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COP 15 – The “Deal” is Really a Proposal.

Friday, December 18th, 2009

Copenhagen, Dec 19, 2009

Don’t break out the campaign just yet. Reports of a climate deal are confusing if not outright misleading. For example, the New York Times story with the headline “Climate Deal Announced, but Falls Short of Expectations” is only partially true – this proposal does fall short of expectations. But the implication of the NYT headline isn’t consistent with the second paragraph which says “”The agreement still needs to be approved by the 193 nations gathered here”. Approximately 25 nations approved this ‘deal’, actually a proposal that must be presented to the 193 countries for approval. The process here is one of consensus, meaning that if even one country does not agree to the terms, there effectively will be no agreement. Whether the countries that put forth this proposal would still honor it in that case remains to be seen.

This proposal has stripped out many key contentious details, such as country by country emissions reductions targets in 2020 and 2050. These would be filled in early next year, so much haggling remains.

Report by James George

Video – COP 15 – Press Conference Chaos, Rumors of Obama and EU Cancellations: When the Press is the News…

Friday, December 18th, 2009

Copenhagen, Dec 18, 2009

As the talks struggle on into the night, the press is eagerly awaiting any word. First, there was a rumor that Obama was giving a press conference. A near stampede of journalists running from the media center to the press room resulted in this jammed up entrance. One journalist tried to push her way past saying – “I left my laptop in there”. After all the pushing and showing, it turned out Obama would not be making a press conference at that time nor to the large press pool at all. Instead he later gave a press conference to a small group of press traveling with him.

Later, an EU press conference was officially announced, and hundreds of journalists crammed into the NGO press room, sitting on the floor for about an hour before being told that the press conference was canceled.

Report by James George

COP 15 – Rep. Shelley Moore Promotes “Clean Coal”, CCS, Acknowledges CSS not Affordable or Efficient

Friday, December 18th, 2009

Copenhagen, Dec 18, 2009

Representative Shelley Moore, Member of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, U.S. House of Representatives, was featured on a panel of Republicans staging a press conference here at the COP 15 today. She spoke up for coal, the energy which powers her state of West Virginia and provides some 35,000 jobs there.

Press Conference featuring Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W. Va.

I spoke with Moore briefly after her talk and asked her whether she has heard of any existing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies with power losses of less than 30%. She said no, and went on to say that the cap and trade in Waxman-Markey would price coal out of business. So essentially, while putting forth the idea that CCS is a viable way to make coal clean, she in fact recognizes that it isn’t feasible now. She wants time allowances for the coal industry to continue in U.S. in the hopes that the technology can be improved.

Her publication online for the COP 15 presents a far rosier picture of CCS. From Investing In CCS:
“The American Electric Power (AEP) 1,300-megawatt Mountaineer Plant located in my district in New Haven, WV represents an important milestone in our efforts to bring CCS online. The Mountaineer Plant which began operating in September of 2009 is one of the first demonstrations of CCS from an existing coal-fueled power plant.”

“It will capture nearly 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. And with the help of $335 million in Department of Energy funding, AEP plans to capture about 18% of their emissions in the next few years. If successful, it will serve as a blue-print for commercial scale facilities.”

“Carbon capture is our most important tool to address carbon dioxide emissions from coal. It will not only benefit a state like mine with jobs and revenue, it will also benefit our nation and world by making clean coal a reality.”

There is no mention of the fact that greater efficiencies may not ultimately be possible. However, Steven Chu, U.S. Secretary of Energy, mentioned a far out possibility for far more efficient CCS which would use technology based on biological processes that exist in nature but whose methods are not understood.

Republicans are often the first to speak out against government spending, but not in this case where it supports the coal industry. And this type of support exists on both sides of the aisle, Waxman himself voiced his support for clean coal in his press conference the day earlier.

On the other side of the fence, NASA Scientist James Hansen has been very critical of coal, and considers fazing out coal critical to avoiding climate disaster. Further, many of the 40,000 demonstrators who marched in Copenhagen last Saturday had a different view of coal, as was evidenced by the popular chant “leave the coal in the hole”.

Report by James George

BBC News – Copenhagen climate summit enters crucial stage

Friday, December 18th, 2009

‘World leaders are locked in talks as they attempt to deliver a last-minute deal at the Copenhagen climate summit’

via BBC News – Copenhagen climate summit enters crucial stage.

U.N. denies asking leaders to stay on in Copenhagen | Reuters

Friday, December 18th, 2009

‘COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – The United Nations denied asking world leaders to extend their stay in Copenhagen because of deadlock at a U.N. climate summit meant to end on Friday.’

via U.N. denies asking leaders to stay on in Copenhagen | Reuters.

Acid oceans: the ‘evil twin’ of climate change – Yahoo! News

Friday, December 18th, 2009

‘MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY, Calif. – Far from Copenhagen’s turbulent climate talks, the sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters reposing along the shoreline and kelp forests of this protected marine area stand to gain from any global deal to cut greenhouse gases.’

via Acid oceans: the ‘evil twin’ of climate change – Yahoo! News.

COP 15 – Climate Negotiations Likely Extended into Saturday.

Friday, December 18th, 2009

Copenhagen, Dec 18, 2009

With persistent divisions still in play, The COP 15 delegates have been asked by the UN to extend their stay in Copenhagen for possible talks on Saturday. Delegates could be seen in the courtyard at the Bella center using their iphones and blackberrys trying to reschedule their flights. Nevertheless, there is every expectation this evening that talks will continue through the night in a grueling attempt to reach some kind of agreement.

Report by James George

Obama Presses China for Accountability on Climate – NYTimes.com

Friday, December 18th, 2009

‘COPENHAGEN — President Obama called on world leaders to move swiftly to address climate change, and, in a direct challenge to China, pressed for a global climate change accord to include a way to monitor whether countries are complying with promised emissions cuts.’

via Obama Presses China for Accountability on Climate – NYTimes.com.

World leaders try to rescue climate deal | Reuters

Friday, December 18th, 2009

‘COPENHAGEN Reuters – World leaders tried to rescue a global climate agreement on Friday but the failure of leading greenhouse gas emitters China and the United States to come up with new proposals blocked chances of an ambitious deal.’

via World leaders try to rescue climate deal | Reuters.

COP 15, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Presidient of Iran, Defends Nuclear Power as Clean Energy

Friday, December 18th, 2009

Copenhagen, Dec 18, 2009

Today Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran, spoke at a press conference.

In response to my question about critics of nuclear power in the west who consider it as a false solution to climate change, Ahmadinejad defended nuclear power, describing it as cleaner than fossil fuels. He denounced nuclear weapons.

“Nuclear energy can be promising for all nations. It is a clean energy, it is also economically viable. And Iran … has the right to use this energy. In our planning we are going to generate 20,000 megawatts of energy through nuclear, as well as use isotopes for medical and pharmaceuticals”

Ahmadinejad
“Those who pollute the most, they are the most demanding.”

The press conference began with a critique of both Marxism and Capitalism. He went on to talk of a new system which will emerge.

“Democracy and freedom which are the basis of human rights are subject to interpretation. In every place there is a different interpretation.”

“God has not created people for some countries to create and amass thousands of nuclear weapons and to impose their will on other countries. … We need fundamental changes, but real changes, that can influence our viewpoint and behavior. This will happen. And we are waiting for that bright future. the future that all human beings are respected. the rights of all nations are respected. Justice and friendship replaces all discrimination and implementation of force”.

“Climate change has inflicted serious damage. In one year our farmers suffered billions of dollars of damage… It was all because of climate change and our people have had no role in that.”

Report by James George