Category: Climate chaos
The atmosphere is to the earth as a layer of varnish is to a desktop globe. It is thin, fragile and essential for preserving the items on the surface.150 years of burning fossil fuel have overloaded the atmosphere to the point where the earth is ill. It now has a fever. Read the detailed article, Soothing Gaia’s Fever for an evocative account of that analogy. The items listed here detail progress on coordinating 6.5 billion people in the most critical project undertaken by humanity.Â
admin /10 December, 2009
Wealthy nations reneging on emissions: China
- Michael Sainsbury, China correspondent
- From: The Australian
A GROUP of senior Chinese climate officials has lashed out at rich nations, accusing them of trying to “wriggle” out of their commitments to the developing world.
The group has also demanded that the Unites States boost its commitments to emission reductions as fallout continue from the leaked draft – know as the Danish text – at the Copenhagen Climate Conference.
The developing world, of which China is the de facto leader, is furious that the contents of the draft published in a British newspaper included emission cuts that were less than those called for by UN scientists who would like a reduction of between 25 and 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2020. The leaking of the draft, which was published in British newspaper on Tuesday, has made front page headlines across China.
As the world’s largest carbon emitter, China’s cooperation is critical to any deal that can be reached at the UN climate summit.
admin /10 December, 2009
You caused it, you fix it: Tuvalu takes off the glove
December 10, 2009 – 2:07PM
Activists hold a demonstration in support of the South Sea island of Tuvalu as delegates arrive for a meeting at the UN Climate Change Conference 2009 in Copenhagen. Photo: Reuters
Tiny Tuvalu drove a wedge in the bloc of developing nations at UN climate talks on Wednesday by calling on China, India and other emerging giants to take on legally binding commitments to slash carbon dioxide pollution.
Through an arcane diplomatic manoeuvre, the Pacific archipelago cracked a diplomatic axiom that has prevailed since the UN climate convention came into being in 1992: rich countries caused global warming, and it was their responsibility to fix it.
admin /10 December, 2009
Copenhagen talks break down as developing nations split over ‘Tuvalu’ protocol
Developing countries have split between those who favour a new protocol proposed by Tuvalu and others who want to continue with the Kyoto agreement
- John Vidal in Copenhagen
- guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 9 December 2009 16.45 GMT
- Article history
Activists hold a demonstration in support of Tuvalu, the Pacific island state which has proposed a new protocol. Photograph: Bob Strong/Reuters
Negotiations at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen dramatically broke down today after developing countries split between those who favour a new protocol and others who want to continue with the legally binding Kyoto agreement.
admin /9 December, 2009
Aussies swelter through hottest six months on record
- From: AAP
- December 09, 2009 1:32PM
- Australia had hottest recorded six month period
- Year likely to be second or third hottest on record
- Scientists brief climate change conference
AUSTRALIA has recorded its hottest six months ever and is well on track to have the second hottest year since records began, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
The World Meteorological Organisation’s annual climate statement released at Copenhagen found temperatures in 2009 reached 0.44C above the 1961-1990 annual average.
“The decade 2000-2009 is very likely to be the warmest on record,” WMO secretary general Michel Jarraud told reporters at the Copenhagen climate summit late yesterday, Australian time.
Australia was singled out for its wild weather in 2009.
admin /8 December, 2009
Copenhagen climate summit in disarray after ‘Danish text’ leak
Developing countries react furiously to leaked draft agreement that would hand more power to rich nations, sideline the UN’s negotiating role and abandon the Kyoto protocol
• Read the ‘Danish text’
- John Vidal in Copenhagen
- guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 8 December 2009 14.09 GMT
- Article history
The UN Copenhagen climate talks are in disarray today after developing countries reacted furiously to leaked documents.
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.
The document is also being interpreted by developing countries as setting unequal limits on per capita carbon emissions for developed and developing countries in 2050; meaning that people in rich countries would be permitted to emit nearly twice as much under the proposals.
The so-called Danish text, a secret draft agreement worked on by a group of individuals known as “the circle of commitment” – but understood to include the UK, US and Denmark – has only been shown to a handful of countries since it was finalised this week.
admin /8 December, 2009
US climate agency declares CO2 public danger
Environmental Protection Agency declaration allows it to impose emissions cuts without agreement of reluctant Senate
- Suzanne Goldenberg, US environment correspondent
- guardian.co.uk, Monday 7 December 2009 20.24 GMT
- Article history
Lisa Jackson announcing the new US government position that greenhouse gases are a threat to public health. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
The Obama administration adopted its climate change plan B today, formally declaring carbon dioxide a public danger so that it can cut greenhouse gas emissions even without the agreement of a reluctant Senate.
The timing of the announcement – in the opening hours of the UN’s Copenhagen climate change summit – prevents Barack Obama from arriving at the talks without concrete evidence that America will do its bit to cut the emissions that cause global warming.
