HOW TO: Use this Website!

Research team member, Brett Shollenberger, explains how to get the most out of the COP15 database.

 

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Search Interviews by Issue

Search video footage from COP-15 by the issue addressed by the interviewee.

Accountability

Adaptation

Carbon Stocks

Clean Development Mechanism

Common but Differentiated Responsibilities

Developed Countries

Developing Countries

Ethics

Indigenous Rights

Intergenerational Equity

Mitigation

Poverty

Public Policy

REDD

Science

Technology Transfers

Youth Movement

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Search Interviews by Country

Search video footage from COP-15 by interviewee’s country of origin or representation.

Our research team feels that an understanding of the perspectives of different nations at the COP-15 negotiations is an important asset to an overall understanding of the issues.

Africa

Cameroon
Denis J. Sonwa – (Videos) (About)


South Africa
Bruce Hewitson – (Videos) (About)

Sudan
Sumaya Zakieldeen – (Videos) (About)

United Republic of Tanzania
Damian Casmiri – (Videos) (About)

Asia

Bangladesh
Saleemul Huq – (Videos) (About)

Australia

John Zillman – (Videos) (About)

Europe

Belgium
Jean-Pascal van Ypersele – (Videos) (About)

Germany
Hans Joachim Schellnhuber – (Videos) (About)

United Kingdom
Claire Spoors – (Videos) (About)

North America

Canada
Ian Burton – (Videos) (About)
Sanjay Khanna – (Videos) (About)

United States
Kemen Austin – (Videos) (About)

South America

Argentina
Vicente Barros – (Videos) (About)

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New to Climate Change Issues? Get Started Here!

Confused by all the acronyms? The UN (United Nations) proceedings are chock-full of ’em (a contraction, not acronym). But don’t worry! Even Einstein was confused at first, and we can get you up to speed with this handy list!

ESSENTIAL ACRONYMS:

COP15 – The event at which all of the interviews took place. Stands for the “15th Conference of the Parties” to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The first COP took place in 1995 in Berlin (COP1) and a yearly COP has been held since. COP16 will take place in Cancún, Mexico, from 29 November to 10 December 2010.

IPCC – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The IPCC is a scientific IGO which publishes reports on matters relevant to the implementation of the UNFCCC, with the goal not of influencing, but of informing public policy. It was founded in 1988. As stated in the Principles Governing IPCC Work:

The role of the IPCC is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to understanding the scientific basis of risk of human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. IPCC reports should be neutral with respect to policy, although they may need to deal objectively with scientific, technical and socio-economic factors relevant to the application of particular policies.

The IPCC published its Fourth Assessment Report on Climate Change in 2007. Its fifth assessment report is set to be finalized in 2014.

LDC – Least Developed Country. A country is considered an LDC if it meets three criteria as defined by the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries:

1) a low-income criterion, based on a three-year average estimate of the gross national income (GNI) per capita (under $750 for inclusion, above $900 for graduation);
2) a human resource weakness criterion, involving a composite Human Assets Index (HAI) based on indicators of: (a) nutrition; (b) health; (c) education; and (d) adult literacy; and
3) an economic vulnerability criterion, involving a composite Economic Vulnerability Index (EVI) based on indicators of: (a) the instability of agricultural production; (b) the instability of exports of goods and services; (c) the economic importance of non-traditional activities (share of manufacturing and modern services in GDP); (d) merchandise export concentration; and (e) the handicap of economic smallness (as measured through the population in logarithm); and the percentage of population displaced by natural disasters.

If a country meets these criteria, it is also inherently one of the most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. A key issue of the UNFCCC is the adaptation of LDCs to climate-related issues in order to ensure food and water resource security, safety against climate related disasters like flooding and hurricanes, and the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity in these countries.

UNFCCC – is an international environmental treaty produced at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June of 1992. The objective of the treaty, as stated by Article 2, is “to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” Stands for “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.”

Some other important ones:

AOSIS – Alliance of Small Island States. The AOSIS is a coalition of small island and low-lying coastal countries that share similar threats and development challenges posed by environmental change. These threats, as described by the Declaration made at the Maldives Summit, include “sea level rise, more frequent and extreme weather events, ocean acidification, coral bleaching, coastal erosion, and changing precipitation patterns.” The group functions as the voice of these nations, which face the most immediate adverse effects of climate change, although, as Saleemul Huq notes, their pleas have been consistently ignored by developed nations. Their climate goals objectives are notably more stringent than those of the UNFCCC as a whole (for instance, in Copenhagen they called for a limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius increase in surface temperature, while the Copenhagen Accord notes the scientific view of 2 degrees). AOSIS has 42 member states; 37 are parties to the UN.

