COP 22 Day 4

We spent Thursday exploring the green zone, which is a space for non-governmental organizations and private sector businesses to present their green initiatives. The green zone is split into two different sections, one for civil society groups and the other for private-driven innovation. Our purpose in the green zone was two-fold. First, we felt it was important to hear both governmental and non-governmental perspectives in order to be exposed to a more holistic narrative around climate change. Second, we were seeking out information relevant to our research projects.

Of particular interest, was the Noor solar project that is currently being built in the Moroccan city of Ouarzazate, just a few hours outside of Marrakech. When the plant is completed, it will be one the largest solar plant in the world. The plant is part of a public-private partnership between the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN) and a corporation called ASWA Power, from Saudi Arabia. The Noor solar project is part of Morocco’s larger effort to diminish its energy dependence (96% of its energy is imported), while, simultaneously, contributing to the transition to renewable energy. The project is capital intensive; the Moroccan government took out over 5 billion dollars in loans to pay for the project. The government is also talking of eventually exporting some of its renewable energy to Europe. Critics of this intention say this is a new form of colonialism: green colonialism. That is, the Moroccan government is undertaking all of the risk associated with a solar energy, a relatively costly form of energy, and allowing Europe to externalize the very risks Morocco is undertaking. The Noor solar project is nevertheless an interesting development in the realm of renewable energy. It will be fascinating to see how the project progresses.

We finished our day back in the blue zone, by attending a side event titled Climate Related Displacement and Migrants: Rights and Responsibilities After Paris. This topic interested both of us; after spending a semester study migration we were interested to hear a climate perspective to migration, which was not addressed in our thematic course. Panelists included a Minister from Bangladesh, representatives from civil society networks, and representatives from UNHCR and UNHRC.

Many voiced concerns about increasing pressures and stresses on populations in South East Asia and Sub- Saharan Africa, two regions that are are/will be most affected by climate change. Panelists cited droughts, floods, sea level rise, land grabbing, pollution, the shrinking of Lake Chad, and overgrazing resulting in desertification as major push factors of displacement. These changes have both direct and indirect consequences for these populations and those around them. Not only are people losing their homes, but they are losing their livelihoods; as people are forced to move within and even across borders, there is increasing social tension and conflict. Many of these migrants are marginalized in their host communities and are not protected under international law. Because climate migrants are not technically considered refugees (they have not faced ‘persecution’) they are excluded from any protection that this term could bring such as access to food, shelter, healthcare and education.

As one panelist said, when people are being forced to leave their homes because of climate change, it is because local coping mechanisms have failed completely and there are no other options left. These people are desperate and need to be supported, and it is unfortunate that this topic does not often come up more frequently in negotiations. Ultimately, the conference is about people; it has been common for parties to get caught up in discussions about fossil fuels and solar farms and forget about the people whose lives are truly being upended and changed forever.  This topic will only grow in importance; panelists called for the creation of a task force in coordination with organizations and governments to come up with integrated solutions to protect the people that are most vulnerable to climate change.