News: Author Archive
‘MALE AFP – The Maldives’ government held an underwater cabinet meeting on Saturday in a bid to focus global attention on rising sea levels that threaten to submerge the low-lying atoll nation.’
via Maldives cabinet flags climate crisis at undersea meet – Yahoo! News.
‘BRUSSELS Reuters – European Union states are struggling to agree on a common stance for a U.N. climate pact in Copenhagen in December, after leading the way among rich nations, draft documents indicated on Friday.’
via EU bogged down on Copenhagen climate stance | Green Business | Reuters.
‘India today probably produces more solar power than Germany did in 2003. Over a dozen PV plants operate in the country and increasingly companies like IndoSolar, Moser Baer, Titan Energy, Tata BP Solar, Solar Semiconductors, and Signet Solar to name a few, are making their presence felt on the world stage. In proclaiming his countries ambitions in solar power, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said, “We will pool all our scientific, technical and managerial talents, with financial sources, to develop solar energy as a source of abundant energy to power our economy and to transform the lives of our people. Our success in this endeavor will transform the face of India.”’
‘WASHINGTON Reuters – A U.S. cap-and-trade market on greenhouse gases should be designed carefully to avoid unfair economic pain in fossil fuel industries and other parts of the economy, experts told lawmakers on Wednesday.’
via U.S. climate plan must spread costs evenly: experts | Green Business | Reuters.
‘The price tag for a new climate agreement will be a staggering $100 billion a year by 2020, many economists estimate; some put the cost at closer to $1 trillion. That money is needed to help fast-developing countries like India and Brazil convert to costly but cleaner technologies as they industrialize, as well as to assist the poorest countries in coping with the consequences of climate change, like droughts and rising seas.’
There is another question that needs to be asked – how will we pay for the consequences of failing to finance a climate deal?
‘NEW DELHI/ PARIS (Reuters) – The world may have to wait until the dying seconds of a U.N. climate summit in December for a global deal to channel business dollars into low-carbon energy, industry and analysts said on Wednesday.’
via Climate talks may go to last minute | Green Business | Reuters.
‘LONDON — A team of British explorers says that within a decade the North Pole will be virtually ice-free during the summer’
via The Associated Press: Explorers: North Pole summers ice free in 10 years.
Nice visual presentation for easy comprehension:
‘Explore changes in carbon emissions from fossil fuels for G-20 countries, selected developing nations and others critical to the climate debate.’
‘I believe that an ambitious and comprehensive deal is possible, but only if crucial steps are taken over the remaining weeks and months to break the deadlock we appear to be in. That deadlock consists of an approach by rich countries which collectively involves inadequate emissions reductions and unwillingness to make financial commitments without being able to approve the plans for developing countries to move to low-carbon growth. And on the part of developing countries, an unwillingness to make commitments on reductions without a clear indication of financial support from the rich countries, together with an unwillingness to have their own plans for low-carbon development determined by, or subject to the approval of, the rich countries. The developing countries also find the level of commitment by rich countries to domestic reductions in the next two decades both too small and unconvincing.’ ~ Lord Stern
via Lord Stern suggests new way out of Copenhagen deadlock – Telegraph.
‘An announcement is expected here at the UNFCCC climate talks in Bangkok today that the Norwegian government will commit to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2020 – based on 1990 levels.’