CAN – Climate Action Network. The CAN is a global network of some 500 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that promotes government and individual action to limit anthropogenic climate change. CAN members work to achieve this goal through information exchange and the coordinated development of NGO strategy on international, regional, and national climate issues. At COP15, CAN hosted a daily coordinating session to promote the spread of information and hear reports from working groups. As with each COP, the group also produced ECO, a daily paper including responses to daily issues and CAN’s official positions on relevant issues.

CDM – Clean Development Mechanism. The CDM is one of the flexibility mechanisms defined in Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol, and, as such, is designed to lower the cost of meeting emissions targets. The mechanism allows countries with emission-reduction commitments to implement emissions-reduction projects in developing nations and count these reductions towards their commitments. These projects can be more cost-effective than a similar project implemented in commitment country, and thus offers an attractive way to help Annex-I countries meet targets. The CDM raises some issues, however, particularly proper monitoring and transparency.

CDR – “Common but differentiated responsibilities.” The phrase originates from Principle 7 of the Rio Declaration, and effectively states that nations each share the common burden of climate reductions, yet based upon historic emissions levels, each nation has a different degree of responsibility. The phrase is often paired with the phrase “on the basis of equity,” which adds economic ability to pay for emissions reductions to the consideration of a nation’s differentiated level of responsibility. Of course, there is no formula for finding a nation’s relative level of responsibility (which would be consistently changing anyway), yet the phrase acts as an overarching ethical concept, under which we can see that a developed nation with a large amount of historic emissions in which it is economically viable to combat climate change is both responsible for the adverse effects of change and capable of paying to help in adaptation and mitigation efforts.

IGO – Intergovernmental Organization. An IGO is formed by a treaty, which is established when ratified by several states, which then become parties to the group and utilize the treaty as their charter. The United Nations is, of course, itself an IGO, however other IGOs are present at COPs, and provide input to the Secretariat upon specialized issues. For example, numerous IGOs have recently presented ideas and proposals on the elements of paragraph 1 of the Bali Action Plan, and due to the paragraphs many points, different IGOs will have different input on the elements (the International Maritime Organization might provide documentation on control of GHGs from International Shipping, where the World Health Organization would provide input on the health of people vulnerable to the humanitarian consequences of climate change, and so on).

IMO – International Maritime Organization. The IMO is the United Nations’ specialized IGO responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships. It currently consists of 169 member states.

LUCF/LULUCF – Land-use change and forestry/Land use, land-use change and forestry. Land use refers to the conversion of natural environment into built environment. Land use change therefore will affect the amount of biomass in existing biomass stocks (e.g., forest, village trees, savanna) and soil carbon stocks. The IPCC estimates that land-use change contributes to a net 1.6 ± 0.8 Gt carbon per year to the atmosphere. Land use also causes habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation, all of which have negative impacts on biodiversity. Deforestation is a particular threat, because the created fragmented landscapes often fail to support its former species.

M&E – Monitoring and evaluation.

NGOs – Stands for “Non-Governmental Organization.” The official definition of such an organization is: “is any non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group which is organized on a local, national or international level;” these groups often work to assist in the empowerment of economically and socially, marginalized groups or to raise awareness of issues. While NGOs did not directly contribute to the negotiations in COP15, they were engaged in other important activities such as lobbying governmental delegates, circulating information, and working with the media. There are several types of NGOs:

  • BINGOs – Stands for “Business and Industry Non-Governmental Organizations.” The BINGOs are one of the loosest constituencies as they cover a wide range of businesses, and thus, a wider range of interests. Generally divided into “green” and “grey” business interests, with green including groups that see climate change mitigation as a business opportunity, like the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, and grey including groups that see climate change as a threat to their revenues, such as the fossil fuel industry. Of course, some groups evade classification as either, as many have their individual business interests to uphold. Due to the non-profit requirement of the NGO classification, these groups are often organized specifically to campaign on climate change. They form a constituency in their own right to contribute to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in a parallel way to ENGOs (Environment), RINGOs (Research and Independent), IPOs (Indigenous Peoples Organizations), and LGMAs (Local Governmental and Municipal Authorities), all discussed below.
  • ENGOs – Stands for “Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations.” Goals of these organizations include: offering training and assistance in agricultural conservation to maximize the use of local resources, establishing environmental solutions, and managing projects implemented to address issues affecting a particular area. Includes groups like Greenpeace, WWF, and the Environmental Investigation Agency.
  • IPOs – Stands for “Indigenous Peoples Organizations.” Emerged post-Kyoto after the realization that the climate change regime was addressing issues of importance to the indigenous peoples without their input. This constituency is coordinated by the International Alliance of Indigenous-Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests, and has, since its inception, worked at the COPs to organize side events, hold interventions, and organize meetings with subsidiary body Chairs and COP Presidents to facilitate increased participation of these groups in the decision-making process.
  • LGMAs – Stands for “Local Governmental and Municipal Authorities.” Technically, these groups are local-, rather than non-governmental organizations, and have traditionally sought different status. They are organized by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). They normally work on local issues to combat climate change, but have also joined to perform larger-scale efforts, such as the October 2003 issuing of a joint declaration from 155 mayors of U.S. cities calling for stronger action on climate change by the federal government.
  • RINGOs – Stands for “Research and Independent Non-Governmental Organizations.” RINGOs are organizations engaged in independent research and analysis aimed at developing sound strategies to address both the causes and consequences of global climate change.

