Saskia McCulloch: The Lone Kiwi

The first day of negotiations for the Paris Agreement are almost at an end, just a few more hours to go. I am in Bonn, Germany. The sun is shining, its 30 degrees and the World Conference Centre is swanky. Things are going smoothly, apart from the fact that I am the only real New Zealander here from civil society. 

Most negotiations New Zealanders from civil society attend are the Conferences of the Parties. Approximately fourteen New Zealander are in attendance each year. These negotiations are intercessionals, and only for the ADP (negotiations for Paris). It is a lot smaller than a typical COP, and most of the people here are European and regular UNFCCC attendees.

But I am the only New Zealander. It is a lonely affair.  And, I am reserved to say that I relish hearing Jo Tyndall's voice with her New Zealand accent radiating through the plenaries. 

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