News: ‘Climate & Energy’ Archive
Copenhagen, Dec 19, 2009
Several hours ago Obama announced a ‘deal’ – which was actually a proposal – and flew off. In this video, Ben Powless comments on the “deal”.
“I think it’s pre-emptive to call it a deal. What I’m hearing from negotiators on the inside that they haven’t been consulted on this”
Copenhagen, Dec 19, 2009
Obama’s proposal appears to be unraveling as reactions from other nations and groups begin to emerge.
In the plenary hall, island nation Tuvalu just announced their rejection the document.
“In Biblical terms it looks like we’re being offered 30 pieces of silver to betray our future. Mr. President, Tuvalu cannot except this document.”
Bolivia is also denouncing the document for the reason they were just given the document 60 minutes ago.
“We have one hour to decide upon the lives of millions of people… this is not the way in which the world should discuss the future of the planet which should be done in a democratic way. We are not going to endorse this document… It does not capture the consensus of all those who are present”.
Cuba: “Four hours ago Obama announced an agreement that is nonexistent … This is an insult to the world community.
there is not one single word about the commitments of developed countries in this document”
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
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
‘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.
‘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.
‘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.
‘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.
‘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.’
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