Negotiations Training

Interview

WWF interviewed Mr Charlie Numanga, who is the Outer Islands Branch Development Office and Disaster Management Officer for the Cook Islands’ Red Cross Society about his first Conference of Parties (COP) experience, where he attended the 1st Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (fondly called COP11/MOP1)in Montreal in 2005.

Q1. Before you left for Montreal, what were your expectations of this type of meeting?

My expectations before leaving for Montreal were maybe updates of the impacts and issues concerning climate change around the world.

Q2. Once you arrived in Montreal, what were your first impressions of the meeting?

Once I arrived in Montreal my first impression of this meeting was that the majority of the participants were representatives from each country at political, ministerial, secretary, head of department level, in short high level persons. So it seemed like the meeting was important enough for decision makers to be there.

Q3. What role can a country like the Cook Islands play?

The same role played by the bigger countries, because for the Cook Islands vulnerability is our voice and our face at this type of meeting, especially in the plenary sessions e.g. for our matters here in the Cook Is to be addressed, its expressed by another person e.g. Mauritius through AOSIS, and we have to remember we can stand up and express our feelings and concerns in a way that no one else can – it should have been us speaking on our own behalf in the plenary.

Q4. What are some of the strengths of the CKI delegation?

A strength would be their full commitment and dedication to the meeting, in contrast to some countries which just seem to come for a short period and then don’t fully participate. Our delegation members were well prepared before we got there. Our delegation networked amongst themselves to share the load and attend more sessions. They had a goal to achieve, in terms of text they wanted to see achieved, and it seemed like they got there.

Q5. What role can civil society and Red Cross etc play in the future at national level?

Focussing mainly on Red Cross - A lot, education awareness programmes, adaptation, project proposals, and providing man power.

Q6. What role do you think these groups of organisations could play at the international level?

  • Demonstrate and voice the results of data collected from the national level process
  • Stand up like the youth group and be heard and seen
  • Give their full support to the small island state concerns in a big number

Q7. Recommendation on how the Cook Islands voice can be heard louder and stronger at these meetings?

Increase the volume of participants representing us to these meetings in order to cover and be present at the many different topics. Involve our youth to participate for increasing their knowledge so there are more people to fill the roles in the future. Have resources available (data etc) to back up our national concerns – so we can see (visualise) it, like what other countries had on display at the meeting.

Q8. Has this experience benefited your work and how?

Yes it has – by increasing my knowledge and capacity I now speak with more confidence about what the impacts and concerns are, and this is much greater than what I used to know. Its made me stronger towards implementing this climate change awareness, and the feedback from people has respected me for sharing these concerns that are often left in paper reports on shelves and tables after such meetings. For example it gave me the strength to address the traditional leaders and the Queen’s Representative at the Parliament about my experiences and the climate change concerns soon after returning, and to seek their support, despite the fact that I was there for a different reason.

Q9. What was your most memorable experience at the COP?

The youth statement at the last plenary session said “look into our eyes and stand with us for our future”. Five youths each had a role, in different languages from around the world, and their presentation really gave me the goose bumps. The opening number through song, dance, movements, and actions, based on climate change was very effective and enjoyable because of its expressiveness.