kyoto

In my previous essay – following the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP-17) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which adjourned on December 11, 2011 – I offered my assessment of the Durban climate negotiations, addressing the frequently-posed question of whether the talks had “succeeded.”  I took...[read more]

The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP-17) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adjourned on Sunday, a day and a half after its scheduled close, and in the process once again pulled a rabbit out of the hat by saving the talks from complete collapse (which appeared possible just a few days earlier)....[read more]

After going into sudden-death overtime, the UN climate conference in Durban, South Africa wrapped up this weekend with an agreement that only a climate diplomat could love. Constituting in effect an agreement to agree to some future agreement, the outcome is open to interpretation. Is this the failure that was widely predicted, the...[read more]

As Nelson Mandela famously said*: “It always seems impossible, until we are done.”  That is exactly how it seemed at the United Nations COP-17 climate negotations over the past two weeks  – extremely difficult (and even impossible at times). The negotiations lastest more than than 36 hours after  they were supposed to...[read more]

On November 1, Boulder Colorado became the first community in the country to authorize separation from their incumbent utility based on that utility's reliance on coal generation. Through this vote, Boulder has chosen to stop talking about climate change and move those intentions into action by tying utility performance to reductions in greenhouse gases.[read more]

The good news: developed countries that ratified the Kyoto Protocol, Canada notwithstanding, have collectively reduced CO2 emissions to below 1990 levels. The bad news: Emissions from the United States, China, India and other developing countries took a giant leap in 2010, bringing total global emissions 6 per cent higher than the...[read more]

 When it comes to energy and carbon emissions reduction, the devil is always in the detail. So too with Australia’s plans to cut its emissions by five per cent below year 2000 levels by 2020. But first, let’s look at the big picture. Why we need to do this As a scientist who researches the impacts of climate change on...[read more]

The House Appropriations subcommittee responsible for outlining US international global warming funding has just released their bill detailing the amount of money that will support these efforts.  This comes on the heels of a House authorization bill passed out of committee with an amendment from Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL) that would...[read more]

It has been an interesting week for climate change news, with the IPCC releasing its full report on renewable energy, the European Commission moving ahead with energy efficiency legislation, very little happening at the UNFCCC talks in Bonn and of course the battle over carbon pricing continuing in Australia. In scanning the Australian media I spotted an insightful interview with the United States Ambassador to Australia. In the interview, Ambassador Bleich argues that the USA is on track to meet its 2020 greenhouse gas target (17% below 2005 levels) because of the breadth of activity across the economy in transforming the energy system.[read more]

Nearly two decades ago, I helped advise China on a blueprint for national sustainability in the 21st century.  The blueprint – known as Agenda 21 – was prepared jointly by more than fifty different government agencies, state-owned enterprises and other organizations, led by the then-State Planning Commission and State Science and...[read more]

As the COP16 comes to a final close, developing countries have yet to see extended commitments towards the Kyoto Protocol.Japan has reiterated its position on the future of Kyoto, arguing that China, India and the United States must fulfill their obligations to emission reductions through the signing of a new treaty. In stark contrast,...[read more]

The UN climate change talks are in their last 48 hours. Ministers are here in Cancún as the conference enters its “high level segment.”In an ideal world, the previous week and a half of talks would have produced a document that the ministers could laud whilst waxing admiringly about the ultimate effectiveness of multilateralism. ...[read more]

On day two of COP16, the Japanese delegation announced that it does not intend to extend the existing Kyoto protocol. The protocol was enacted in Japan on 21 March 1994, and began its reporting period of the framework from 2008-2012. There are over 194 countries participating in the protocol, and an extension needs to be agreed upon by participating countries to continue with the framework that has already been developed.[read more]

One of the most significant issues that world leaders will attempt to deal with at Cancun is the agreement on specific carbon emission reduction targets, particularly for Annex I developed countries, as part of a legally binding climate change treaty. This is of particular importance as the current set of emission targets set forth in the Kyoto Protocol is due to expire in 2012.[read more]

Exclusive Coverage of COP15 by Mike Smith for The Energy Collective   At Thursday morning’s plenary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, one South Pacific Island captured the interest of 35 other nations, including china, to return to Kyoto protocols and force compliance. In a true democracy, with each...[read more]