CAN Fossil of the Day awards at COP23, Bonn, Germany
Bonn, Germany: The first Climate Action Network (CAN) Fossil of the Day award at the UN Climate Conference COP23 was a small Ray of the Day.
There is a certain leader who is on everyone’s mind at this UN Climate Conference, so the first CAN Fossil of the Day award is actually an award for the rest of us that have stayed committed, eyes on the horizon and not on the bumps in the road. For all the cities, states, universities, businesses and individuals that have not been deterred by the spectacle of a leader that absolutely craves attention like a 3 year old child..
The citation for the award states:
“Today’s Opening Day Fossil of the Day is in fact …. a ‘Ray of the Day’ (not least to bring in some sunshine into a rain-sodden COP in Bonn though we are grateful for the images of sunny Fiji donning the walls of this fantastic two-zone venue).
“The proverbial sunshine is inside the halls of the COP – the amazing spirit of the people present here from countries far and wide, committed to the task on hand: to move forward with implementing the Paris Agreement and staying focused on driving forward climate action. Undeterred by talk of a Certain Someone with an incurable tweeting habit, their actions here speak louder than words: “We are still in and we are working towards a better future that makes our world safer, healthier and more prosperous for all, and those to come”.
“Today’s Ray of the Day celebrates your achievements in the face of some very dark and flippant times, to shine a light on countries that continue to uphold and believe in the Paris Agreement. So stay on the path we have forged from Paris and keep your eyes on the horizon other than the bumps in the road.”
You can read a related article in the first Climate Action Network ECO bulletin on the large orange elephant in the room and US Action
Watch the first Fossil of the Day of COP23, which actually was a little Ray of The Day (it was our first live broadcast). Follow the Fossil of the Day Awards on Facebook.
Update from the first day:
- The opening statements at the first Plenary were strong and determined: COP23 Kicks Off with Strong Calls to Hold to Paris Agreement Path
- German Environment minister announces 50 million Euros to climate adaptation fund, and also the German development cooperation ministry pledged an additional 50 million euros to the Least Developed Countries Fund. CAN view:
Germany: a Climate Leader or a Climate Laggard? - A view from South Asia: COP 23 at Bonn: Countries show no concern over US exit from Paris deal, see negotiations as business as usual
- World Council of Churches, ACT Alliance and Lutheran World Federation – together representing more than half a billion Christians worldwide – issue a united call for action on climate justice for COP23, the largest call of its kind in history.
- World Meteorological office launches Report: 2017 is set to be in top three hottest years, with record-breaking extreme weather Watch the video-on-demand
- Citizens of Munich have voted to close down local coal fired power station in 2022 rather than 2035, a major source of emissions, setting an example for other German cities and the German government, while there is Heated debate over energy policy in German coalition talks
The Climate Council have issued a background factsheet on the COP23 climate conference.
Disclosure: John Englart is a CANA accredited observer to the UN climate change conference COP23. He is a volunteer member of the small CAN team producing the Fossil of the Day awards in the Bula Zone each day of the conference.
