Talk about sending mixed messages to the Copenhagen talks. Yesterday, Steve blogged about how one Obama government agency – the Import -Export Bank had approved $3 billion for an Exxon gas project. The move was a clear sop to the fossil fuel industry. Hours later, the Obama Administration said it would regulate greenhouse gases, a … Read More
CO2 targets
“The time is up”
So the countdown has ended. The Summit has finally started. An estimated 15,000 official delegates are in Copenhagen for what is being billed as a make or break Summit. UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer (pictured), has just held a pre-conference press briefing where he stated: “Well the time is up. Over the next two … Read More
Gore Lambasts Copenhagen Targets Too
A day after being lambasted by Jim Hansen for compromising over climate change, veteran climate change campaigner Al Gore has also criticised the current CO2 targets as being way too soft. Gore has said that anything agreed at Copenhagen can only be the first step towards much tougher CO2 targets. “Even a final treaty will … Read More
EU Credibility on Line over Climate Deal
Good old Europe. Just when you hoped that European leaders would finally pull together and show leadership at Poznan to force through a deal, they just end up doing what they do best. Squabbling. So much so that the EU in-fighting has undermined the climate talks in Poznan. There is no doubt that the Poznan … Read More
A “Critical Month” for Climate Change
Welcome to December. It is being dubbed a “critical month” for action on climate change. Firstly, there is the latest round of UN Climate talks, this time taking place in Poznan in Poland. An estimated 9,000 delegates from 185 nations will meet for the next two weeks to try and work at a Post-Kyoto deal … Read More
A New Chapter but Same Old “Solutions” (maybe)
American President-elect Barack Obama sent a video-taped message to a conference on climate change in Los Angeles yesterday that, under his administration, he would to promise a “new chapter in America’s leadership on climate change”, leading to a “new era of global cooperation” on the issue. In his message, Obama pledged “a new chapter in … Read More
EU CO2 Targets in “Disarray”
Far from the financial crisis acting as a spring board for a green revolution, several EU leaders produced a predictable political response yesterday by trying to undermine ambitious CO2 targets. President Sarkozy of France, who holds the EU presidency, led the way in appealing to all 27 countries to stick to their target to cut … Read More
UK: 80% CO2 Cut Needed by 2050
The UK should cut its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per cent by mid-century, the British Government’s independent climate change committee recommends today. The 80 per cent target includes aviation and shipping for the first time. Moreover because it is highly unlikely that aviation will be able to reduce emissions by anything like … Read More
G8 Agrees Deal to Halve Emissions by 2050
Its tough being a world leader. Imagine turning up at the G8 Summit in the midst of a one of the worst crises over food prices in many years and having to discuss the issue over an eight-course, 19-dish dinner prepared by 25 chefs. Whilst agonizing over the poor, they had to endure amuse-bouche of … Read More
US Climate Goals “Unachievable”
Happy Environment Day, story Number 2. No surprises here really, by the US will tell a July meeting of the G8 that it cannot meet big cuts in greenhouse gases by 2020, its chief climate negotiator Harlan Watson said. “It’s frankly not do-able for us,” he said, referring to a goal for rich countries to … Read More
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