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

‘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.

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”

“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

Copenhagen, Dec 18, 2009

The Bella center waits in anticipation for Obama’s statement, hoping for another infusion of hope after Hillary’s conditional offer of creating a $100 billion climate fund. Many are hoping Obama will improve upon the weak outstanding U.S. offer of a 17% emission cut from 2005 levels, equivalent to just a 3-4% cut from 1990 levels.

The police presence throughout the city continued today, with helicopters heard flying overhead as security was high for Obama’s arrival this morning.

Most news teams, excluded from the Plenary hall, gather around preparing to film Obama’s remarks on the monitor.

Report by James George
Police presence continues throughout the city.

Copenhagen, Dec 17, 2009

Today U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton announced that the United States would be willing to participate in an international climate fund reaching $100 billion/year by 2020, conditional upon China accepting “transparency” in carbon emissions monitoring. This offer may remove one major hurdle to a climate deal, the remaining issue being the very weak U.S. emissions cut offer of 17% from 2005 levels (equivalent to a 3 or 4% cut from 1990 levels).

Report by James George

Copenhagen, Dec 17, 2009

After Hilary Clinton announced the willingness of the U.S. to participate in an international $100 billion fund by 2020, Yvo de Boer began his press conference on an upbeat note, “Hold tight and mind the doors, the cable car is moving again”.

Copenhagen, Dec 17, 2009.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced an offer by the United States to participate with other nations to establish an international $100 billion/year fund by the year 2020 to assist poor nations deal with climate change mitigation and adaptation issues.

Copenhagen, 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.

‘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.

‘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.’

via COP15: Police arrest CJA leader – Politiken.dk.