Posted by: 
The Alliance of Small Island Nations, that represents the small island nations fighting for their very survival at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen, have laid out a vision for a fair, ambitious, and binding climate deal at the talks today. Today, they introduced the first proposal that is both legally binding, by extending the Kyoto Protocol, as well as ambitious by providing for a protocol that the United States can sign on to, that would cut carbon emissions by 85% by mid-century.
"AOSIS members are at the front line of the devastating impacts of climate change," Dessima Williams of Grenada, AOSIS' spokeswoman. They were joined by civil society groups, who are standing with the threatened states in calling for a treaty that can avoid the growing humanitarian, health, and development crises from climate change.
Youth supporters from TckTckTck partner 350.org, representing a growing citizen movement from 181 countries, rallied in Copenhagen, in support of efforts by small island nations to push for a more ambitious climate agreement at the UN climate talks here. Holding signs that read “350=Survival” and “1.5 [celsius] to stay alive ”, the show of support is an example of one of the most contentious issues in the UN climate talks. With the effects of climate change coming faster and sooner than expected, the level of ambition by developed nations is far too low to ensure the existence of some of the most vulnerable nations on earth, like Tuvalu and the Maldives.
Small island nations are numerous within the UN system and with their very survival at stake, have used their numbers to push negotiators from powerful developed and developing countries to recognize their right to exist and for emissions cuts strong enough to protect their homes and lives. "Our proposal does forward amendments to secure a strengthened second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol and put forward a new Protocol to be adopted under the Convention which would result in legally binding targets for the USA", said ambassador Collin Beck of the Solomon Islands.
The AFP reported that the ambitious targets are science-based as “new scientific findings since the 2007 UN Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) report that served as a basis for the 2.0 Celsius target show that climate change is accelerating faster and is having more dire impacts than previously thought.” So, as the island nations push within the negotiations for an ambitious, legally binding, and science based proposal, what is needed now is citizen activism to show world leaders that they are not just negotiating with countries with relatively little economic or military power, but their own citizens.
Johann Hari, of the Independent, documented the ways rich countries were avoiding their responsibilities in Copenhagen in a column today, but said,
“there is one reason why I am still - despite everything - defiantly hopeful. Converging on this city now are thousands of ordinary citizens who aren't going to take it any more. They aren't going to watch passively while our ecosystems are vandalized. They are demanding only what the cold, hard science demands - real and rapid cuts, enforced by a global environmental court that will punish any nation that endangers us all. This movement will not go away…If we don't raise the political temperature very fast, the physical temperature will rise”.
There is one way for you all to stand together and build this movement, the movement so desperately needed to move proposals like AOSIS’ from dream to reality. Join the global vigils for a real deal, today. This December 12th, lets show the world that we stand with those most vulnerable and also the most courageous in proposing the climate deal the world has been waiting for.