The beginning of the end

As Annika has written the negotiations has been sorely disappointing. Out of the Children and Youth Contribution Document submitted half a year ago with the proposals and wishes of our generation none has been retained, esepecially the wishes for new and strengthened environmental institutions.

What is happening now during the final 3-day part of the conference, the main Rio +20 conference itself, is that ministers, ambassadors, presidents and state leaders has arrived and will be giving statements in plenary on behalf of their countries. Basically all countries present will give statements during the 6 sessions over the next three days (there is an official maximum of 5 minutes, Mugabe spoke for 15). However, the document has already been prepared and is no longer being negotiated and is just supposed to be agreed on (unless it is reopened, but that is unlikely as US is strictly against it and if it is opened for negotiation there is risk countries will not be able to agree on it again, such as happened in Copenhagen in 2009 during the climate negotiations).

What countries are doing are just saying how good themselves are, what needs to be done in general terms and with very little reference to the outcome document draft of this conference. Such references will probably increase however as the end draws nearer, but what is left is only a talkshop basically.

The final text will probably be as it stands today, although many including the G77+China (group of 130 developing countries) and including most Major Groups representatives (Children and Youth, NGO's, Indeginous etc.) have expressed that they are not happy with it. The NGO respresentative called upon all to remove the heading of the document, "The Future We Want", for it is simply not, and there is a Norwegian youth initiative to submit a text titled "The Future We Really Want".

Morning meeting with all Major Groups and secretariat. Tomorrow Ban Ki-Moon will address the meeting.