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Dispatches from Durban
AlertNet Climate and its network of experts and organisations share their insights on the U.N. climate talks
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WMO: "Climate change is real and we are already observing its manifestations in weather and climate patterns around the world” #COP17by Alertnetclimate via twitter 11/29/2011 9:01:09 AM
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How much is the world warming? WMO says 40% of countries broke heat records 2001-2010, 15% 1991-2000, and 10% 1981-1990 #climate #COP17by Alertnetclimate via twitter 11/29/2011 9:03:54 AM
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RT @FAOCLIMATE: Price volatility, rising energy costs, land degradation = new model needed to incrs efficiency of ag - L. Lipper at #COP17by Alertnetclimate via twitter 11/29/2011 9:18:19 AM
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In the blog post linked below, Dr Andrew Steer from the World Bank outlines some of the possible outcomes that could come from Durban, including "a decision to incorporate agriculture fully into the Convention (something that, oddly, has never been done), allowing poor farmers to benefit from climate finance." blogs.worldbank.org -
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Watched a documentary on Al Jazeera by well-known journo Sorious Samura about illegal logging in his native country of Sierra Leone. Basically everyone is at it from the bottom to the top, and 'bans' are either postponed or toothless.
A paramount chief (and proud owner of three chainsaws) told Samura, who posed as a businessman after some logs, that "nobody" would stop him getting what he wanted.
And two other journalists posing as Middle Eastern investors got the papers to set up a logging business within 24 hours after agreeing to pay bribes via middlemen. The government says it's going to investigate the situation. But the TV programme didn't fill me with confidence about the future of Sierra Leone's forests.
"Money talks in Africa," said one of the middlemen.
www.aljazeera.com -
Rene Orellana, head of the Bolivian delegation, on why preserving the Kyoto Protocol is essential: “We are very concerned about the possibility of jumping out from a very strict system, the Kyoto Protocol... to another one which does not offer us the conditions to have solutions for the climate change crisis." Abandoning the Kyoto Protocol when a new global treaty is still so unclear won't work, he says -
Claudia Salerno, head of the Venezuelan delegation says developing countries are promising more to combat emissions than richer countries: “The level of ambition of developing countries has proved to be higher, in large, than developed countries”
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Venezuela at #COP17: “The level of ambition of developing countries has proved to be higher, in large, than developed countries” #climateby Alertnetclimate via twitter 11/29/2011 11:02:37 AM
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A protester stands in front of a banner outside the COP17 (Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Climate Change) venue in Durban November 28, 2011. Almost 200 nations began global climate talks on Monday with time running out to save the Kyoto Protocol aimed at cutting the greenhouse gas emissions scientists blame for rising sea levels, intense storms, drought and crop failures. The COP17 runs until December 9. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
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Men carrying cardboard for recycling walk past COP17 volunteers in Durban during the climate change conference, November 28 2011. Almost 200 nations began global climate talks on Monday with time running out to save the Kyoto Protocol aimed at cutting the greenhouse gas emissions scientists blame for rising sea levels, intense storms, drought and crop failures. The COP17 runs until December 9. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
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Jennifer Morgan: Expectations low, but urgency very high at Durban climate talks bit.ly
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We can already see that we have not a long wait to come face to face with what happens where the straight superhighway we have been traveling with effortless ease becomes a narrow, curved cliffside passage; for we are the ones who are alive in a pivotal moment in human history, when economic and ecologic systems fail, a global empire (like a house of cards) collapses and self-proclaimed masters of the universe (who are primarily responsible for the colossal catastrophe looming before humanity) take off in private jets and yachts for secret hideaways in faraway places....come what may. -
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The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has slammed the decision to hold the 2012 U.N. climate change summit in Qatar.
“Huge economic transformation is needed to tackle climate change. This massive task can only be achieved if working people’s rights are respected – it cannot be simply imposed from above. Qatar has an appalling record of ignoring workers’ rights, especially migrants, and the decision to hold next year’s climate summit there sends a totally wrong message and risks delaying vital action. Either Qatar must move urgently to implement labour laws in line with international standards, or another host country should be found for the COP18 talks,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.
www.ituc-csi.org -
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Bangladesh plans to install some 19,000 solar-powered irrigation pumps to boost food production, limit fossil-fuel use...by Alertnetclimate via twitter 11/29/2011 8:28:00 PM
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New story from AlertNet Climate (whatever the outcome in Durban, things are moving at country level!):
The government of Bangladesh is planning to install close to 19,000 solar-powered irrigation pumps by 2016, in a bid to expand the country's irrigated land area and boost food production, while limiting its reliance on fossil fuels.
The initiative is being promoted as an environmentally friendly approach to improving food security for the country’s fast-growing population of 160 million.
www.trust.org -
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Mexico pushes for transparency in #carbon emission reporting blog.cifor.org #COP17 #Durbanby Michelle Kovacevic - CIFOR via twitter 11/30/2011 4:36:54 AM
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AlertNet Climate news
Climate inaction likely to deepen EU divisions - paper
The European Union must take measures to prevent the destruction of crops and property by extreme weather or face instability and deeper social divisions, a report says more
Featured blogs
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Blog: Forest foods should be used in fight against global malnutrition
Nutrient-rich forest foods could play an important role in efforts to provide healthy diets for people around the world, according to new research.
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Blog: Water competition drives tensions in Central Asia
Uneven distribution of water, growing demand for energy and poor governance present risks for the region
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Blog: Could sustainable logging save Indonesia’s mangroves?
It's possible selective logging of mangrove forests could be done while retaining much of their carbon – saving them from worse fates.
