kjell Kuhne, Leah
Fouchong, Li Cheng-hao, Seajin Kim, Stanley Lai, Takuya Hattori, Teh Yi
Ying, Weng Wen-Yu, Veronica Caciagli, Veru Paredes
We sincerely thank each and every one of them.
To fellow Singaporeans whom we met at Lima: Melissa Low, Yi Ying Teh and
Celine Lim, our utmost appreciation for your time spent with team. Special
thanks to Melissa Low for her guidance during and after COP20
To our colleagues and friends at Blangah Rise Primary School, National
University of Singapore, Edible Garden City and the Ministry of Transport for
their understanding and generously supporting our participation at the COP20
in Lima.
Finally, our participation and this report would have been impossible without
the support of our families. We thank them for their endless patience,
optimism and encouragement.

February 2015
Disclaimer: This report has been produced with financial assistance of Young
NTUC. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the
authors and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the official
policy or position of ECO Singapore and Young NTUC.

Authors of Report

Ms. Juliana Chia
Ms. Nor Lastrina Hamid
Mr. Putera Zenata
Ms. Tham Siang Yu


Other Contributors to the Report

Mr. Wilson Ang, ECO Singapore & Singapore Institute of International Affairs
Ms. Melissa Low, Energy Studies Institute, National University of Singapore

CONTENT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................. 2
CONTENT........................................................................................................ 4
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 5
LIMA COP20 OUTCOMES.............................................................................. 7
SINGAPORE SUBMITS 3RD NATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND 1ST
BIENNIAL UPDATE REPORT ...................................................................... 11
2015 Public Consultation on Climate Change........................................... 12
Post-2020 Green Future for Singapore ...................................................... 12
Meeting with Singapores Chief Negotiator for Climate Change and
Minister for Environment and Water Resources....................................... 13
Reflection Notes from Meetings with key members of Singapore
Delegation on Climate Change ................................................................... 16
SIDE EVENTS ............................................................................................... 17
The Climate March ....................................................................................... 17
Convergence Space..................................................................................... 19
Fossil of the Day .......................................................................................... 21
Global Landscapes Forum .......................................................................... 22
World Climate Summit................................................................................. 25
MEETINGS WITH CLIMATE LEADERS ....................................................... 26
Professor Lord Nicholas Stern ................................................................... 26
COP20 President, Mr Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, and........................................ 27
UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Ms Christiana Figueres ........................... 27
YOUTH GROUPS AND CONSTITUENCIES ................................................ 29
Asian Youth Climate Network (AYCN) ....................................................... 29
Youth Non-Governmental Organisations Constituency (YOUNGO) ....... 30
Trade Union Non-Governmental Organisations (TUNGO) ....................... 30
KEY TAKE HOME MESSAGES FOR SINGAPORE .................................... 32
Enhancing Education on Climate Change................................................. 32
Food Security Concerns for Singapore ..................................................... 33
CONCLUDING NOTES AND REFLECTIONS .............................................. 35

INTRODUCTION
The international political response to climate change began with the adoption
of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
in 1992, which sets out a framework for action aimed at stabilising
atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to avoid
dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. The
Convention, which entered into force on 21 March 1994, now has 196 parties.

In December 1997, delegates to the 3rd session of the Conference of Parties
(COP3) in Kyoto, Japan, agreed to a protocol to the UNFCCC that committed
industrialised countries and countries in transition to a market economy to
achieve emission reduction targets. These countries, known as Annex I
parties under the UNFCCC, agreed to reduce their overall emissions of six
GHGs by an average of 5% below 1990 levels in 2008-2012 (first commitment
period), with specific targets varying from country to country. The Kyoto
Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005, and now has 192 parties.

In December 2014, the 20th Conference of Parties (COP20) of the UNFCCC
took place in Lima, Peru from 1 - 12 December, 2014, with 192 country
parties and more than 12,000 delegates in attendance. 1 A small team of
Singaporean youths (henceforth referred to as the Singapore Youth
Delegation) was selected to participate in COP20 through a joint initiative
between Environmental Challenge Organisation (ECO) Singapore and Youth
Wing of the National Trades Union Congress (Young NTUC). ECO Singapore
organised the Singapore Youth Delegation, and the trip was powered by
Young NTUC with the intention of grooming a group of environmental activists
in Singapore under the 350 Singapore movement.

In August 2014, youths were invited to submit an essay and reflective piece to
ECO Singapore and Young NTUC for evaluation. A final total of 10 successful
candidates proceeded onto the Selection Workshop held on 4 October 2014,
where they were put through a rigorous series of tasks.2 In the end, a team of
5 was selected to attend COP20 in Lima, Peru. ECO Singapore and Young
NTUC provided capacity building and financing towards the participation of
the Singapore Youth Delegation, led by Mr. Wilson Ang, Founder of ECO
Singapore. The team secured accreditation as a COP20 delegate with various
Youth NGOs Constituency (YOUNGO) observer organisations through the
vast network of ECO Singapores contacts from attending previous COPs,
and during the time Wilson served as primary Focal Point for the YOUNGO
constituency in its inaugural year.

