‘COPENHAGEN Reuters – A U.N.-backed system to pay poorer nations for saving or replanting their forests has made significant progress at climate talks in Denmark, the official who chairs talks on the scheme said on Wednesday.’
News: Author Archive
U.N. forest-carbon scheme nearly done | Reuters
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009John Kerry uncertain of fate of cap and trade | Reuters
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009‘COPENHAGEN Reuters – U.S. Senator John Kerry raised the possibility on Wednesday that a major energy and climate change bill he is trying to craft might not contain the “cap and trade” mechanism for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.’
via John Kerry uncertain of fate of cap and trade | Reuters.
Video – COP 15 Press Conference: Senator John Kerry Argues for American Energy Independence
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009Copenhagen, Dec 16, 2009
Today John Kerry announced that he would only stay in Copenhagen for one day, as he needs to return to the U.S. quickly to cast his vote on the health care bill. However necessary, this can only add to the growing perception the U.S. is not putting forth the needed level of commitment to complete a climate agreement in the remaining two days of the conference.
In this short excerpt from a press conference here at the COP 15, Kerry makes a case for U.S. Energy Independence. This statement, like much of his presentation, seemed to be targeted more to his American audience than to the COP 15.
Climate Talks Near Deal to Save Forests – NYTimes.com
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009‘COPENHAGEN — Negotiators have all but completed a sweeping deal that would compensate countries for preserving forests, and in some cases, other natural landscapes like peat soils, swamps and fields that play a crucial role in curbing climate change.’
Police Beat Back Massed Climate Protesters – NYTimes.com
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009‘COPENHAGEN — Police officers used pepper spray and wielded batons on Wednesday to beat back hundreds of demonstrators outside the global climate meeting here, as a police spokesman said 250 people had been arrested.’
via Police Beat Back Massed Climate Protesters – NYTimes.com.
COP15: Police arrest CJA leader – Politiken.dk
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009‘The Climate Justice Action’s German spokesman Tadzio Müller has been arrested immediately after holding a news conference at the COP15 Climate Summit venue at the Bella Center.’
COP 15 – Plenary Briefly Interrupted by Protesters Chanting “Climate Justice Now”
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009Copenhagen, Dec 16, 2009
Protesters momentarily interrupted the proceedings in the plenary hall with chants of “climate justice now”. Many in the plenary showed support for the protesters, applauding while the chanting continued until the next speaker stepped up to the podium.
Video – COP 15 – Interview with a Protestor
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009Copenhagen, Dec 16, 2009
Today the Bella Center Metro stop was shut down in an attempt by police to prevent demonstrators, now adopting decentralized tactics, from reaching the Bella Center and trying to set up a ‘People’s Assembly’ inside. Here demonstrator Stellan Vinthagen, PhD, of the University of Gotherburn, Sweden, speaks about the protests. Stellan’s comments are followed by a brief view showing the COP 15 participants entering the Bella Center after making their way back form the next station.
Report by James George
COP 15 – Protestors Try Decentralized Approach. Police Close Bella Metro Station
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009Today demonstrators planned to enter the Bella Center to set up a ‘People’s Assembly”. Unlike Saturday’s massive march through the city, today’s plan is for decentralized smaller groups of protestors to move in towards the Bella Center from separate directions. Police, trying to prevent them from reaching their destination, closed the Bella Center Metro stop, forcing passengers to wait until the next Metro stop to disembark, where protesters were searched and prevented from going further, and COP 15 participants made to walk through the light snow to reach the negotiations.
Police searching people at the ørstead Metro Stop.
Police prepare for the demonstrators.
Demonstrators huddle to discuss their next move.
COP 15 – Yet another COP 15 President, Danish Prime Minister
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen will replace Connie Hedegaard as President of the COP, who resigned after a short time in the post. The reasoning given to explain this change is somewhat hard to follow. From a press release:
“As a consequence of the unprecedented number of Heads of State and Government who have started to arrive in Copenhagen to participate in climate negotiations, Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen will, from the beginning of the High-Level Segment, take the chair as president of the COP and the COP/CMP.”