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– Updated from 0900-1700 BST (GMT+1)
Latest news – Monday 3 September
Latest News
1700: More from Bangkok… Over 130 of the world’s poorest nations aim to put pressure on richer countries to agree to new legally-binding climate goals by threatening to deny them access to cheap UN carbon credits.
And in the UK energy company EDF is in talks with China to share the costs of building £10 billion worth of new nuclear reactors at their site at Hinkley Point in Somerset.
1600: The latest in a list of foods which are being affected by the US drought…Popcorn.
1500: Climate change protesters who abseiled from Tower Bridge in London to hang a banner have been released on bail.
1400: More now from Bangkok…The US was criticised for visions for the Durban Platform when it called on a new agreement to be “flexible” and “dynamic” but did not mention the need for it also to be legally binding.
And NGOs are calling for finance to be much higher on the agenda at the COP18 talks in Doha.
1300: Talks continue in Bangkok including sessions on the LCA and the Kyoto Protocol:
Singapore: before we get to close the LCA, we do have to do something…need to build confidence and sense of engagement
#UNFCCC— Chris Wright (@ChrisWright162) September 3, 2012
KP: Russia calls for 8yr CP, full hot air carry over & expressed concerns that Belarussian & Kazakh hot air not quickly welcomed
#UNFCCC— Kat Watts (@watts_kat) September 3, 2012
“Level of progress is very very limited in most of the issues” LCA chair
#UNFCCC # Bangkok-talks#climatechange— Zammath Khaleel (@Xammat) September 3, 2012
1200: The UK’s Green Party have announced their new leader. Natalie Bennett, a former journalist will replace Caroline Lucas.
1100: China and the climate vulnerable Maldives are looking to increase their cooperation to combat climate change. The two countries will strengthen their trade links with renewable energy a key objective.
“China has cutting edge technology for this. It is producing low cost solar panels. I am optimistic that we can corporate with China in this area,” said Maldives President Mohamed Waheed.
0900: The weekend saw the end of the incandescent lightblub. From 1 September, an EU directive aimed at reducing the energy use of lighting, meaning retailers will no longer be allowed to sell 40W and 25W bulbs.
In a trip to China, Chancellor Angela Merkel said she had no interest in starting a trade war with Beijing over solar exports to Europe. She did, however, stress that China must take action to address distortions to fair competition in the sector.
She said Chinese solar firms needed to recognise that subsidies, such as bottom-rate bank loans, distorted competition and violated European law.
0830: The UNFCCC talks continued in Bangkok over the weekend, with countries setting out their vision for the Durban Platform. Developing countries have raised concern that the talks will not progress discussions far enough ahead COP18 in Doha at the end of November.
Campaigners have also slammed the EU for their apparent unwillingness to sign up to a tougher 30% target or even 25% target, saying they want to move their focus onto a post 2020 agreement.
The talks continued today with more talks on the future of the LCA:
China, US, Brazil seem to all want to ensure negotiations don’t flow over into different negotiating tracks…
#UNFCCC— Chris Wright (@ChrisWright162) September 3, 2012
LCA fight on the firewall continues wrt to common accounting. Should there be some rules (US shaky)? AI only? role to define NAMAs?
#UNFCCC— Kat Watts (@watts_kat) September 3, 2012
Marshall Islands calling out developed countries to come out and announce what support they are wiling to give to NAMA development
#unfccc— Chris Wright (@ChrisWright162) September 3, 2012
RTCC’s Ed King takes a look at US presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s plans for climate change (or the lack of them).