1

For more information of COP20 in Lima, please visit the UNFCCC website, available at:
http://unfccc.int/meetings/lima_dec_2014/meeting/8141.php

2 Singapore Youth Delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(UNFCCC) 20th Conference of Parties (COP20) selection criteria, available at:

http://www.youngntuc.org.sg/wps/wcm/connect/73655a14-2319-4d45-b9ef1ed3323040a7/SG@COP2014+Instructions+v3.pdf?MOD=AJPERES



This delegation report provides a summary of the activities that the Singapore
Youth Delegation took part in during the two weeks in Lima, Peru. It is hoped
that this report will provide insights into the workings of a multilateral
negotiations setting for an issue so important as climate change, and to
inspire a generation of youths to not only choose a more eco-conscious way
of life, but to actively engage stakeholders to addressing climate change.

The members of the Singapore Youth Delegation have different interests,
perspectives, and ideas on tackling this existential threat to humanity but we
are united in our determination to make a difference. By sharing our
experiences at COP20, we hope to give you a better understanding of the
opportunities available to you to get involved in contributing to the fight
against climate change. Climate change is real, and the time to act is now!

The ECO Singapore Team
February 2015

LIMA COP20 OUTCOMES

The Lima COP20 resulted in what negotiators refer to as the Lima Call for
Climate Action.3 The 37-page draft text paves the way for a new climate
change agreement to be adopted COP21 in Paris, France in December 2015
and implemented by 2020. Notably, the new agreement (often referred to as
the Paris Agreement or 2015 Agreement) will have to take the form of a
protocol, a legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force and will be
applicable to all Parties.4 The process for negotiations is known as the Ad
hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP). In
Lima, countries agreed to produce their Intended Nationally Determined
Contributions (INDCs) as the foundation for climate action post 2020 when the
new agreement is set to come into effect.

Notably, the Lima Call for Climate Action is but 1 of 32 decisions that came
out of the Lima COP20. There were also unprecedented breakthroughs that
either took place in Lima or came out of negotiations, which include:

Pledges to the Green Climate Fund
Pledges made by both developed and developing countries prior
to and during the COP that took the capitalisation of the new
Green Climate Fund (GCF) past the initial USD $10 billion
target.

Multilateral Assessment of 17 industrialised countries
The MA was conducted as part of the International Assessment
and Review (IAR) process. These countries, following the
submission of their 6th National Communications and 1st
Biennial Reports, submitted themselves to questioning about
their emissions targets, reflecting a concerted effort to improve
transparency.

The Lima Ministerial Declaration on Education and Awareness
This declaration highlights the need for governments to put
climate change into school curricula and climate awareness into
national development plans.

3

Decision 1/CP.20, Lima Call for Climate Action, UN Doc. FCCC/CP/2014/10/Add.1, 2

February 2015.

4 Decision 1/CP.17, Establishment of an Ad hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced

Action, UN Doc. FCCC/CP/2011/9/Add.1, 15 March 2012.



Lima Work Programme on Gender
This work programme aims to advance gender balance,
promote gender sensitivity and equality within the context of
climate change policies.

National Adaptation Plans
Party delegations also put emphasis on global adaptation and
recognise the importance of National Adaptation Plans (NAP) in
delivering resilience. Countries will work closely with the GCF to
find ways to support their NAPs. They agreed that the primary
focus should be the Least Developed Countries, Small Island
Developing States and Africa.

Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage (WIM)
The Executive Committee WIM met ...was commissioned for two
years and include balanced representation from developed and
developing member parties. A work programme was established
under the Committee with a spectrum of mandates, including
seeking deeper understanding of how climate change affect
vulnerable developing countries and the indigenous people and
the minority. It will also seek to enhance the understanding of
how climate change impacts human migration and
displacement.

Financing the response to climate change
Governments made progress on coordinating the delivery of
climate finance and of the various existing funds. Further
pledges were made to the Green Climate Fund in Lima by the
governments of Norway, Australia, Belgium, Peru, Colombia and
Austria--the pledges brought the total sum pledged to the Green
Climate Fund to close to USD 10.2 billion.
In a further boost to the adaptation ambitions of developing
countries, Germany made a pledge of 55 million Euros to the
Adaptation Fund.
China also announced $10 million for South-South cooperation
and mentioned they would double it next year.

Forests and the Lima Information Hub for REDD+
Countries meeting in Lima made progress on providing support
to avoid deforestation. Colombia, Guyana, Indonesia, Malaysia


and Mexico formally submitted information and data on the
status of their greenhouse gas emission reductions in the forest
sector to the UNFCCC secretariat following a similar submission
by Brazil earlier in the year.
These baselines are likely to increase the possibility of obtaining
international funding under initiatives like Reduced Emissions
from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).
In support of this, the COP President announced that an
information hub will be launched on the UNFCCC web site,
spotlighting actions by countries carrying out REDD+ activities.
The aim is to bring greater transparency on both the actions
being undertaken, including safeguards for communities and the
payments being made.

Providing technology to developing countries
The Lima meeting sent an important signal that the transfer of
climate technologies with the assistance of the UN and other
international agencies is picking up speed. The Climate
Technology Centre and Network reported that it had received
around 30 requests for assistance this year, and expects the
figure to grow to more than 100 next year. The UNFCCCs
Technology Mechanism was further strengthened through the
consideration of a link to the Green Climate Fund and the
UNFCCC Finance mechanism. A project monitoring of the
impact of climate change on Chiles biodiversity was announced
just prior to the Lima convention. The research project was the
first funded under the technology mechanism.

