News: ‘Climate & Energy’ Archive
‘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.
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 — 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.’
‘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.’
Copenhagen, 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.
Copenhagen, 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
Danish 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.”
‘U.S. President Barack Obama has proposed a target to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent versus 2005 levels by 2020. Stern did not “anticipate any change” in that commitment, he told reporters.’
via U.S. does not anticipate tougher carbon target | Reuters.
Copenhagen, December 15, 2009
In an impassioned speech at the COP 15 today, Al Gore pushed for a successful political outcome in Copenhagen, to be followed by a final legal agreement in Mexico city in June or July next year. Although he said he was open to other price mechanisms for carbon, he argued that a globally coordinated carbon tax would be far more complicated than cap and trade.
Gore also proposed making the 40th anniversary of the first Earthday to be set as the final deadline for the passage of a U.S. climate bill.
report by James George