REDD – Stands for “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation” in Developing Countries. The IPCC estimates that deforestation contributes to roughly 20% of greenhouse gas emissions. REDD programs should therefore be an important contribution to overall greenhouse gas reductions, if implemented properly. A properly functioning REDD program would provide revenue to indigenous peoples in developing nations in return for maintenance of forested areas; The UN-REDD Programme is therefore aimed at tipping the economic balance in favour of sustainable management of forests. REDD programs were an important aspect of the Copenhagen Accord, which agreed on the need to “provide positive incentives to such actions through the immediate establishment of a mechanism including REDD-plus.” Click for interviews regarding REDD.

WHO – World Health Organization. The WHO is an IGO and specialized agency of the UN that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health.

WMO – World Meteorological Organization. The WMO is an IGO and specialized agency of the UN that acts as a coordinating authority on meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences. The WMO jointly helped charter the IPCC with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1988.

WRI – World Resources Institute. An American NGO that works to combat climate change.

WWF – Worldwide Fund for Nature. An international NGO working on conservation, research, and restoration of the environment.


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Sanjay Khanna on the Importance of Compassion

sanjay compassion

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Sanjay Khanna was a writer and climate-change journalist at COP-15. He is co-founder of the Resilient People + Climate Change Conference.

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Behind the Scenes: Youth Protest

2050

Kristen Lee, a 2010 graduate of Dickinson College, explains the purpose of a youth protest going on behind her.

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Sanjay Khanna on Partners of Resilient People

Sanjay_partners

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Sanjay Khanna was a writer and climate-change journalist at COP-15. He is co-founder of the Resilient People + Climate Change Conference.

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Sumaya Zakieldeen on Adaptation in Developing Countries

Sumaya_adaptation

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Sumaya Zakieldeen was a Sudanese delegate at COP-15. Sudan is an African nation which coordinated the G77 and China at COP-15.

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Sumaya Zakieldeen on Technology Transfers

Sumaya_tech transfer

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Sumaya Zakieldeen was a Sudanese delegate at COP-15. Sudan is an African nation which coordinated the G77 and China at COP-15.

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Sumaya Zakieldeen on Technology Transfers in Developing Nations

Sumaya_tech transfer in developing countries

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Sumaya Zakieldeen was a Sudanese delegate at COP-15. Sudan is an African nation which coordinated the G77 and China at COP-15.

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Sanjay Khanna on Community-Building

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Sanjay Khanna was a writer and climate-change journalist at COP-15. He is co-founder of the Resilient People + Climate Change Conference.

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John Zillman on a Successful Outcome for COP15

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John Zillman was a retired Australian meteorologist at COP15. He is the former President of the World Meteorological Organization (1995-2003).

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John Zillman on Intergenerational Equity

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John Zillman was a retired Australian meteorologist at COP15. He is the former President of the World Meteorological Organization (1995-2003).

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John Zillman on the Equity of CDR to Different Parties

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John Zillman was a retired Australian meteorologist at COP15. He is the former President of the World Meteorological Organization (1995-2003).

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Sanjay Khanna on the Role of Youth

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Sanjay Khanna was a writer and climate-change journalist at COP-15. He is co-founder of the Resilient People + Climate Change Conference.

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Sumaya Zakieldeen on Common but Differentiated Responsibilities

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Sumaya Zakieldeen was a Sudanese delegate at COP-15. Sudan is an African nation which coordinated the G77 and China at COP-15.

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Sumaya Zakieldeen on the Role of Sudan in the Negotiations

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Sumaya Zakieldeen was a Sudanese delegate at COP-15. Sudan is an African nation which coordinated the G77 and China at COP-15.

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About Sumaya Zakieldeen, Sudanese Delegate

At COP15, Dr. Sumaya ZakiEldeen was a member of the Sudanese delegation and a professor at Khartoum University. From Copenhagen, she wrote this message, which reflects both her biographical information and feelings at the COP:

Hi I’m one the Sudanese negotiators here in Copenhagen, we are the ones trying to make a good deal happen. It’s tough work being a negotiator and even tougher when you realise what is at stake. I think about people back home and the drought. We have increased drought – and then sudden floods. It’s alarming and really having an impact on the lives of so many in our communities.