Overall sentiment about Lima5

Overall, the Singapore Youth Delegation feels that Lima COP20 was a
success in the sense that it continued to clear the pathway to Paris COP21.
On 9th December 2014, which was the start of the second week of Lima
COP20, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water
Resources delivered the National Statement of Singapore (Please see full
statement here). Among the things he mentioned to help us move forward,
was the need to use the entire Framework Convention, recognising each
others unique national circumstances, as well as the importance of having a
universal participation.

5 Find out more about the key outcomes and highlights from the UNFCCC website. Available at:

http://newsroom.unfccc.int/lima/lima-call-for-climate-action-puts-world-on-track-to-paris-2015

Being in Lima and being able to sit in some of the plenary sessions, the team
saw how slow the negotiation process was moving initially; in the first week
alone, a lot of time was spent on hearing how some countries wanted to have
the text on screen, and in all fairness, it was for better reading, especially for
countries which did not have English as their 1st language. Additionally, the
team saw how some countries tend to speak up more than the others and we
were left wondering for countries, which did not speak up, what exactly did
they have in mind? Furthermore, with such diverse interests from so many
countries, the team saw how complex the whole negotiation process can be,
and how tedious it might have been for the chairs for each session.
On the flipside, given the context above, the team also acknowledge how
things sped up during the second week. There were a number of revisions
done to the draft. Moreover, negotiations even went a day behind schedule,
suggesting that our climate change negotiators and their teams were working
hard to make sure what was finally drafted and released is something of value
for their respective countries.
Some groups have slammed the final draft, calling it watered-down. The
Singapore Youth Delegation sees this final draft as a document built on
compromise. There will always be a divide between what developed and
developing countries want. There will always be an argument over what kind
of measures have to be taken or what kind of assistance has to be given. We
do not think it is possible to please all countries, but at least this was a start.
At this starting point, a new structure has been established- as shared earlier,
countries have agreed to produce their Intended Nationally Determined
Contributions (INDCs) as the foundation for climate action post 2020 when the
new agreement is set to come into effect. Here, we see a universal
participation. Here, we see an alignment with the main goal of the treaty which
is to stabilise greenhouse gas equality and in accordance with their common
but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities. At Lima, we see
breakthroughs such as pledges to the Green Climate Fund and Multilateral
Assessment. We see the creation of The Lima Ministerial Declaration on
Education and Awareness. With all these milestones achieved in Lima, we
reiterate our view that overall, Lima COP20 was a success.

10

SINGAPORE SUBMITS 3RD NATIONAL

COMMUNICATION AND 1ST BIENNIAL UPDATE
REPORT
On 8 December 2014, Minister for Environment and Water Resources, Dr.
Vivian Balakrishnan, submitted Singapores 3rd National Communication (NC)
and 1st Biennial Update Report (BUR) to the UNFCCC.6 As a non-Annex I
Party to the UNFCCC, Singapore is obliged to submit a National
Communications every four years,7 and its first Biennial Update Report by
December 2014. 8 Singapore previously submitted its first two National
Communications in 2000 and 2010 respectively.9 At the time of writing, there
were a total of 10 BURs submitted to the UNFCCC.

The 3rd NC contains updates of Singapores national GHG inventory,
information about mitigation measures, which are on-going and planned until
2020. The BUR will be subject to an international consultations and analysis
(ICA) process under the UNFCCCs Subsidiary Body for Implementation
(SBI), in a manner that is non-intrusive, non-punitive and respectful of national
sovereignty. The aim of the ICA is to increase transparency of mitigation
actions and their effects, through analysis by technical experts in consultation
with the Party concerned and through a facilitative sharing of views resulting
in a summary report. Given that the first rounds of ICA will be conducted for
developing country Parties commencing six months of the submission of the
first round of BURs, Singapore will likely participate consultation and analysis
at the Bonn intersessions from 1-11 June 2015. The Singapore Youth
Delegation looks forward to Singapores participation in the ICA.

6 Singapores Third National Communication and First Biennial Update Report under the UNFCCC,

December 2014. Available at: https://www.nccs.gov.sg/sites/nccs/files/NCBUR2014_1.pdf

7 See Section III, Part B, para 60 of Decision 1/CP.16, The Cancun Agreements: Outcome of the work

of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention, UN Doc.
FCCC/CP/2010/7/Add.1, 15 March 2011.
8 See Section II, Part B, para 41 of Decision 2/CP.17, Outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Working
Group on the Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention, UN Doc. FCCC/CP/2011/9/Add.1,
15 March 2012.
9 Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Singapores Initial National Communication, August
2000. Available at: http://www.nea.gov.sg/docs/default-source/weather-and-climate/initialnc.pdf?sfvrsn=2 and National Environment Agency, Singapores Second National Communication,
November 2010. Available at:
https://www.nccs.gov.sg/sites/nccs/files/SINGAPORE'S%20SECOND%20NATIONAL%20COMMUNICA
TIONS%20NOV%202010.pdf

