Last Updated (Saturday, 06 December 2014 13:32)

Live report from the inside of COP20 in Lima, Peru

Live report from the inside of COP20! Mr. CHAN Beng Seng and Mr. Alvin KAN of Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs are right now attending the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP 20) in Lima, Peru.

From farmers and indigenous people in the Andes and Patagonia, victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Phillipinnes and climate-migrants in the Pacific region, we heard the real-life stories pointing to one common issue! We call for justice for people who suffer the most from the effect, even more so in the future, but contributed the least to climate change.

At Tourism in Times of Climate Change conference, Beng Seng presented the model of alternative tourism in Asia, the work of APAY Global Alternative Tourism Network (GATA) and highlighted YMCA’s opportunities on combating climate change.

Tourism is both a victim and an offender of climate change. Bunker fuel currently used by ships and cruise liners as well as fuel for air travel are extremely polluting. Most air travel is caused by holiday activities. Furthermore, carbon footprint of tourism is linked to social and economic activities e.g. extraction activities and human-animal conflicts.

Alvin presented the APAY Kuala Lumpur declaration on Climate Change which envisages that all YMCAs shall be climate-sensitive and committed towards building sustainable communities with a decreased climate change impact. In particular, in view of the increased volume of mass global tourism, YMCA can play a pivotal role promoting, organising and implementing alternative tourism in its hostels, hotels, tourism services and products that are climate-sensitive.

We have already felt and understood the scale and urgency of the problem. While the climate change battle is happening at COP 20, we, individually and collectively, need to take urgent action in limiting carbon emissions, and building up our resilience to climate change.

COP20 is not the beginning of the end. The battle against climate change and injustice does not limit to COP or the United Nations, it belongs to each and every of us.

Alvin KAN at Zone C Blogger Area of COP 20 in Lima Peru#