• Congo in Conflict
• Floods in India and Nepal
• Sichuan earthquake
• Myanmar cyclone
• Snowstorm across China
THE YEAR 2008 IN PICTURES By Stanley So
European Union, Japan, Australia, and
Oxfam welcomed a step forward in
another decision that could have made
Canada, failed to commit to deeper
the negotiations that allows developing
a real difference to those suffering
cuts in their emissions and to providing
countries direct access to the Adaptation
the impact of the climate crisis. The
funds developing countries needed for
Fund, one of the most intractable issues
"elephant in the room" is still where
adaptation.
of this climate change conference.
the money for adaptation is going
However, I was deeply impressed by
This was an important decision on
to come from. We urgently needed a
the constructive efforts by developing
the crucial issues of accountability,
decision on increased future funding
countries, despite the huge domestic
effectiveness and control over the
for adaptation, but we didn’t get there.
poverty and development challenges
money available to poor countries for
According to Oxfam's estimates, at
they face. Mexico committed to halve
urgent adaptation needs.
least US$50 billion a year is needed to
their emissions by 2050. South Africa
The Adaptation Fund was established
help poor people face the impact of a
launched their national climate change
under the UN Framework Convention on
changing climate, and far more will be
plan. China issued a National Climate
Climate Change to support adaptation
needed if emissions are not cut fast or
Change Programme in 20 07, and
programmes in developing countries.
far enough.
published a white paper on climate
The aim is to protec t vulnerable
Rich countries, which have caused the
change, just before the conference.
communities from the impact of climate
crisis, must accept their responsibility to
The G77 group of countries and China
change and help them to adapt.
help people who are suffering from the
submitted proposals on technology
Reaching this decision to make
in 2007, international leaders adopted
and financial mechanisms in September
the Adaptation Fund accessible is an
People will die as a result.
the ‘Bali Action Plan’, an ambitious
2008. All these show that developing
important milestone, but it is a small
Delay is not an option
That’s the message I want to tell the
timeline for reaching an agreement to
countrie s have b e e n p roac tively
fraction of the progress that is needed
We can play a part in making sure
world after participating in the United
tackle climate change. It set a deadline
addressing climate change.
to help vulnerable communities adapt
that rich countries make a commitment
Nations Climate Conference in Poznan
for reaching a new global deal by the
Rich countries must stop finger–
to climate change and to ensure that an
to stop harming and start helping.
in December 2008.
end of 2009, in Copenhagen. It stated
pointing at developing countries,
ambitious climate change deal is agreed
Stanley So is a Policy Officer at Oxfam Hong Kong.
The general public tends to
that rich countries should commit to
and commit to emission reductions
in Copenhagen in 2009.
be indif ferent to international
deeper greenhouse gases emissions
of at least 25-40% by 2020, as well as
However, Oxfam denounced the
ne gotiatio n s ; they p ro bably s e e
cuts, and provide developing countries
to providing the resources urgently
stonewalling by rich countries on
international negotiations as distant
the finance and technology needed so
needed in developing countries to take
from people’s lives.
that they can adapt to climate change as
further action.
But climate talks are different. The
well as take voluntary actions to reduce
Many non- government organi-
climate crisis is more serious than the
their own emissions. The conference in
sations, including Oxfam, gathered
financial crisis, as many delegates at this
Poznan was the interim meeting on the
in Poznan. We organised exhibitions,
conference in Poznan stressed. Why? It
road to Copenhagen.
workshops, seminars, discussions,
is costing lives, especially in the most
I participated as a member of the
protests and other events, all aimed at
vulnerable countries. And it will cost
Oxfam International delegation, which
highlighting the urgency of the crisis
more if no immediate action is taken.
was an observer organisation in the
and the human cost of inaction. Oxfam
two–week conference.
used an ice sculpture to demonstrate
The poorest countries emit little but suffer most from the climate crisis. At the UN Climate Conference in Bali
I was hugely disappointed with how the rich countries, especially the
the urgency of the crisis and to ask for immediate action by rich countries.
Stanley So (right) at the United Nations Climate Conference in Poznan. December 2008.
climate crisis they have caused.