11

2015 Public Consultation on Climate Change

At the national level, Singapore is conducting a public consultation from 20
January 2015 - 31 March 2015 on measures that can be taken to further
enhance the nations plan to reduce carbon emissions and promote green
growth beyond 2020. 10 We think the public consultation is an excellent
opportunity for youths, as key stakeholders for a greener and more
sustainable future, to contribute views on the five key areas identified by the
National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS). These include Energy Efficient
Homes; Carbon Efficiency in the Transport Sector; Energy Efficiency &
Renewable Energy Opportunity for Businesses; Carbon Efficiency in the
Power, Waste & Water Sectors; and Economic & Green Growth
Opportunities. We think that the documents prepared by NCCS informing the
public of the governments policies and measures are useful. There are on
average 5 questions per survey for each key area. However, each answer box
only allows a maximum of 2000 characters, which limits the feedback that
members of the public can give. We are also concerned that the target
audience might be limited only to the Internet savvy. With this in mind, we look
forward to a broader stakeholder consultation, perhaps in a forum similar to
the SG Conversations held in 2013, which would consider youths as a key
stakeholder. The public consultation wraps up on 31 March 2015 and we urge
NCCS to share a summary of the findings with the public.

Post-2020 Green Future for Singapore

Work on envisioning the post-2020 future and how Singapore can stabilise
long-term emissions has already started under the Long-Term Emissions and
Mitigation Working Group established under the Inter-Ministerial Committee
on Climate Change. Singapore has a current pledge under the Copenhagen
Accord to reduce or limit the growth of emissions to 16% below 2020
business-as-usual (BAU) levels conditioned upon a legally binding global
agreement in which all countries implement their commitments in good faith.
But this target is conditional. Singapore has embarked on mitigation and
energy efficiency measures to reduce emissions by 7-11% below 2020 BAU
levels, regardless of an agreement being signed by the end of 2015 in Paris.
The principle of non-regression should be adhered to when deciding
Singapores future post-2020 nationally determined contributions. Singapore
should not backslide or do less than its current mitigation efforts.


10 The online public consultation will end on 31 March 2015. For more information please visit

https://www.nccs.gov.sg/consultation2015

12


Climate change presents a grave threat to Singapore mainly because of its
dependency on external sources for its water and food supply. In a world
affected by climate change, any increase in the intensity of global weather
variability can affect the availability of food and water in Singapore. Sea level
rise and coastal inundation is of concern, with about 30% of our island being
less than 5m above the mean sea level. The rise in sea level also poses a
threat to Singapores geographical integrity. Other dangers that climate
change poses include vector-borne diseases, heat-related health problems,
ecological destruction and increasing dependency on air-conditioning, which
increases the nations energy demand.11

Meeting with Singapores Chief Negotiator for Climate Change

and Minister for Environment and Water Resources
The evening before Day 1 of COP20, the Singapore Youth Delegation had the
privilege of meeting Ambassador Kwok Fook Seng (Singapores Chief
Negotiator for Climate Change). Ambassador Kwok answered questions on
issues ranging from universal participation in the fight against climate change
and public consultation, to Article 6 and the importance of education.

Ambassador Kwok contextualised the climate change negotiations leading up
to COP21 in Paris next year. There was an opportunity to build an agreement,
which could bring the major emitters on board. The present state of the global
economy presented different circumstances at the national level for each
country. Nevertheless, countries would have to work together to reconcile
such competing pressures in order to step up on mitigation efforts for a
successful Paris agreement. Ambassador Kwok impressed upon us how
Singapores desire for universal participation in the 2015 Paris Protocol
stemmed from our belief in the importance of upholding the primacy of the UN
system. It was also particularly important for the global climate negotiations to
maintain credibility with a Paris agreement, which was upheld by all Parties to
the UNFCCC. Climate change is a global problem that the international
community needs to tackle together.

Ambassador Kwok also spoke about the importance of public consultation
and incorporation of public feedback during the policymaking process. As
members of the public, youths have the capacity to influence and encourage
positive changes in the fight against rising global temperatures. The
Singapore Youth Delegation was heartened by Ambassador Kwoks

11 Singapores National Climate Change Secretariat on Singapores national circumstances and

Actions: https://www.nccs.gov.sg/climate-change-and-singapore

13


encouraging message and hope to inspire and empower other youths to make
constructive changes within their respective communities.

From left to right: Melissa, Christl, Siang Yu, Zen, Ambassador Kwok, Wilson, Lastrina and
Juliana

On 12 December 2014, our delegation had an enlivening chat with Dr Vivian
Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, who shared
with our delegation his vision for a greener Singapore. Given the global trend
towards urbanisation and city dwelling, Dr Balakrishnan shared that welldesigned cities hold the key to achieving zero carbon living in the future. As
such, land-scarce Singapore needs to carefully balance competing land uses
if the country is to continue enjoying a green living environment and high
quality of life for residents. The Singapore Youth Delegation was delighted to
hear about Dr Balakrishnans vision for integrating green corridors and green
lungs within our city.

Dr Balakrishnan also discussed how Singapore, despite being a small island
state, could contribute at international climate negotiations because the nation
had built up a reputation for being credible, responsible, and pragmatic

14


stakeholders who were open to dialogue and engagement. Later in the week,
the youth delegation had the honour of witnessing this in action as Singapore
and Norway were invited by the President of the COP to conduct informal
consultations amongst delegations in order to progress ADP discussions. This
was a proud moment for Singapore as we saw first-hand how Singapore can
punch above our weight and contribute constructively at international
negotiations.