I’ve been coming to this climate change conference since 2005. Back then our delegation was just five people. With the growing interest from our government on climate change, and the fact we are chair of the G77 – a coalition of developing countries – we are now 11 people. This is the same for most African countries, over the years our numbers in the negotiation room has gone up and this can only be a good thing. I’m really proud of Africa during these negotiations, I think we are really influential, we know what the priorities for the continent are and the process has allowed us to engage a lot. Engagement is important but what’s more important is the text which will be signed at the end. We hope our efforts and everyone who is backing a good deal gets that good deal. The right deal is crucial to so many people and their livelihoods. If it doesn’t happen, it will not be a reflection of what the people really want and what they have been campaigning for. I have to say it is very difficult, having the whole world into a room and getting them to agree. There are times when some countries will disagree with one line and another country will come up with ‘an intelligent’ solution to the problem and suggest another line! We could be there for hours till everyone is satisfied. Last night I left at 1am.

I think from inside the negotiating room we are all worried about the time we have to make a good deal. WE don’t have long. On top of that, Sudan, along with many other countries is worried that we will not get a legally binding deal. Having a political agreement which is not legally binding will be a disaster and not a reflection of the hard work that has gone into it.

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Jean-Pascal van Ypersele on the Roles of Developed and Developing Nations

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Jean-Pascal van Ypersele was a Belgian scientist at COP15 and the Vice-Chair of the IPCC.

Brett Shollenberger

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Jean-Pascal van Ypersele on Common but Differentiated Responsibilities

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About Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, Belgian Scientist and Vice-Chair of the IPCC

Jean-Pascal van Ypersele is Professor of Climatology and Environmental sciences at the Université catholique de Louvain (Belgium), and Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
He made his doctoral research in climatology at NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research, Colorado, USA). He specialized in modelling climate and the climate effects of human activities, and has recently worked on the impacts of climate change.

He is Vice-Chair of the Working Group II of the IPCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore), and participates regularly to the United Nations conferences on climate issues, as scientific advisor. He chairs the Energy & Climate Working Group of the Belgian Federal Council for Sustainable Development.

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John Zillman on Whether CDR is an Ethical Concern or a Practical One

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John Zillman was a retired Australian meteorologist at COP15. He is the former President of the World Meteorological Organization (1995-2003).

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Al Gore’s COP15 Presentation

al gore presentation

Since this presentation was understandably packed, we were unable to get decent videographic footage of it. We did, however, snag the audio, and I’ve laid over pictures of Yvo and Gore as they’re speaking, in case you’ve forgotten what they look like.

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Sanjay Khanna on the Goals of Resilient People

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Sanjay Khanna was a writer and climate-change journalist at COP-15. He is co-founder of the Resilient People + Climate Change Conference.

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John Zillman on Role of Science in Informing a Political Emissions Target

emissions target

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John Zillman was a retired Australian meteorologist at COP15. He is the former President of the World Meteorological Organization (1995-2003).

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John Zillman on the Research that Led Him to COP15

what led you here

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John Zillman was a retired Australian meteorologist at COP15. He is the former President of the World Meteorological Organization (1995-2003).

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John Zillman on the UEA Hacked E-mails

UEA

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John Zillman was a retired Australian meteorologist at COP15. He is the former President of the World Meteorological Organization (1995-2003).

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John Zillman on Scientific Skepticism

skepticism

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John Zillman was a retired Australian meteorologist at COP15. He is the former President of the World Meteorological Organization (1995-2003).

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Claire Spoors on the Role of Global Witness at COP15

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Claire Spoors was an activist at COP-15 with the group Global Witness. Her interviews are primarily concerned with proper implementation of REDD programs through improvement of both accountability and governance. She is from the United Kingdom, a nation in Europe.

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About Sanjay Khanna, Canadian Journalist and Founder of Resilient People

Biography courtesy of the Huffington Post:

Sanjay Khanna is a writer, journalist, futurist, and Co-founder of Resilient People, which provides guidance on preparing for economic and climate shifts. A 2009 TED Fellow nominee, Sanjay co-founded the world’s first conference exploring how climate change and ecological degradation threaten people’s mental health and well-being — and how resilience can be encouraged as the pressures on humanity multiply.

Sanjay’s articles and op-eds on arts, culture, politics, technology, the economy, the environment, and community resilience have been published by YES!Nature, Grist,ReutersWorldchangingThe TyeeSun-Times News Group, and Communication Arts. He blogs at Realistic Sanctuary, where he explores the implications of economic instability and climate change.

