Anjali Appadurai spoke on behalf of the world’s youth at COP17, the UN climate summit in Durban, South Africa, using the people’s mic to say, “Get it done!” Appadurai, a student at the College of the Atlantic in Maine, gave the final address to the delegates before what was supposed to be the concluding session. Instead, negotiators have struggled through Friday and Saturday with the harsh conflict between urgent scientific necessity and political possibility.
Appadurai challenged the delegates to remember that Africa is on the “frontlines of climate change.” She accused the assembled nations of betraying her generation, saying we are living in “an era in which narrow self-interest prevailed over science, reason and common compassion”:
The most stark betrayal of your generation’s responsibility to ours is that you call this “ambition.” Where is the courage in these rooms? Now is not the time for incremental action. In the long run, these will be seen as the defining moments of an era in which narrow self-interest prevailed over science, reason and common compassion.
Watch it:
“On a purely personal note, I wonder why we let not speak half of the world’s population first in this conference, but only last,” acting COP president Artur Runge-Metzger, chair of the European negotiating team, mused after Appadurai spoke.
Transcript:
APPADURAI: I speak for more than half the world’s population. We are the silent majority. You’ve given us a seat in this hall, but our interests are not on the table. What does it take to get a stake in this game? Lobbyists? Corporate influence? Money? You’ve been negotiating all my life. In that time, you’ve failed to meet pledges, you’ve missed targets, and you’ve broken promises. But you’ve heard this all before.
We’re in Africa, home to communities on the front line of climate change. The world’s poorest countries need funding for adaptation now. The Horn of Africa and those nearby in KwaMashu needed it yesterday. But as 2012 dawns, our Green Climate Fund remains empty. The International Energy Agency tells us we have five years until the window to avoid irreversible climate change closes. The science tells us that we have five years maximum. You’re saying, “Give us ten.”
The most stark betrayal of your generation’s responsibility to ours is that you call this “ambition.” Where is the courage in these rooms? Now is not the time for incremental action. In the long run, these will be seen as the defining moments of an era in which narrow self-interest prevailed over science, reason and common compassion.
There is real ambition in this room, but it’s been dismissed as radical, deemed not politically possible. Stand with Africa. Long-term thinking is not radical. What’s radical is to completely alter the planet’s climate, to betray the future of my generation, and to condemn millions to death by climate change. What’s radical is to write off the fact that change is within our reach. 2011 was the year in which the silent majority found their voice, the year when the bottom shook the top. 2011 was the year when the radical became reality.
Common, but differentiated, and historical responsibility are not up for debate. Respect the foundational principles of this convention. Respect the integral values of humanity. Respect the future of your descendants. Mandela said, “It always seems impossible, until it’s done.” So, distinguished delegates and governments around the world, governments of the developed world, deep cuts now. Get it done.
Mic check!
PEOPLE’S MIC: Mic check!
ANJALI APPADURAI: Mic check!
PEOPLE’S MIC: Mic check!
ANJALI APPADURAI: Equity now!
PEOPLE’S MIC: Equity now!
ANJALI APPADURAI: Equity now!
PEOPLE’S MIC: Equity now!
ANJALI APPADURAI: You’ve run out of excuses!
PEOPLE’S MIC: You’ve run out of excuses!
ANJALI APPADURAI: We’re running out of time!
PEOPLE’S MIC: We’re running out of time!
ANJALI APPADURAI: Get it done!
PEOPLE’S MIC: Get it done!
ANJALI APPADURAI: Get it done!
PEOPLE’S MIC: Get it done!
ANJALI APPADURAI: Get it done!
PEOPLE’S MIC: Get it done!
CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, Miss Appadurai, who was speaking on behalf of half of the world’s population, I think she said at the beginning. And on a purely personal note, I wonder why we let not speak half of the world’s population first in this conference, but only last.