Meeting with Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources
Formal (Above) & Casual (Below)

15

Reflection Notes from Meetings with key members of

Singapore Delegation on Climate Change

Climate change is a danger faced by all and is therefore the responsibility to
solve it is borne by all. Singapore will continue to build its resilience in
anticipating and adapting to climate change. An effective resilience building
has to involve all facets of the society and not be solely dependent on a topdown approach. The problems of climate change cannot be solved by the
government alone. The public has to be well educated and adopt attitudes
and values that empower them to be environmentally responsible citizens.

16

SIDE EVENTS

Apart from the official climate negotiations, over 180 side events were held as
a platform for observer organisations to highlight diverse climate change
issues at the UNFCCC conference. The Singapore Youth Delegation attended
several side events on the side-lines of the formal negotiations and will share
key highlights in the following section.

The Climate March

10 December 2014, Campo de Marte to Plaza San Martin

In 1950, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human

Rights Day to bring to the attention of the people of the world the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all
people and all nations. In 2014, the commemoration of Human Rights Day
tackled an issue more than human rights. Last year, the world was mobilised
to defend living systems right to last on this planet. It was especially poignant
that such a mobilisation happened during the COP20 period as such a voice

17


was much needed to put more pressure on the climate negotiations so that
the importance of conserving and saving the environment was addressed with
more urgency.

To commemorate last years Human Rights Day, delegates of COP20 and
members of the public were invited to the Peoples Climate March that took
place in Lima, Peru. The march began at Campo de Marte and ended at
Plaza San Martin. As the largest climate march in Latin America, estimated to
have gathered more than 15 000 people, marchers were organised into
blocks representing different civil society groups such as trade unions,
environmental groups and student organisations. At the end of the march,
people gathered for rallies and speeches.

The Young NTUC-ECO Singapore delegation joined in this people-powered
movement for global climate justice and immersed in the liveliness and high
emotions of passionate people from social movements around the world,
agreeing with the march declaration of Defend YOUR rights, OUR rights and
those of LIFE on Earth."12

12 See more pictures of the march at the Official Facebook page of Cumbre de los Pueblos frente al

Cambio Climatico (Peoples Climate March in Spanish). Available at:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1578446945721153.1073741861.1507440712821777&typ
e=3

18

Convergence Space
1-12 December 2014, CasActiva, Nicols Aranibar 510, Lima, Peru

Casa de Convergencia TierrActiva (a.k.a TierrActiva Convergence Space) is
an activist hub managed collectively by TierrActiva Peru and Bolivia with the
support of Global Call for Climate Action. It is an independent, autonomous
space, collaboratively created by dozens of local and foreign activists and
artists. The space is open and can be used for meetings, workshops,
presentations, discussions, making art, cultural events, and generally for
bringing together and nurturing the movements for alternatives.13

While COP20 at Pentagonito was filled with more than 10, 000 delegates
moving around in mostly formal attires and focusing on the policy papers, the
Convergence Space was filled with perhaps no more than 50 people at any
one time in casual attires, networking, sharing and collaborating in different
ways in preparation for the Peoples Climate March.

Lastrina actively went to the Convergence Space in the evenings after COP20
sessions as she found the alternative space suitable for winding down, eating
home-cooked organic food prepared by Comida Consciente (Conscious

13 Pop by the Official Facebook Page of TierraActiva Peru for more still moments from the Convergence

Space. Available at:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.786969578049308.1073741832.692888957457371&type=
3

19


Food) crew from Bolivia, and painting face masks as part of her contribution to
the march.

20

Fossil of the Day

1-12 December 2015, COP20 Venue

During United Nations climate change negotiations, members of the
worldwide environmental network, the Climate Action Network (CAN), would
vote for the country judged to have made the worst input to the negotiations
daily. Usually, three Fossil-of-the-day awards are presented on each day,
sometimes only two or one - depending on the number of countries with
outstanding efforts to block progress at the negotiations in the last days.14

Every day at 6pm, conference participants would gather outside the main
plenary hall to watch this one of a kind award presentation. The group that
gathers around the simple stage would join in singing Fossil of the day, Fossil
of the Day, Who is bad, Who is Worse..~ to the tune of the Jurassic Park
theme song. Through a short skit which is prepared about three hours before
the show, shots of facts from the daily UN meetings, subtle hilarious antics

14 Read which countries received these Fossil of the Day awards and why at the dedicated Fossil of the

Day
site
under
Climate
Action
Network
Internationals
website,
available
at:
http://climatenetwork.org/fossil-of-the-day The short posts are also accompanied with short clips on the
same issue, hosted by Kevin Buckland, an artivists who leads the Fossil of the Day skits, and taped by
the Adopt a Negotiator team, which is part of the Global Call for Climate Action.

21


and punches of sarcasm are put together and unveiled to the mostly young
audience. Winners of these Fossil-of-the-Day awards are then given trophies
filled with coal.

More than 10 countries received these Fossil of the Day awards over the
span of two weeks for various reasons. The Fossil of the Year Award, though,
went to Australia who took the Colossal Fossil award for collecting more
Fossil awards than any other country at COP20.

A quick check on the CAN website shows that Singapore received a Fossil of
the Day award in 2013.15 This goes to show that civil society is closely
monitoring what countries are saying and submitting to the UNFCCC. The
Singapore Youth Delegation hopes that is the first and last time Singapore
would be put on that spot.

