– The day’s top climate change stories as chosen by RTCC
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– Updated from 0830-1700 BST (GMT+1)
Thursday 22 November
Last updated: 1330
US: Could it be the plight of the Cranberry that final gets climate change on the agenda as the US celebrates Thanksgiving today? Maybe not this year – farmers enjoyed a near record, 768 million-pound harvest in 2012. But they are warning that the long-term outlook could be bleak as increasing losses to weather-related blights and fruit rots could impact their ability to grow the fruit. (the Daily Journal)
EU: The European Parliament passed the bloc’s resolution for the Doha climate change talks. A notable amendment to keep the option open on a step up from the 2°C limit on warming to a more ambitious 1.5°C target was voted down.
China: China expects a “comprehensive and balanced” result from the upcoming climate talks in Doha, Qatar. The country’s chief negotiator Xie Zhenhua said that China expects to see a resolution that will push forward the talks and cater to the basic interests of all countries. (Xinhua)
Panama: Panama will also be supporting a strong deal in Doha, according to a source from the country’s National Environmental Authority. Silvano Vergaratold said climate change is an important issue for the country as Central America is highly vulnerable to changing weather. (Newsroom Panama)
India: The government is expected to clear what has been termed a ‘tough’ negotiating stance ahead of the COP18 talks. According to the Indian Express: “India wants to insist on unconditional adoption of the emission limitation commitments by the developed country parties as listed in the “Annex B” of the Kyoto Protocol by December 31, 2012. India will also resist the demand to terminate the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA).” Negotiators are also expected to push back on EU efforts to impose a levy on aviation emissions.
EU: Politicians from across Europe have rejected a ban on shale gas, while calling for a robust regulatory regime to address environmental and other concerns over the practice, in a series of votes in the European Parliament. (Reuters)
COP18: UN climate chief Christiana Figueres told Yale Environment 360 that progress in the negotiations is ‘slow and steady’. Talking ahead of the latest round of talks next week, she said that governments are slowly inching towards a new climate change agreement. (Guardian)
IPCC: Writing for RTCC ahead of the talks, Rajendra Pachauri, head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said that the level of ambition set in Doha must be driven by scientific knowledge of man-made climate change. He said that major advances have been made in the last decade building awareness of climate change impacts and politicians should use this information.