A visionary thinker, Sanjay has synthesized environmental, social, technology, and mental-health trends for the likes of Hewlett-Packard, Nokia Corp., and Yamaha Motor Corp., USA. His perspective on global affairs has been informed by scenario-planning training with senior strategists from oil majors, financial institutions, manufacturers, and the U.S. government.

Today Sanjay’s focus is on helping civil society, governments, and the private sector to recognize and address the psychological, social, and cultural impacts of climate change within their organizations and as part of an external mandate to safeguard communities around the world from climate change impacts.

Sanjay holds an MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of British Columbia and a bachelor’s degree in education. He is a member of the International Federation of Journalists and the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada.

Contact Sanjay on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Sanjay1

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John Zillman on the Interaction Between Science and Policy

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John Zillman was a retired Australian meteorologist at COP15. He is the former President of the World Meteorological Organization (1995-2003).

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John Zillman on Defining Climate Change from a Scientific Standpoint and a Political Standpoint

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John Zillman was a retired Australian meteorologist at COP15. He is the former President of the World Meteorological Organization (1995-2003).

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About John Zillman, Australian Meteorologist and Former President of the WMO

Dr. John W. Zillman is an Australian meteorologist, and former President of the World Meteorological Organization (1995-2003) and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE). Zillman also served on the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for 20 years. The IPCC itself originated from proposals at the Tenth Congress of the WMO in May 1987 in Geneva. Zillman notes of that meeting:

Several Directors of National Meteorological Services, especially from developing countries, called on WMO to establish a mechanism that would enable them to respond authoritatively to the increasingly frequent requirements to brief their Governments and national communities on the reality or otherwise of the threat of global warming as a result of increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. For the most part, Governments, at that stage, were reacting to sensationalised media coverage of predictions of future climate change promulgated by a number of individual scientists and climate modelling groups, as well as the then recently released report of the Brundtland Commission on “Our Common Future” (The World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987) which had dramatically lifted the profile of enhanced greenhouse warming as a threat to the future of the planet.

Since its formation, Zillman has contributed to the work of the IPCC and provided critical analysis of the IPCC assessment reports.

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Claire Spoors

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Claire Spoors was an activist at COP-15 with the group Global Witness. Her interviews are primarily concerned with proper implementation of REDD programs through improvement of both accountability and governance. She is from the United Kingdom, a nation in Europe.

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Bruce Hewitson on Common but Differentiated Responsibilities in LDCs

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At COP-15, Bruce Hewitson was a South African climatologist working with the Climate Systems Analysis Group (CSAG).

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Bruce Hewitson on Political Issues in South Africa

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At COP-15, Bruce Hewitson was a South African climatologist working with the Climate Systems Analysis Group (CSAG).

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Bruce Hewitson on Barriers Between Scientists and Policy-Makers

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At COP-15, Bruce Hewitson was a South African climatologist working with the Climate Systems Analysis Group (CSAG).

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Saleemul Huq on Changes in the Negotiations

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At COP15, Saleemul Huq was the Senior Fellow of the IIED’s Climate Change Group. He is from Bangladesh, a nation in Asia.

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Saleemul Huq on the International Air Passenger Adaptation Levy

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At COP15, Saleemul Huq was the Senior Fellow of the IIED’s Climate Change Group. He is from Bangladesh, a nation in Asia.

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Saleemul Huq on Mistrust & Equality in the Negotiations

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At COP15, Saleemul Huq was the Senior Fellow of the IIED’s Climate Change Group. He is from Bangladesh, a nation in Asia.

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Saleemul Huq on Adaptation in LDCs

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At COP15, Saleemul Huq was the Senior Fellow of the IIED’s Climate Change Group. He is from Bangladesh, a nation in Asia.

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Saleemul Huq on His Expectations for the Outcome of COP15

salem expectations

Did the actual outcome of COP15 meet Mr. Huq’s expectations? Click here to find out!

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At COP15, Saleemul Huq was the Senior Fellow of the IIED’s Climate Change Group. He is from Bangladesh, a nation in Asia.

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Saleemul Huq on Ethics vs. Practicality

salem ethical or practical

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At COP15, Saleemul Huq was the Senior Fellow of the IIED’s Climate Change Group. He is from Bangladesh, a nation in Asia.

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Saleemul Huq on Common but Differentiated Responsibilities

salem cbdr2

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At COP15, Saleemul Huq was the Senior Fellow of the IIED’s Climate Change Group. He is from Bangladesh, a nation in Asia.

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About Saleemul Huq, Senior Fellow of the IIED’s Climate Change Group

At COP15, Saleemul Huq was the Senior Fellow of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)’s Climate Change Group. Besides the interviews Mr. Huq conducted with us, Mr. Huq also video-blogged daily from Copenhagen, and you can view each day’s update on this YouTube channel.

The following biographical information is taken from the IIED’s webpage.