Global Landscapes Forum

6 7 December 2014, The Westin Hotel and Convention Center, San Isidro,
Lima, Peru

Held alongside the UN climate negotiations, the two-day event brought
together researchers, policymakers and business leaders in the fields of
agriculture and forestry.

Youth participants at the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) were invited to
attend a dedicated Master-Class held a day prior to the event. The Master
15 See http://www.climatenetwork.org/fossil-of-the-day/colossal-fossil-australia%E2%80%99s-new-

government

22


Class covered three topics: Pitching an idea, Facilitating a discussion, and
Critical Thinking and Understanding Landscapes. Siang Yu attended the
Master-Class on Critical Thinking and Understanding Landscapes while
Christl attended the Pitching Master-Class. Siang Yu and Christl both had a
very good experience at the Master-Classes as they found it useful to young
people navigating the complex world of environmental advocacy.

Dr Andy Jarvis from the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
led the Pitching Master-Class. Dr Jarvis presented an overview of the
importance of effective pitching, and introduced the essential aspects of a
successful pitch:

First, understanding your audience is crucial. An effective pitcher
should have a keen sense of the main problem on the audiences mind.
Your pitch should speak to this problem and address how you can
help.
Second, total clarity on the ASK (i.e. what you are asking for). Make it
clear what it is you want from your audience.
Third, be clear on what you want to achieve. Knowing what you can
realistically achieve from your pitch is important.
Fourth, play to personal biases. Engage people on their biases.
Everybody likes being flattered.
Fifth, simplify the message. Keep your pitch simple. Avoid inundating
your audience with information.
Sixth, use numbers to buttress your arguments (where
appropriate).The strategic use of numbers/statistics makes a stronger
and more convincing pitch.
Seventh, be confident.

Besides the aspects listed above, Siang Yu and Christl also learnt the
importance of figuring out power networks knowing the entry points to an
organisation, where to start, and who to speak to in order to accomplish your
goal. In addition, preparation for a meeting is key. It really helps to prepare by
doing research beforehand on specific individuals one wants to meet.
In the Master-Class that Siang Yu attended, participants were assigned
several tasks which include practising active listening to presentations by the
speakers, identifying the main arguments or key points made and providing
critical feedback on the presentations given. The tasks helped her develop
analytical skills needed for active participation in conferences and decisionmaking processes. On understanding landscapes, it was demonstrated that
discussion on landscapes goes beyond the spatial aspect. Instead, a
landscape is an integrated system within which different actors such as the
forest, smallholders, communities, biodiversity, investors and government

23


interact with one another. The landscape approach therefore involves bringing
together different discourses, which are connected by the landscape they
share. It was further discussed that in order for landscape approaches to be
sustainable, big changes to our institutional frameworks, governance,
businesses, investment methods and citizens will be required. This includes
considering the value of nature returns such as social and environmental
improvements in addition to solely financial returns.
The youth session of the Global Landscapes Forum took place on 6
December, which began with a series of roundtable discussions on four
themes - Green Economy, Implementation of Integrated Landscape
Approaches, Sustainable Development (Rural-Urban Migration), and Climate
Change (REDD+). Each group developed a pitch on each theme, and four
youth participants presented their pitch to leaders in the field at a Dragons
Den Session. The Dragons Den panel, which included World Bank VicePresident Rachel Kyte, provided constructive suggestions on how each
pitcher could improve his or her pitch.
The GLF had some excellent plenary sessions, including the high-level
opening plenaries on Negotiating Landscapes for Multiple Benefits and
Landscapes for Climate and Development.
Rachel Kyte Vice President of the World Bank, spoke at the high-level
opening plenary session on Negotiating Landscapes for Multiple Benefits .
She delivered an impressive speech that inspired many in attendance. She
spoke about the importance of managing our global landscapes differently to
provide the necessary sustenance for people in terms of nutrition and jobs.
She succinctly captured what was at stake at COP20 - integrating the
compelling economic argument for tackling climate change into each countrys
vision and plan of action in the run-up to Paris in 2015. She also spoke about
a fundamental shift in multilateral development and multilateral aid development organisations must work with governments to achieve
decarbonisation and development of their economies at the same time.
After attending the Global Landscapes Forum, the two participants shared
that they have acquired valuable knowledge on the importance of
policymaking and the complexity of implementation these policies. Instead of
feeling helpless, the two are inspired to do more and feel empowered to
expand their passion and interest in the area of agriculture both at the policy
level and grassroots level.16

16 Find out more about the Global Landscapes Forum here http://www.landscapes.org/ Infographics,

Publications, Presentations and Videos are available for viewing.

24

World Climate Summit

10 December 2014, Hilton Hotel, Miraflores, Lima, Peru

This event was held outside COP20 and was a full day programme primarily
targeted at senior business and governmental leaders to discuss areas of
cooperation between the two sectors, with more focus on the business
sector. 17 This event provided a good opportunity to hear the business
perspective on climate change. The business leaders agreed that the climate
change conversation needs to be based on not just reason and analysis, but
propelled by compelling, irrefutable evidence of economic interest. Industries
to shift from a rear view mentality of looking back and fixating on who is to
blame for climate change problems, to a windscreen mentality where people
look ahead and focus on tackling issues at hand constructively.

17 Visit the World Climate Summit 2014 website for more information, available at:

http://www.wclimate.com/world-climate-summit-2014/.

