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Climate message in a bottle
Posted by bex on 2 January 2008.
Back in November, we launched a collaborative video project, asking people from around the world to join in and create a video sending the message to Bali that we want action, not more hot air.
Here's the result (and you can watch all the submissions here):
Roundup from Bali: tears, jeers and a last minute U-turn
Posted by bex on 17 December 2007.
It's all too depressingly familiar. The Bali consensus was watered down by low tactics from the US (supported by Japan, Canada, Australia and others). The strong science that should be driving the process was relegated to a footnote. And work to reduce emissions from deforestation still has a long way to go, thanks to the inclusion of a loophole that may allow some industrialised countries to swap binding targets for voluntary goals.
But the fact that we have a Bali Mandate at all - including a process, a deadline and a guarantee that several of the most important issues are on the agenda - is worth a celebration in itself.
Read more »Heating up in Bali
Posted by bex on 14 December 2007.
The sparks are flying in Bali as the talks enter the final round. After the US tried to derail the negotiations, Al Gore took the stage and lambasted the Bush Administration for blocking negotiations.
"[M]y own country - the U.S. - is principally responsible for obstructing progress here in Bali,'' he said, before urging the delegates to "find the grace to navigate around this enormous obstacle" and move forward without the US.
Read more »Leaked Bali document reveals U.S. efforts to sink new global climate agreement
An extraordinary document leaked to Greenpeace in Bali this evening reveals that the United States is trying to destroy international efforts to tackle climate change.
The Bush Administration is trying to insert text into the Bali agreement that would make the next phase of Kyoto a voluntary – as opposed to legally binding - agreement. At present Kyoto signatories are subject to mandatory emissions cuts.
If the United States succeeds tonight, the post-2012 agreement will allow any nation to opt out and continue to pollute with abandon. This would take efforts to defeat climate change back to where they were in 1994, after which it was accepted that only mandatory cuts would work.
Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said:
"This is an extraordinary attempt by the Bush administration to kill off the international fight against climate change. If they get this text through the conference then the next treaty won’t be worth the paper it’s written on because it will give a free pass to any nation that wants to keep polluting. History will not forgive the Bush Administration for what it has tried to do in Bali. Gordon Brown should get on the phone to the White House and say enough’s enough, the world will not stand for this."
The proposed U.S. text includes the words 'as appropriate' 'depending' and 'may' in reference to emissions cuts, making any agreement voluntary. If accepted by other nations these words would make the post-2012 agreement a toothless treaty which could be legally ignored by all signatories.
The leaked text, currently being presented to a meeting of the Friends of the President (including the UK delegation) in Bali, reads as follows (voluntary language in bold):
THE TEXT
(b) enhanced action on mitigation of climate change, and the means to recognise such action, in the context of sustainable development, including, inter alia, consideration of:
(i) effective, measurable and reportable domestic mitigation actions,
[DEPENDING on the level of economic development and significance] [DEPENDING on the level of economic development and GHG contributions][ DEPENDING on the level of economic development and energy utilisation][in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and responsive capabilities]:
(a) including, AS APPROPRIATE, quantified national emission limitation and reduction objectives, taking into account national circumstances and relative level of efforts;
(b) including, AS APPROPRIATE, domestic plans and measures that MAY include binding, market-based and sectoral programs; and
(c) supported, AS APPROPRIATE, by external technology, financing and capacity building.
For more information, contact Greenpeace on 07801 212967.
US trying to destroy international efforts to save the climate
Posted by tracy on 13 December 2007.
Our colleagues have been leaked information from a meeting in Bali tonight – the US is trying to destroy international efforts to tackle climate change. They are trying to insert text into the Kyoto Protocol that would make emissions cuts voluntary – as opposed to the current mandatory cuts.
The proposed US text includes the words ‘as appropriate’ and ‘may’ in reference to emissions cuts and is being presented to a meeting of the Friends of the President in Bali tonight. Here it is:
Read more »Bali: a road map or a dead end?
Posted by bex on 12 December 2007.
Last night, on the tenth anniversary of the most far-reaching environmental treaty ever signed, Ban Ki-Moon said:
"Today we are at the crossroads; one path leading towards a comprehensive new climate agreement, and the other towards oblivion."
And until yesterday, things were pottering along OK at the Bali negotiations. We were waiting for ministers from around the world to inject a sense of urgency into the negotiations, and to secure the much-needed commitments for industrialised countries to cut emissions by 25 to 40 per cent by 2020, and for all countries to halve emissions by 2050.
Read more »Thoughts from the climate march, on the Global Day of Climate Action
Posted by graham on 10 December 2007.
I am bathed in the warm glow of the righteous, for not only did I march with them, but I marched in the rain. Once you've made the decision, a little bit of meteorological adversity boosts everyone's sense of camaraderie. Apart, that is, from my fair-weather 'friend' Richard, who buggered off to the pub about ten minutes in, and is therefore the worst sort of part-timer and highly deserving of public contempt and derision. I try to do my bit.
So, apart from Richard the faithless, we were all there to send a message to Bali, where our glorious leaders are trying to save us all from climate Armageddon without imperilling the ability of large companies to make more money. Fortunately, climate change was recently reclassified from environmental disaster to business opportunity. Phew.
Read more »Amazon destruction endangering stability of the world's climate
Posted by saunvedan on 7 December 2007.
As delegates, scientists and environmentalists from nearly 190 countries continue to thrash out a new climate change agreement in Bali, a new WWF report warns that destruction of the Amazon rainforest has now reached an ecological tipping point.
Read more »Bali: rich nations must pay up
Posted by jossc on 5 December 2007.
Rich countries have paid only $67m into a UN fund designed to help the world's poorest countries adapt to climate change, according to a new report published today by develoment charity Oxfam. Although this may sound a lot, in fact it's less than what Americans spend on suntan lotion each month, and only a tiny fraction of the real amount needed. Oxfam estimates that the true cost of successful adaptation is likely to be at least $50 billion a year, and far more if global greenhouse-gas emissions are not cut fast enough.
Read more »'Generation C' - what's really on their minds?
Posted by jossc on 4 December 2007.
Yes, it's bad. But there's a whole lot us Habbos can do about it!
According to conventional wisdom (oh all right the tabloid press to be more precise) all teenagers ever think about are themselves. So it may come as a surprise that a global survey of almost 50,000 teens released today reveals that they have many other concerns - and that they worry more about dangerous greenhouse gases than drugs, violence or war.
Read more »