Expertise:

Links between climate change and sustainable development, and particularly the perspective of developing countries.
Africa and South Asia, especially the least developed countries in those two regions.

Current work:

Building negotiating capacity and supporting the engagement of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in UNFCCC ahead of COP15 including negotiator training workshops for LDCs, policy briefings and support for the Adaptation Fund Board. Research into vulnerability and adaptation to climate change in the least developed countries.

Lead author of the chapter on Adaptation and Sustainable Development in the third assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Lead Author of the chapter on Adaptation and Mitigation in the IPCC’s fourth assessment report.

Before IIED:

Executive Director of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies.

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About Bruce Hewitson, South African Climatologist

Bruce Hewitson is a self-described climatologist with a hatred of labels, and insists that his interests are eclectic. He has been a resident at the University of Cape Town in Rondebosch, South Africa, since 1992. He currently works with the Climate Systems Analysis Group (CSAG) research group in the ENGEO department. His research interests include climate modeling, climate change, and interesting analysis methodologies. Extended interests in appropriate technology for Africa and scientific capacity building.

Credit to an autobiographical snippet from the CSAG webpage.

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About Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, German Scientist

Professor Schellnhuber’s official short biography reads:

“Born in 1950 in Ortenburg (Germany). Training in physics and mathematics with a scholarship for the exceptionally gifted at Regensburg University. Doctorate in Theoretical Physics in 1980. Various periods of research abroad, in particular at several institutions of the University of California system (USA). Habilitation (German qualification for professorial status) in 1985, then Heisenberg Fellowship. 1989 Full Professor at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Sciences (ICBM) of Oldenburg University, later Director of the ICBM.

“1991 Founding Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK); since 1993 Director of PIK and Professor for Theoretical Physics at Potsdam University. 2001-2005 additional engagement as Research Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and Professor at the Environmental Sciences School of the University of East Anglia in Norwich (UK). From 2005 – 2009 Visiting Professor in Physics and Visiting Fellow of Christ Church College at Oxford University as well as Distinguished Science Advisor for the Tyndall Centre. Since 2010 External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute.

“2002 Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award; 2004 CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) awarded by Queen Elizabeth II; 2007 German Environment Prize; 2008 Order of Merit (“Roter Adlerorden”) of the State of Brandenburg; 2009 “Ambassador of Science” of the State of Brandenburg. Elected Member of the Max Planck Society, the German National Academy (Leopoldina), the US National Academy of Sciences, the Leibniz-Sozietät, the Geological Society of London, and the International Research Society Sigma Xi. Ambassador for the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). Longstanding Member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) who was awarded the Peace Nobel Prize in 2007.

“Active service on numerous national and international panels for scientific strategies and policy advice on environment & development matters. Selected previous and current engagements: Chair of the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU); Chair of the Global Change Advisory Group for the 6th Framework Programme of the European Commission, Member of the corresponding panel for FP7; Member of the Committee on Scientific Planning and Review of the International Council for Science (ICSU); Member of the Environment Steering Panel of the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC); Member of the WEF Global Agenda Council on Climate Change; Member of the Grantham Research Institute Advisory Board.

“Chief Government Advisor on Climate & Related Issues for the German G8-EU twin presidency in 2007; Member of the High-Level Expert Group on Energy & Climate Change advising J.M. Barroso, President of the European Commission.

“Member of the Editorial Boards of the scientific journals “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”, “Climatic Change”, “Climate Policy”, “Gaia”, “Integrated Assessment”, “Systems Analysis, Modelling, Simulation” and “Europe’s World”.

“About 210 articles and more than 40 books in the fields of condensed matter physics, complex systems dynamics, climate change research, Earth System analysis, and sustainability science.”

Credit: Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Website

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About Denis J. Sonwa, Cameroonian Scientist

At COP-15, Denis J. Sonwa was a scientist for CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research) from Cameroon, Africa. His research has primarily shown that “Forest resources play key roles in socio-economic and ecological contexts in Central Africa,” and has been aimed to help meet the needs of small farmers and the ecological requirements of central and southern Cameroon. He has also previously done work with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Humid Forest Ecoregional Center in Cameroon. In our interviews with him, he talked with us about the potential benefits of implementing of REDD programs, particularly the preservation of resources and reduction of poverty. Inherently he has stressed the need for consideration of indigenous peoples’ needs and the necessity for their involvement in these programs.

