Climate politics
Bangkok 2012 – Forests: The make or break for New Zealand and Kyoto II
Forestry is likely to be a key point of interest for New Zealand heading into the Bangkok talks as the country’s ability to meet their Kyoto targets is dependent on the sector.
Australia joins EU carbon trading scheme boosting its credentials as a climate change tool
Expanding emissions market sends positive signals for future international carbon cuts but analysts warn it is no quick fix for troubled system.
UNFCCC parties hope Bangkok’s summer sun can thaw deep divisions sown in Bonn
Nine months on from what was billed as an ‘historic’ Durban Platform agreement, the UN climate change talks look in danger of sliding backwards again.
Green Climate Fund continues to make slow but steady progress
October meeting set for South Korea with selection of host top of the agenda for climate change fighting fund.
South Africa and Australia elected to chair board of $100bn climate fund
The Green Climate Fund has selected its co-chairs as discussions over transparency continue.
2°C warming target “out the window” says top UK scientist
Professor Bob Watson, one of the UK Government’s top scientific advisors, warns the world could be heading to a 3°C or even 5°C world as a result of climate change.
UN agencies call for global response to drought
With climate change expected to increase the frequency and intensity of droughts, UN agencies call on countries to adopt urgent policies to deal with water shortages
IEA say limiting global temperatures to 2°C rise still possible
Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven says urgent clean energy transition required to ensure global warming target is not broken
India signals it may be willing to consider emissions target at UN climate talks
The influential Planning Commission is set to issue positive recommendations in the country’s next five year plan as country looks to step-up domestic climate change programme.
Wikileaks’ climate change highlights
On the day that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is at the centre of a diplomatic tug of war, it is important to remember the cables are a powerful tool – as this selection of entries on climate change highlight.
Response to George Monbiot: The valuation of nature and ecosystem services is not privatization
The idea of placing a value on the environment to encourage its protection has become increasingly popular, but critics say it amounts to little more than the privatisation.
Comment: Why it’s important we give the REDD mechanism a chance
REDD+ aims to deploy market forces to combat deforestation and land degradation. But is it working, and should we really put a price on trees and forests? Tara O’Shea from the Code REDD scheme argues it’s the best way forward.
Analysis: Despite soaring emissions is China the world’s new green superpower?
China’s economic expansion remains remarkably resilient in the face of the global economic crisis – and much of it is down to a renewable energy sector that is working for the rest of the world
The United States of Climate Change #2: Poisonous politics in North Carolina
Part two in our USA series looks at the state of North Carolina. Despite leading the way on clean air legislation, local politicians have made facts optional and science discretionary in energy and environment decision making.
What a Romney-Ryan era could mean for climate change
As the Republican names austerity mastermind Paul Ryan as his running mate, where might their administration take the world in 2015 and how does that differ from Obama’s plans?
What’s stopping Russia taking a lead at the UN climate change talks?
Russia is a permanent member of the security council, vocal on the international stage and not shy of flexing its muscles. So why does it go quiet when the UN climate talks come around each year?
Does Todd Stern have a point over 2C climate change target?
US climate envoy was heavily criticised for suggesting 2C target should be flexible – but maybe flexibility on all sides of UNFCCC negotiations could help move process forward.
EU commits to two degrees climate change goal despite US doubts
US climate change envoy Todd Stern’s calls for a more “flexible” approach to the limit on warming dismissed by EU.
Global deal should focus on green economy not binding emission targets, says former UN climate change chief
Yvo de Boer says mechanisms to cut emissions in the developing world and from industry should take precedence over creating binding targets for governments.
US says two degree guarantee should be dropped by global climate change deal
US Special Envoy for climate change calls for a ‘flexible’ global deal where countries submit their own targets and less emphasis is placed on the two degree guarantee.