About NatI've spent the last six years researching and writing a PhD on climate change ethics and the international climate change negotiations. I'm close to submitting that thesis now (phew), with help from so many wonderful friends. I'm hoping to continue my research and combine it with activism and advocacy after completion. To take the next step and continue my research, I need your help!About this CampaignThis campaign is to help fund my trip to Paris next month to conduct research, and work with advocacy groups, during the annual UN climate change negotiations being held on 30th November to 11th December 2015. This meeting is a very important one in the history of the negotiations. Learn more about COP21 here and here .My StoryAs part of my PhD research, I travelled to COP15 in Copenhagen for the UN climate change negotiations in 2009 with Climate Action Network and the Conservation Council of Western Australia. I was young, optimistic about the world and wanting to contribute what I could to reaching a fair international agreement on climate change.COP15 changed the way that I saw the world in so many ways. I met seasoned climate justice campaigners and activists, and negotiators from smaller countries whose eyes were full of hope and concern over their country's future. I saw the background injustice of the process where large countries had tens to hundreds of representatives and the smallest countries, those most vulnerable to climate change impacts, had one solitary representative trying to keep track of dozens of negotiating groups on very little sleep and with few resources. The organisations that I worked with tried to support those representatives by providing briefing papers, responses to draft proposals, and summaries of what had happened in the different negotiating streams. It was important and welcomed support for those with a task far greater than one person could accomplish.From COP15 to COP21When COP15 failed to produce an international agreement, I saw activists from around the world pick themselves and each other up to start focusing on the next challenge. The next major meeting is COP21 in Paris, from 30th November to 11th December 2015. I want to attend that meeting, to contribute as I did at COP15, bringing the knowledge and expertise that I have gained since then. I want to reconnect with those people who are working around the world to get action on climate change. To do that, I need your help.Why donate?Maybe you think this is a worthy cause, that we need to take strong action on climate change and hold accountable those who block such action. Maybe you do not believe that our government representatives will not truly represent you. Maybe we have similar values, or you think that my skills and research are useful contributions. Maybe you can’t attend the negotiations but want to know what is happening. If any of those maybes resonate with you, then I would be very grateful if you considered contributing to this campaign to help fund my attendance at COP21.Donations over $50 will get a handwritten thank you postcard from Paris if you provide me with your mailing address.The BudgetContributions towards the funding goal will be used for a return ticket to Paris from Perth, Australia and carbon offsetting for the flight ($1,700).If we exceed the funding goal (!), then additional funds will be used according to this budget:* $490 for living expenses over 14 days to cover the duration of the conference and registration activities prior to the conference. [Breakdown of living expenses budget: $35 per day, which I’ve estimated for three meals and public transport. The metro tickets will cost $6-10 per day ($2.80 per trip; some days I will be travelling between the conference and other civil society activities in Paris) leaving a food budget of ~$25-30 per day (more generous than I would budget for usually, but allows for coffee (!) and takes into account the fact that I can’t bring my own refreshments into the conference centre and I don’t know how expensive food will be inside).]* $50 for a French SIM card and phone credit to allow easy communication with other participants and to ensure some internet access outside of the conference centre.If we exceed those goals, then I will split the extra funding between facilitating my research (particularly buying an external hard drive) and donating it to a civil society group that reflects my values and aims, which I will announce here if that looks likely to happen.N.B. I will be staying with my (very kind) aunt in Paris, which is why there are no accommodation costs listed. Thanks Domi!Everyone who contributes will be acknowledged on a facebook page that I will use to regularly post pictures and updates from Paris. Some donation levels have particular rewards tied to them, but please don't feel restricted by that. If you don't choose a reward level but really want a postcard from Paris, then let me know and I will see what I can do. Or if you want to donate a higher amount for a lower reward, we can do that too!How to stay involvedI will be tweeting regularly to keep everyone updated on the negotiations (@pokmcfee).Any articles that result from research on this trip will be made publicly available (ideally through publication in an open access journal) and all supporters will be informed of where they can access a copy.I recognise that not everyone who wants to help is in a position to contribute to the campaign. It would be a great help if you could spread the word to friends and family and stay involved in my trip through facebook or twitter.Thank you for taking the time to read through all of this. Your contributions (no matter how small!) will be crucial in getting me to Paris and enabling my research to continue with independent funding.
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