25

MEETINGS WITH CLIMATE LEADERS

At COP20, our delegation had the honour of meeting with leaders in the
climate change sphere to engage them on a gamut of issues ranging from
youth activism, national environmental policies, and our vision for the future of
the environmental movement.

Apart from meeting with Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapores Minister for the
Environment and Water Resources, Ambassador Kwok Fook Seng,
Singapores Chief Negotiator (refer to earlier section), the Singapore Youth
Delegation had the privilege of spending time with Professor Lord Nicholas
Stern, of the famous Stern Report. Professor Lord Stern is currently the IG
Patel Chair of Economics and Government at the London School of
Economics, and he took time out from his busy schedule to meet with our
delegation on the sidelines of COP20. We also met with COP20 President,
Mr Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Ms Christiana
Figueres during an exclusive dialogue session with youths at COP20 on 4
December 2014.

A common thread throughout these meetings was the emphasis on the
importance of enthusiasm and action supported by a clear vision. There is a
need to be driven by a clear mission as people are mobilised and act to
further our cause.

Professor Lord Nicholas Stern

The Singapore Youth Delegation had the honour of setting up a meeting
between Professor Lord Nicholas Stern and AYCN youth members on the
sidelines of COP20. The team introduced Professor Stern to the AYCN and
youth efforts in the region, as well as sought his advice on the various
change-related projects the team was involved in back home. AYCN
representatives from China, Japan, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, and
Taiwan attended this meeting.

Professor Stern was very pleased to hear about all our advocacy efforts, and
gave AYCN youths a clear and inspiring message on furthering the climate
change cause.
He urged Asian youths to engage in our national
conversations on climate change, emphasise the scale of risks posed by
climate change, and highlight the attractiveness of alternative, climate-friendly
policy pathways. Professor Stern applauded the work of youths in our
communities and urged us to continue working within our local communities to
make a difference. He also emphasised the importance of transnational

26


collaborative efforts because the effects of climate change transcend national
boundaries. It was indeed a rewarding session.

Meeting with Professor Lord Nicholas Stern on the grounds of COP20

COP20 President, Mr Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, and

UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Ms Christiana Figueres

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Ms Christiana Figueres held a closed-door
dialogue session with youths at COP20. At the meetings outset, she
motioned for youths to gather round on the floor for a more intimate
discussion instead of speaking from conference microphones around the
round table. This, along with the meeting, was a good gesture of inclusion by
the UNFCCC Secretariat, signaling that the UNFCCC does take the views of
youths into consideration at climate change talks. COP20 President and
Perus Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, joined
the meeting subsequently.

Issues discussed centred on youth participation and inclusion at UNFCCC
meetings, as well as the role of youth in furthering the climate change cause.

27

Dialogue with COP20 President, Mr Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary,
Ms Christiana Figueres.

28

YOUTH GROUPS AND CONSTITUENCIES

Asian Youth Climate Network (AYCN)

The Singapore Youth Delegation organised the annual Asian Youth Dinner on
5th December 2014. A total of 36 youths from Taiwan, China, Nepal, India,
Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, The Philippines and Singapore gathered to
broaden their networks and to discuss on working together in the future. One
main idea emerged; coordinating an Asian Power Shift (APS) in mid-2015.
The idea of the Asian Power Shift is parallel to that of the Global Power Shift
that took place in Turkey in 2013. This APS would serve as the chance for
Asian youths to refine their skills, create bonds and a community that
collectively shares a global vision for change. It would also help youths
strategise how to organise different actions and similar summits in their
respective countries in order to mobilise more Asian youths to be active in the
fight against climate change.

AYCN also held two Strategy Meetings - one in each week throughout the
duration of COP20. The vision, aims and direction of AYCN were discussed
and an overall structure of AYCN was proposed. Lastrina and Juliana both
volunteered to be representatives of the South-East Asian region in the
Bottom-Lining Team for AYCN up until at least COP 21.

29

Youth Non-Governmental Organisations Constituency

(YOUNGO)
It was extremely inspirational to see so many youths from all over the world
gathered at COP20. Youths from both the Global North and Global South
were present and this allowed for more equitable negotiations among all
youths.

Youths also took charge, displaying their determination to combat climate
change by organising pre-approved actions during COP20 as well as
spearheading the Conference of Youths 10 (COY10). COY 10 was held over
3 days from 28 November 2014 to 30 November 2014, just before COP20
began. COY 10 brought together youths from all over the world with the vision
of turning voices into action by strengthening the global youth climate
movement and engaging the next generation in the development of action on
climate change within the framework of international cooperation. Events held
during COY 10 were thought provoking and the Singapore Youth Delegation
felt the sense of urgency for more youths to be engaged and thus hope to
inspire more youths in Singapore to jump on the bandwagon and to positively
contribute in making changes that would benefit our shared environment.

At COP20, YOUNGO meetings were also held daily, where two volunteers,
one from the Global North and the other from the Global South would
spearhead the hour-long discussion.

Trade Union Non-Governmental Organisations (TUNGO)

During COP20, Siang Yu attended the daily trade union meetings where
members of trade union non-governmental organisations could share any
updates on the climate negotiations from the previous day, as well as promote
activities where they were organising during the conference. The trade unions
called for a just transition for workers, contributing to protecting them in times
of hardship, strengthening social dialogue between governments, employers
and unions at all levels, securing their rights, greening existing sectors, and
growing new sectors to ensure prosperity and sustainable development.