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About Claire Spoors, British Activist

Claire Spoors was an activist at COP-15 with the group Global Witness, an organization which seeks to “expose the corrupt exploitation of natural resources and international trade systems, to drive campaigns that end impunity, resource-linked conflict, and human rights and environmental abuses.” At COP-15 she spoke with us about what it would take to successfully implement REDD programs; her group, Global Witness, has recently issued a report (June 3, 2010), which warns that corruption could undermine the success of these programs, and when she spoke with us in December, she made similar points. One of the key points made by the June 3rd report is that:

“REDD investment offers an unprecedented opportunity to reform forest management and prevent irreversible climate change. Up to 20% of global emissions come from deforestation and forest degradation, and REDD offers the potential both to reduce emissions and drive sustainable economic development in forest-rich economies.”

REDD programs’ inclusion in the Copenhagen Accord was, from the opinion of our research team, one of the principal advancements made this December. Ms. Spoors’ interview segments should, however, prove important to a dialogue on the recent funds pledged to REDD programs in the way of $4 billion; she preemptively warned that funding could do little to stave deforestation if governance and accountability were not improved.

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About Ian Burton, Canadian Scientist

Dr. Ian Burton is Scientist Emeritus with the Adaptation and Impacts Research Group (AIRG) of the Meteorological Service of Canada and an Adjunct Professor with the Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Toronto. He previously held positions as Director of AIRG and Senior Policy Advisor with Environment Canada. Prior to joining the federal government, Dr. Burton was Director of the International Federation of Institutes for Advanced Study (IFIAS), a non-governmental network of research centres. From 1979-1984 he was Professor and Director of the Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Toronto. His research interests include risk assessment of environmental hazards, water resources and supply, and environment and development. Dr. Burton has served as senior advisor to the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) (Ottawa) and as a consultant to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the U.S. Agency for International Development (US-AID), and numerous Canadian government agencies and engineering firms. He has worked for the Ford Foundation in India, Sudan, and Nigeria and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the World Academy of Arts and Sciences.

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About Kemen Austin, American Climate Research Assistant

Kemen Austin is a climate research assistant in the People and Ecosystems Program with the World Resource Institute. Her work primarily focuses on quantifying forest changes and associated carbon emissions in Indonesia and the Congo Basin. Kemen holds an MA and a BSc in environmental science from Brown University where her research included measuring terrestrial carbon in the northeast United States and the evaluation of carbon offset projects in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Prior to joining WRI she worked with The Nature Conservancy to quantify forest carbon and carbon changes due to small holder agricultural production in the Adelbert Mountains of Papua New Guinea.

Credit to World Resource Institute.

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About Vicente Barros, Argentinian Scientist

Vicente Barros was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He graduated in Master of Science in Meteorology at the University of Michigan, USA and of PHD in Meteorological Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires in 1973. He held research positions at the UNAM (Mexico) and at the Argentine Council of Sciences (CONICET) where is Senior Researcher since 1994. He was Professor of Climatology and Director of the Master Program of Environmental Sciences at the School of Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires. He is currently Emeritus Professor of this University.
Vicente Barros has published over 60 peer-reviewed papers, most of them on climate variability and trends on South America and on impacts of climate variability and climate change in the regional hydrology. He is also author of a book on climate change and co-editor of other three on related matters. In 1996, he directed the First National Communication of Argentina to the UNFCCC and made substantial contributions to the second in 2006.

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About Damian Casmiri, Tanzanian Delegate

Casmiri_delegation
Video of Mr. Casmiri describing his role at COP-15.

Mr. Damian Casmiri is a Climate Change/Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) expert. He is a Masters graduate in Integrated Water Resources Management at the University of Dar es Salaam. His first degree was Environmental Sciences and Management from Sokoine University of Agriculture. He has been working with Environmental Protection and Management Services on Climate Change mitigation through identifying and developing Clean Development Mechanism projects in Tanzania.
Damian has attended several water and environmental related training. He has attended Climate Change (Science, Impacts and Responses) training at the Imperial College London. He attended workshop on the establishment catchment management agency in, Durbanville, Republic of South Africa. Also has attended training on Capacity Development for Clean Development Mechanism (CD4CDM) organized by UNEP riso centre as well as attending several workshops on CDM.
He has done researches on the effects of recreational activities on coastal pollution and involvement of community and willingness to pay in rural water supply privatization.

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Damian Casmiri’s Call to Action

Casmiri_final comments

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Damian Casmiri was a delegate to COP-15 from the United Republic of Tanzania, a nation in Africa.

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Damian Casmiri on Mitigation

Casmiri_mitigation

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Damian Casmiri on Technology Transfers

Damian Casmiri on Technology Transfers

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Damian Casmiri was a delegate to COP-15 from the United Republic of Tanzania, a nation in Africa.

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Vicente Barros on US Climate Policy

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Vicente Barros on the Role of Science at COP15

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Vicente Barros was a scientist at COP-15 from Argentina, a nation in South America.

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Vicente Barros on His Research and Role at COP15

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Vicente Barros was a scientist at COP-15 from Argentina, a nation in South America.

