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COP15 – Tuvalu calls for an additional protocol to hold climate increase to 1.5 degrees / 350ppm CO2 – “It’s a matter of survival”

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Copenhagen, Dec 9, 2009 11:28 am

Tuvalu addressed the plenary this morning, re-presenting a proposal for adding an additional protocol to the Kyoto protocol, and calling for a 1.5 degree celsius maximum temperature increase target and a green house gas stabilization limit target of 350 ppm.

Excerpt from Tuvalu’s address:
“Tuvalu, being one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the impacts of climate change is honored and pleased to speak on this agenda item. Our future depends upon the outcome of this meeting. ”

Tuvalu
“As parties are aware, Tuvalu has proposed a legally binding protocol to be incorporated under the COP. This protocol is not a replacement of the Kyoto protocol, we believe it should complement the ongoing Kyoto protocol. We have proposed amendments to the Kyoto protocal to make this clear. this The proposal for a new protocal was tabled six months ago. Therefore this is not a last minute matter. All parties have had a chance to read this proposal, and let me explain some of the key elements of the protocal.”

“Our protocal proposal follows closely the elements on the Bali action plan. It has a section on shared vision. It highlights the importance that actions to address climate to address climate change must aim to insure that global temperature increases are well below 1.5 degrees Celsius and that green house gas concentrations must stabilize at 350 parts per million at the most. Our survival is contingent upon these numbers. It’s a matter of survival.”

Senegal voices support for the Tuvalu proposal “as the only way of paying back the climate debt, which is the result of unlimited exploitation of natural resources”.

China demands more from rich to unlock climate talks | Reuters

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

‘COPENHAGEN Reuters – China led calls by developing nations for deeper emissions cuts from the United States, Japan and Europe at U.N. climate talks on Tuesday, as a study showed that this decade will be the warmest on record.’

via China demands more from rich to unlock climate talks | Reuters.

COP15 G77 China Press Conference / Lumumba Li-Aping

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Copenhagen, Dec 8, 2009

The second day of the COP 15 ended with a powerful press conference this evening by Lumumba Li-Aping, lead negotiator for G77 and China.

Lumumba Di-Aping
“The climate change finance should be allocated from a global climate fund … the management of this fund cannot be really given to the World Bank of the IMF for the simple reason – their record on development is an absolute failure.”

Africans protest COP15, say “process manipulated”

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

‘In the most heated protest of these early days at COP15 in Copenhagen, African representatives accused the political leaders of the developed world of hijacking the conference to the detriment of developing nations.’

via Reuters.com.

Copenhagen climate summit in disarray after ‘Danish text’ leak | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

‘The UN Copenhagen climate talks are in disarray today after developing countries reacted furiously to leaked documents that show world leaders will next week be asked to sign an agreement that hands more power to rich countries and sidelines the UN’s role in all future climate change negotiations.’

via Copenhagen climate summit in disarray after ‘Danish text’ leak | Environment | guardian.co.uk.

EPA cleared to regulate U.S. emissions as Congress stalls | Reuters

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

‘The EPA ruling that greenhouse gases endanger human health, widely expected after it issued a preliminary finding earlier this year, will allow the agency to regulate planet-warming gases even without legislation in Congress.’

via EPA cleared to regulate U.S. emissions as Congress stalls | Reuters.

Under Banner of Urgency, Copenhagen Delegates Tackle Policy – NYTimes.com

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

‘COPENHAGEN — Two mock gateways set up by environmental campaigners — a fiery red one symbolizing the perils of climate change and a green one representing an international climate accord to address it — greeted delegates on Monday as they filed into a conference center here.’

via Reporter’s Notebook – Under Banner of Urgency, Copenhagen Delegates Tackle Policy – NYTimes.com.

192 nations at UN climate conference in Copenhagen – Yahoo! News

Monday, December 7th, 2009

‘COPENHAGEN – The largest and most important U.N. climate change conference in history opened Monday, with organizers warning diplomats from 192 nations that this could be the best, last chance for a deal to protect the world from calamitous global warming.’

via 192 nations at UN climate conference in Copenhagen – Yahoo! News.

Video, COP15 Opening Press Conference, Yvo de Boer advises ‘keep it simple’ in responce to historic emissions debt question.

Sunday, December 6th, 2009

Dec 6, Copenhagen

Yvo de Boer responded to a question suggesting that military expenses could be reallocated to pay down the enormous historical ’emissions debt’ owed by industrialized nations.

Text of response:
“I was hoping you were going to ask somebody else”

“I think the issues that you raise are very important but historic responsibility is an issue that’s been thoughout these negotiations and one that is very difficult one to deal with. I think that many people would share your sentiments on military spending and probably have a whole lot of ideas, especially on the eve of Christmas, on much better ways to use that money.”

“What I would advocate for this conference – in spite of all the attention – is keep it simple. Focus on an outcome that can deliver immediate action on the ground the day this conference ends. And what I want to see at the end of this conference is a list of rich country targets that are ambitious, clarity on what major developing countries will do to limit the growth of their emissions, and a list of financial pledges that will make it possible for the much broader developing nation community both to change the direction of their economic growth and to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change. That’s what I’m asking father Christmas for.”

Video: Yvo de Boer at COP15 Opening press conference comments on public and private capital for green development.

Sunday, December 6th, 2009

Sunday, Dec 6 Copenhagen

Text:
‘I agree with Micheal that you can’t negotiate private capital, but you can drive private capital. And I think if countries here, if industrialized nations agree to a 25 to 40% cut by 2020, and also say they plan to reduce their by 80 to 85% by mid century, then anyone investing in the energy sector and industry not taking that into account would be mad. We know that over the next 20 or so years, about 20 trillion dollars is going to be invested in the energy sector as the world economy picks up. 85% of that investment is going to come from the private sector. And I think that those private sector investments will be guided by those short and long term goals. And if we can use the much more limited public money that will flow from Copenhagen to help the private sector to go that extra green mile that’s not possible within that a normal investment equation, we will have an excellent blending of financial resources to a much greater effect over the longer term.’