COP10 in Nagoya, Japan: Towards an International Regime on Environmental Governance

We, the more than 6.8 billion people, are so blessed to have a rich biological diversity or biodiversity which means the variety of life on earth. Biodiversity sustains the lives and well-being of these 6.8 billion people. As blessed as such, what are we doing with and for it?

Are we taking good care of biodiversity or exploiting it too much? The continuum from one extreme to another is where do we put ourselves. Are we contributing to the taking care or exploiting? We know that our activities have certain impacts on biodiversity. And our activities are informed and shaped by our values. Thus, should we take care of biodiversity or exploit it? The continuum is neither that nor this. The phenomenon of climate change is a clear indication of human activities exploiting too much the biodiversity, and not taking care of it.

The governments must rein on these human activities to reduce the negative impacts on biodiversity and promote conservation efforts for future generations. They can motivate and direct corporations, communities, groups, and individuals to help contribute in the solution of biodiversity conservation efforts, and not in the problem of biodiversity loss.

In 1993 with more than 168 signatures of States, the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) was ratified and put into force. Now, there are 193 parties to the Convention which has three main objectives: the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of the components of biological diversity, and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

The governing body of the Convention is the Conference of Parties (COP) that will have its tenth meeting in Nagoya, Japan on 18-29 Octobe 2010. It is particularly significant because 2010 is declared as International Year of Biodiversity. It is the year that everyone is encouraged to have greater awareness and understanding of our place and role in the larger scheme of nature of which we are all part.

The COP10 or tenth meeting of COP has a theme and logo made up of truly Japanese-style origami, "Life in harmony, into the future."The meeting is aimed to assess the 2010 targets for the reduction of biodiversity loss worldwide. How do parties or governments fare in their targets? For example, are we able to reduce the threats on or halt the extinction rates of endangered species?

Another very important activity in the meeting is the adoption of the international regime on access and benefit-sharing (ABS) of genetic resources. It is high time to establish an international regime on ABS. Each party to the Convention has the power to determine the access of genetic resources within their territories. It is also bound to share the benefits derived from the access to and utilization of these resources. In other words, developing countries with rich biodiversity which is a source of raw materials will have a say on the access to their resources and will benefit from the utilization of their resources by developed/industrialized countries. Through the international regime on ABS, this arrangement will become institutionalized in the relations among parties to the Convention.

As the theme of COP10 reads "Life in harmony, into the future," heads of States, policy-makers, and decision-makers are going to agree and disagree on certain things in the meeting that will matter to us. However, our common future on one earth is at stake. Let us urge them to take the bold steps in confronting their differences and finding common grounds to push for biodiversity conservation efforts and responsible and sustainable use of resources.

Let us make them put actions on the provisions of the Convention and their decisions. Let us not allow another missed opportunity.

Not another entry on BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

Any environmental blog nowadays would have at least an entry on the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This is not another entry on BP oil spill. This would not put blame on the BP oil company, nor the government's slow response. This would not provide excuses for our insatiable want of oil at the expense of our lifestyles, profits, and ultimately, our environment.

This would drag us into the spill. What does it have to do something with us? No matter how far we live from the gulf, no matter how unaffected we may seem, this would argue that the spill has something to do with us.

After gushing hundreds of millions of gallons of oil in the gulf, the spill exposed the unpreparedness of giant oil companies to tackle such a tremendous disaster. Worse, it even made the most powerful and technologically advanced country in the world vulnerable and hysterically inadequate to deal with such disaster.

Do we really need those hundreds of millions of gallons of oil? Apparently, not.

Then, why exploration of oil deposits and building of oil rigs continue? If we missed to use those wasted and leaked oil, would our lives be different today?

One of the major sources of our energy is oil. Undoubtedly, we need it, for now. Thus, as long as we need it, explorations and development of oil rigs will continue. The potential of having another disaster of this scale will be ever-present.

If we want to avoid similar catastrophe, then we have to cut that need.

Demand from our governments to supply our energy needs from renewable sources. Ask our governments to reduce dependence from fossil fuels (e.g. coal and oil) which contribute so much to pollution and global warming.

Now, what does it have to do with us?

As an individual, cut oil and energy consumption. Resist that temptation to have more. Be more. Turn off everything if unused. Walk that extra mile or bike. Live a simple and happy life.

As a citizen, oppose new fossil fuel projects in your area/country. Get involved in environmental activities. Go out and appreciate the natural beauty of environment.

Do it alone. Do it with someone. Do it with a group.

These activities may not stop giant oil companies and governments to explore and develop oil rigs, but they will feel our sentiments in their revenues and ballots. We will reduce our need for fossil fuels, thus reducing their new projects. We will vote for candidates with an energy plan and priority for renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and biomass.

Yes we will. Seeing the massive effects of the oil spill in biodiversity, peoples' lives, and local economy, we have to believe that we can. No more of this man-made catastrophe, in our lifetime.

World Environment Day (WED): Many Species, One Planet, One Future

While we are just one of the millions of species on earth, we have taken for granted other species that live with us. Other species do not even have names yet. So their existence is yet to be discovered, but they are out there helping our earth to be livable and wonderful.

We have claimed the earth as ours, sadly yet we do not lay claim and responsibility of its impending doom due to human activities.

While we are growing in population, other species are decreasing and, worse, disappearing on earth. We are blessed to have witnessed and seen the rich biodiversity of earth. However, each day, there are species that become extinct and never to be seen alive on earth again. And there are more becoming endangered of being wiped out on earth if we do not act on conservation and protection of these species and their environment.

Our insatiable greed for bigger things and luxuries has led to the destruction of forests and marines, thus denying species of their natural habitats. In the name of development and industrialization, we pursue our own good lives at the expense of the lives of other species.

It is time to change. Fight greed. Resist luxuries. Protect our remaining forests and conserve our marines.

Just one day, think about the richness of our earth. Be awed by its wonders and beauty. Just one day, become aware that we are not alone and there are others without names that live with us. Just one day as a starter, do not kill, harm and hurt anything surrounding you.

We live in a shared future and earth. Let us make it good for us and the next generations.

Cashing in the REDD-Plus in 2010 Oslo Conference on Deforestation

The headlines on newspapers say it all: Germany and Norway to give $1.5 billion to fight deforestation. Do I miss something here?

Well, it has been found out that deforestation contributes much on the carbon dioxide emissions as much as the cars, planes, and other fuel-loaded modes of transporations combined. That's a lot of emissions from one source which can be mitigated by concerted efforts of governments, both rich and poor which have differing stakes in the issue.

I hate the idea that money can solve environmental and social issues. Sure it could help a whole lot more to address them, but please do not build and reduce the proposed solutions on financial terms.

The Copenhagen Accord made a general and broad reference to the significance of addressing the deforestation in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation. It is time to have a dedicated and focused conference on the issue.

An international regime to manage, handle and monitor the Reducing Emissions from Deforestations and Degradation (REDD)-Plus program must be established to start the challenging and important task of slowing down deforestation. This regime also takes care of the financing efforts to assist countries that have high deforestation rate such as Indonesia, Brazil, and other countries with considerable forest cover within their territories.

Beyond the financial matters, what is important is the political will of the governments to go after the destructive activities, either legal or illegal, that clear forest, cut trees, and flatten mountains and hills. These activities are driven by strong financial backing by huge transnational mining, logging and insfrastructure companies that know the way to have their projects approved even in the midst of controversies and resistance from the local communities and environmental activists. There is a need to involve these stakeholders in the decision-making processes of environmentally-critical projects.

In this way, we can hope for a participatory governance of a common natural resources.