CRIB NOTES JUNE 29-JULY 3: Redford headlines UN meet, EU-China plan accord, UK set for fracking showdown
One day’s coal consumption would dwarf the UN’s HQ in New York (Pic: WBCSD/Flickr)
By Ed King
UN SUMMIT – Ban Ki moon, Laurent Fabius, Manuel Pulgar Vidal and – wait for it – Robert Redford. Some of the speakers taking part in a high level event on climate change convened by the UN president of the General Assembly later today in New York. It’s not part of any set of negotiations towards a proposed Paris deal later this year, but is meant to “keep up the momentum” and the organisers promise “thematic debates” on key climate issues such as forests, finance, adaptation and the like. According to the EU climate commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete will meet his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua to “advance EU-China climate cooperation”. We’ll have coverage as and when the event takes place.
EU-CHINA SUMMIT – the 17th summit between Brussels and Beijing takes place today. According to an agenda published on the EU’s website the two blocs will issue a joint statement outlining how the EU and China can work together on addressing climate change. Sectors expected to be covered under this include carbon markets and green technologies.
CHINA’s INDC – Still waiting.
BRAZIL-US – Dilma Roussef meets Barack Obama on Tuesday, with campaigners pushing for an end date to the destruction of the Amazon rainforest.
BRAZIL – Top green NGO Observatory do clima has released a set of climate targets it says the government should aim for in Paris later this year. In a policy paper (Portuguese) it details how Brazil could aim for a 35% cut in emissions on 2010 levels by 2030. “A proposal for a key element of civil society for 2030 is that the country zero loss of native vegetation” it says.
BASIC – Envoys from India, China, Brazil and South Africa are understood to have met in New York over the weekend to discuss plans for Paris. We’re expecting a statement out today.
BRAZIL DROUGHT – Meanwhile, in Sao Paulo, the water is running out.
CHINA’S DEVELOPMENT BANK – the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will be officially backed by 57 countries in Beijing today. It will start with capital of $50 billion, rising to $100 billion.
AUSSIE ACTION – Today 10 of the country’s top industry, environmental and trade union organisations announced a “broad alliance” on how the government should tackle climate change. Those taking part include the Australian Aluminium Council, Australian Industry Group and Business Council of Australia, which represents CEOs from the top 200 listed companies. The new group says the government needs to take tougher domestic action to slash greenhouse gas emissions, warning that warming of above 2C will be cost the country.
WORLD CITIES – Significant meeting of regional and city leaders in Lyon on July 1-2 for a UN-backed “Dialogue and proposals of non-state actors”. Speakers include Francois Hollande, Christiana Figueres plus mayors from China, Malawi, Morocco, Belgium and Canada. More here.
UK FRACKING – Big day for shale gas drilling in the UK on Monday – Lancashire council will decide whether to allow exploration firm Cuadrilla to search for gas at Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Fylde. On Thursday the council rejected a separate bid by the company to drill near Blackpool. If this gets quashed the government’s ‘dash for gas’ will look stuck in the starting blocks.
ATTENBOROUGH v OBAMA – When Sir Dave met Barack and discussed climate change. Watch it here.
DALAI LAMA – Tibet’s spiritual leader spoke at the Glastonbury Festival at the weekend, calling on the public to “say more – we have to make more of an effort, including demonstrations” to register their anger at the lack of progress on addressing global warming.
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