Does the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change help anyone with
adaptation practice on the ground now? Can we improve
international adaptation policy? Here, I was asked to
speak by the Stockholm International Water Institute
on behalf of the CSO/NGO community to a group of
minister/cabinent-level officials involved with water
and development from six different countries. The
"high-level panel" occurred in late August 2009
during World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden. By way
of backstory, I was pretty angry by the time I got to
talk. Most of the ministers had gone way over their
allotted 5 minutes, and it was clear they weren't
very interested in listening to me anyway. I felt a
bit of passion by the time the discussion came around
to me. Their statements were deeply theoretical --
lacking in people and places, removed from practical
issues. They were cold. I felt hot. 7.5 min. The
written text of my talk is
here.
Mica Ruiz and Amanda Carufel filmed my talk.