Many American Presidents find their terms in office defined by one event: if we think of Nixon it was Watergate, Clinton it was the Monica Lewinsky affair and George Bush it was the war in Iraq. Whilst many Americans may think that Obama’s Presidency will be defined on whether he succeeds in reforming health care … Read More
Copenhagen Conference
Airlines Preempt Copenhagen by Pledging to Halve CO2
As bold PR moves go – and this is bold – amongst the politicians making promises today at the UN Climate Summit, the CEO of British Airways, Willie Walsh will make a dramatic pledge to cut global aviation emissions to 50 per cent of 2005 levels by 2050. Like a snake oil salesman bearing gifts … Read More
Obama Attacked Over “Ambition Gap” on Climate
There is a first time for everything. Tomorrow the world’s attention will be on the Chinese President Hu Jintao when he becomes the first top Chinese leader to address a United Nations conference on climate change. Whilst many will see this as a positive step, there is no indication that Hu will announce any change … Read More
Money for Nothing, and your Climate for Free
According to a leaked letter, the Obama Administration is set to propose ending fossil fuel subsidies next week at the Pittsburgh G20. The letter, authored by Michael Froman who is an Obama advisor on international economic affairs, calls on the G20 to eliminate all fossil fuel and electricity subsidies, as a “logical step in combating … Read More
Canada: The Climate Change Bully
Timed with perfection to undermine the meeting between Canada’s Premier Stephen Harper and Barack Obama, Greenpeace has issued a new report labelling Canada as a “climate change bully” that is doing everything in its power to undermine a new agreement at Copenhagen. Tomorrow will be the second meeting between the two leaders, who are expected … Read More
Aviation Emissions “Should be Capped at Copenhagen”
Why is the aviation industry been so untouchable when it comes to climate change? That is the question on many people’s lips as the British government prepares to cut carbon from pretty much every sector but aviation. The way aviation is treated may have something to do with the intricate links between the industry and … Read More
Copenhagen: Climate Change to Cost $300 Billion/Yr
101 days to go until the biggest climate jamboree ever seen. The UN Copenhagen climate conference will be a defining moment in how humanity responds to the issue. World leaders can either finally grasp the nettle by agreeing drastic cuts in CO2 levels, and getting out their check book to pay for it.
Africa to Demand Billions in Climate Compensation
It’s your mess – now you pay for it. That’s the message from African leaders to Western countries as they mull over a proposal to demand tens of billions of dollars in compensation – one figure muted is $67 billion a year – from developed countries for the effects of climate change. African Ministers have … Read More
Copenhagen: Australia Accused of Selling-out Pacific Islands
Australia has been accused of watering down demands for radical action at the Pacific Islands States conference, that has just finished in Cairns, Australia. At the start of the conference the Pacific Island states were demanding a 45 per cent cut by 2020 and 85 per cent by 2050.
Copenhagen Countdown: China Tells West to Double Cuts
One thing is for sure about the negotiations in the run up to the Climate conference in Copenhagen – there is going to be intense arm-twisting and diplomatic manoeuvring. Central to any deal will be China. China is keeping up the pressure on the developed countries, by insisting that the West should at least double … Read More