Book of photographs shows different side to annual UN Climate Change talks

Mr Todd Stern, left, of the USA engages in direct and impromptu talks with HE Zhenhua Xie of China at the annual United Nations talks to combat climate change

DUBAI // A new book of photographs aims to explain the workings of the annual United Nations talks to combat climate change, which the UAE participates in.

To be launched officially on October 14, Addressing Climate Change: An Illustrated Biography of the Annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, does not contain scientific details on global warming, rather it relies on photos, most of which were taken at the climate change talks in Doha in December 2012.

Award-winning photographer Henry Dallal lead a team of international photographers who were given behind-the-scenes access to the talks. The book was presented in New York last week, ahead of the start of a summit on climate change which opened on September 23, under the aegis of UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, represented the UAE at the event.

“The objective is not to photograph or record the content of the event, it is just to photograph the spirit,” said Mr Dallal. “It is human beings talking to human beings.”

Mr Dallal said that while the images show how difficult it is for politicians to achieve consensus on the issue, the book will inspire ordinary people to act to limit greenhouse gases.

“Everyone should be involved,” he said. “Every single human being has an effect.”

Most of the pictures, including those of decision-makers from the 194 countries, shows them displaying emotion in a way not often captured on newspaper pages. This is the case of a portrait of Todd Stern, the United States special envoy for Climate Change, and Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, in China – representatives of the two biggest carbon polluters – engaged in intense discussion, with a translator sitting awkwardly between them.

“Two of the biggest giants with the poor translator squeezed in between,” said Mr Dallal, who has also been commissioned to take portrait photographs of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. “You look for these moments.”

Capturing images like this requires the subjects to be oblivious to the fact there is a camera.

“That is the art of what I do, I suppose, to try to be unobtrusive,” he said. “I am documenting quietly, I need to be ignored.”

One of the important outcomes of Doha was that governments agreed to extend the Kyoto Protocol, the only legally-binding treaty on climate change which obliges developed countries to cut their emissions from 1990 levels. The regime continues until 2020, when a more ambitious treaty, to be negotiated by the end of 2015, is expected to come into force.

This achievement is shown via an image of Christiana Figueres, the executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, holding up the completed draft of the agreement.

Also photographed are representatives of non-governmental organisations who are present as observers in the negotiations. The talks’ intense atmosphere with negotiations continuing until the early hours of the morning during the final days is also reflected.

The book features prominently the president of the Doha conference, Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, former deputy prime minister of Qatar and head of the Emir’s court. Decisions at the talks are taken by consensus and the president has an important role to ensure everyone’s interests are being heard.

Mr Dallal remembers Mr Al Attiyah as being “full of charm and personality”.

“He seemed to have a way with negotiating and listening to people, so some of these poor countries, NGOs would feel comfortable with him,” he said. “They all trusted him, they all liked him, he created a very nice atmosphere.”