Copenhagen, Dec 9. 2009
US Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern stated in a press conference this afternoon:
“We’re not going to become part of the Kyoto Protocol, so that’s not on the table…”
News: ‘Climate & Energy’ Archive
Video – COP 15, Todd Stern – “We’re not going to become part of the Kyoto Protocol”
Thursday, December 10th, 2009Soros: Finance gap could ‘wreck’ climate talks – Yahoo! News
Thursday, December 10th, 2009‘COPENHAGEN – The $10 billion a year proposed by rich nations to help the poor adapt to climate change is “not sufficient” and the gap between what’s offered and what’s needed could wreck the Copenhagen climate conference, American billionaire George Soros said Thursday.’
via Soros: Finance gap could ‘wreck’ climate talks – Yahoo! News.
U.S. Negotiator Dismisses Reparations for Climate – NYTimes.com
Thursday, December 10th, 2009‘COPENHAGEN — The top American envoy to climate talks here flatly rejected arguments Wednesday by diplomats from poor lands that the United States owes a debt to developing nations for decades of American emissions that contributed to global warming.’
via U.S. Negotiator Dismisses Reparations for Climate – NYTimes.com.
Carbon fraud causes 5 billion euro tax loss | Reuters
Thursday, December 10th, 2009‘AMSTERDAM Reuters – Fraudulent trading in European Union carbon emissions credits in the past 18 months has led to more than 5 billion euros in tax revenue losses for several EU nations, European police agency Europol said in a statement.’
Four nations outline green fund plan for U.N. deal | Reuters
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009‘COPENHAGEN Reuters – Four nations proposed guiding principles for “green funds” on Wednesday, hoping to end deadlock at U.N. talks on ways to manage billions of dollars to help the poor cope with global warming.’
via Four nations outline green fund plan for U.N. deal | Reuters.
Video – COP15 – US Envoy Todd Stern rejects US ‘climate debt’ or reparations – favors addressing real human needs.
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009Copenhagen, Dec 9, 2009.
While accepting that the US is the world’s largest historic GHG emitter, US Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern rejected outright the notion of a US climate debt or obligation for climate reparations, stating that there is no guilt because during most of the period since the industrial revolution people were blissfully ignorant of the climatic effects of CO2 emissions.
In recent days the G77 has been strongly critical of the $10 Billion adaptation figure being bandied about, stating it is not even enough to buy the coffins that will be needed. While saying he favors using funds to address real human needs, Stern did not specifically reply to a question of whether the US would consider more than the proposed $10 Billion/year for a climate fund.
Still the issue of climate debt is certainly a big part of the conversation here in Copenhagen, especially among representatives of developing nations. This morning, the “climate agents” were on display holding a banner saying “Rich countries pay your climate debt”.
Video – COP 15 – Protests for 1.5°C Temperature Rise Limit Erupt Outside the Plenary
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009Copenhagen, Dec 9, 2009
Protests erupted inside the COP 15 this afternoon just outside the main plenary hall. Responding to calls by Tuvalu and the G77 for a more stringent temperature rise target limit of 1.5°C (as opposed to a 2° target), demonstrators chanted “One point five to stay alive”. Participants were guided past the demonstrators into the plenary hall by guards to continue their negotiations.
Other chants included:
“Legal Treaty Now – Ambitious”,”350″,”Annex One – Stand Up”,”Open Plenary”, “Survival”
Another “climate justice” demonstration inside the COP15 calling for Annex 1 countries to cut emissions by 40% without using offsets.
China urges U.S. to increase Copenhagen offer | Reuters
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009‘COPENHAGEN Reuters – China urged President Barack Obama to increase a U.S. offer to cut carbon emissions but its top climate envoy indicated willingness on Wednesday to compromise at a U.N. conference in Copenhagen.’
via China urges U.S. to increase Copenhagen offer | Reuters.
Climate Deal Likely to Bear Big Price Tag – NYTimes.com
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009‘WASHINGTON — If negotiators reach an accord at the climate talks in Copenhagen it will entail profound shifts in energy production, dislocations in how and where people live, sweeping changes in agriculture and forestry and the creation of complex new markets in global warming pollution credits.’
via Climate Deal Likely to Bear Big Price Tag – NYTimes.com.
U.N. climate talks have neglected food crisis: FAO | Reuters
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009‘COPENHAGEN Reuters – U.N. climate talks have neglected a food crisis, including measures which can both curb climate change and boost food production, the head of the U.N.’s food agency said.’
via U.N. climate talks have neglected food crisis: FAO | Reuters.