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) invited members of the
Peruvian indigenous community during one of the daily meetings to give a
statement regarding the murder of four environmental activists in September
2014. The widows and daughter of Edwin Chota Valera, Leoncio, Quincima
Melendez, Jorge Rios Prez and Francisco Pinedo were present to express

30


their struggles as the indigenous community continues to fight for their right to
land use as well as basic human rights. ITUC also expressed their solidarity
with the indigenous community at an action held on the conference grounds,
holding a banner that says, We are Saweto.

31

KEY TAKE HOME MESSAGES FOR SINGAPORE

Enhancing Education on Climate Change

Climate change education has a crucial role to play in ensuring the
effectiveness of Singapores and the worlds effort to mitigate and adapt to
climate change. From consumers to policy makers, each individual must be
well versed in climate change issue and has the values and attitude that
would direct their actions. Climate change education should occupy more of
the discourse in UNFCCC negotiation and become the key focus of the
international efforts.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has proclaimed climate change to be the
defining challenge of our time. However, the question remains whether the
Singapore population perceive climate change and environmental destruction
with the appropriate urgency. The Singapore Sustainable Blueprint, produced
by MEWR, has indicated the importance of education in raising awareness
and cultivating an environmentally responsible culture in the society.

Education plays a crucial role in developing a Singapores population that is
truly environmentally friendly and resilient. Small changes in the lifestyle of the
individuals can translate into crucial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
collectively. These changes in lifestyle can only happen when the individual
has the pro-environmental knowledge, attitude and values. The Singapore
school system which is known to be broad and robust can include further
integration of climate change education. This will in time ensure that
Singapores next generation will be well-informed decision makers and
consumers that champion sustainable development and are environmentally
responsible.

The Singapore school system can and should place more emphasis on
climate change education. There should be more intensive integration of
environmental education into the academic subjects across all levels of the
school systems. Environmental messages should also be present in the
schools programs and co-curricular activities. The ministry may also look at
allocating curriculum time, for e.g. the Form Teacher Guidance Period
(FTGP), for climate change or environmental education that is engaging and
relevant.

The training of teachers is needed so they are well versed in the issues of
climate change and be effective in imparting environmental knowledge, values
and attitude to the students. Educators and the public should also see more
visible collaboration between the ministry and other government bodies such

32


as MEWR and the NCCS and with the UNFCCC. MOEs involvement in interministerial and international climate change efforts would signal the
governments commitment and belief in the importance of climate change
education. The Article 6 National Focal Point who oversees international
communication on matters of awareness raising and capacity building can
also be from the MOE.

Food Security Concerns for Singapore

One of the key issues discussed during the side events at COP20 was food
security. Smallholder farmers, researchers and policymakers were gathered
to hold dialogues about the challenges and opportunities facing the various
stakeholders involved in agriculture and food security.

The World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agricultural Organisation of
the United Nations (FAO) organised side events to share climate analysis
data and innovative work on climate adaptation. These include food security
early warning initiatives - hydro meteorological stations and the use of crowd
sourced weather information. Success stories and approaches that addressed
the challenges of climate change especially by low-income countries in Africa,
Asia and Central and South America were also explored.

While the issue of food security was not brought up in the main negotiations,
panellists encouraged civil society organisations to continue discussing the
theme in their home countries, as well as to work with governments to
incorporate it into future negotiations. A key message about food security and
food education that was shared by Jethro Greene, Chief Coordinator of the
Caribbean Farmers Network, is to know what you eat and where it comes
from.

It was interesting to gain perspective from smallholder farmers and
policymakers about food security and agriculture. However, there was little
mention of food security and the role of agriculture in the urban context. Being
an active member of the urban agriculture community in Singapore, Siang Yu
hopes to take what she has learned at the conference and put them into
practice back in Singapore.

Singapore imports more than 90% of its food. As a result, an increase in the
price of key food imports or export bans by major food suppliers is likely to
threaten Singapores food security. The negative impacts of climate change
such as alteration of ecosystems and disruption of crop yield also has
implications on food security. In order to adapt to the impacts of climate

33


change and to strengthen the resilience of Singapores food supply, one
solution is to work towards maximising our local food production. Siang Yu
hopes to raise awareness on Singapores potential to increase local,
sustainable food production despite our land scarcity issues, and to see a
greater interest in agriculture among Singaporean youths.

34

CONCLUDING NOTES AND REFLECTIONS

Overall, the experience at Lima COP20 was fulfilling and had helped to
broaden our insights not only about the negotiation process, but also made us
more aware of youths roles in this global issue. The conference opened our
eyes to the issues that different nations face or are concerned about, such as
health, gender and the rights of the indigenous people. It gave us a better
perspective of how climate change has affected and will continue to affect
communities worldwide.

We had the opportunity to interact and exchange ideas with active youth
NGOs worldwide, and plans are already underway to connect youths in Asia.
As youths, we feel empowered to contribute in any and every way that we
can, from raising awareness on the issues surrounding climate change to
attending and actively participating during COP. Through the connections and
friendships made with like-minded youths, we hope to draw inspiration from
them and to further encourage youths in Singapore to take on a more active
role in the fight against climate change.

~END~

35