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Vicente Barros on Possible COP15 Outcomes

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Vicente Barros was a scientist at COP-15 from Argentina, a nation in South America.

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Vicente Barros on the Role of Developing Countries Under CDR

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Vicente Barros was a scientist at COP-15 from Argentina, a nation in South America.

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Vicente Barros on Common but Differentiated Responsibilities

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Vicente Barros was a scientist at COP-15 from Argentina, a nation in South America.

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Kemen Austin on REDD Project in the Congo

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Kemen Austin was a World Resources Institute scientist at COP-15 from the United States, a country in North America.

Posted in Africa, Cameroon, Congo, Congo Basin, Indigenous Rights, Issues, North America, REDD, United States, View All | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kemen Austin on Potential for REDD Projects Outside the Congo Basin

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Kemen Austin was a World Resources Institute scientist at COP-15 from the United States, a country in North America.

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Ian Burton on the Potential Impact of CDR on the Negotiations

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This is the only video from this interviewee in our database.

Dr. Ian Burton was Scientist Emeritus of the Adaptation and Impacts Research Group (AIRG) and represented Canada, a nation in North America, at COP-15.

Posted in Adaptation, Canada, Common but Differentiated Responsibilities, Issues, Mitigation, North America, View All | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Damian Casmiri on Hopeful Outcomes of COP15

Damian Casmiri, Tazanian Delegation, describes the need for immediate action at COP15

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Damian Casmiri was a delegate to COP-15 from the United Republic of Tanzania, a nation in Africa.

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Damian Casmiri on the Roles of Developed and Developing Countries according to CDR

Damian Casmiri, Tanzanian Delegation

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Damian Casmiri was a delegate to COP-15 from the United Republic of Tanzania, a nation in Africa.

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Damian Casmiri on Financial Help From Developed Countries

Damian Casmiri, Tanzanian Delegation

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Damian Casmiri was a delegate to COP-15 from the United Republic of Tanzania, a nation in Africa.

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Damian Casmiri on Common but Differentiated Responsibilities

Damian Casmiri on “Common But Differentiated Responsibilities”

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Damian Casmiri was a delegate to COP-15 from the United Republic of Tanzania, a nation in Africa.

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Claire Spoors on Proper Implementation of REDD Programs

global witness implementation
Claire Spoors of Global Witness talks about the implementation of REDD programs. She talks about the importance of making the protected areas account for additionality: protecting areas that are in danger of being deforested, not areas that would not be deforested anyways. She also talks about monitoring the carbon, governance system, and where the money goes. She is concerned that it help local communities become stewards of the forest.

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Claire Spoors was an activist at COP-15 with the group Global Witness. Her interviews are primarily concerned with proper implementation of REDD programs through improvement of both accountability and governance. She is from the United Kingdom, a nation in Europe.

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Claire Spoors on Clean Development Mechanisms

global witness CDM
Claire Spoors of Global Witness talks about the possibility of REDD becoming a CDM and the importance of looking at where the money comes from. She shows concern that a CDM would be implemented in which developed countries pay money for the REDD program in a developing country without cutting their own emissions.

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Claire Spoors was an activist at COP-15 with the group Global Witness. Her interviews are primarily concerned with proper implementation of REDD programs through improvement of both accountability and governance. She is from the United Kingdom, a nation in Europe.

Posted in CDM, Common but Differentiated Responsibilities, Ethics, Europe, Mitigation, REDD, Role of Developing Countries, United Kingdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Claire Spoors on Common but Differentiated Responsibilities

global witness CBDR

Claire Spoors of Global Witness talks about the concept of “common but differentiated responsibilities” in the context of REDD and climate change in general. She points out that developed countries create the demand and consume many of the products that come from logging, which have cause such widespread deforestation in developing countries. It is because of this that developed countries should help developing countries to cope with this problem and assist in establishing good REDD programs.

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Claire Spoors was an activist at COP-15 with the group Global Witness. Her interviews are primarily concerned with proper implementation of REDD programs through improvement of both accountability and governance. She is from the United Kingdom, a nation in Europe.

Posted in Common but Differentiated Responsibilities, Europe, Mitigation, REDD, Role of Developed Countries, Role of Developing Countries, United Kingdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Denis J. Sonwa on Developing Countries

Denis J. Sonwa – Developing Countries
Mr. Denis J. Sonwa, a scientist for CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research) in Cameroon talks about the adaptation needs of people in Central Africa and how by improving their livelihood, we can count on the people to take care of the carbon stock, or forests, in the area.

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Denis J. Sonwa was a scientist at COP-15 with CIFOR. He is from Cameroon, a nation in Africa.

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Denis J. Sonwa on Common but Differentiated Responsibilities

CBDR

Mr. Denis J. Sonwa, a scientist for CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research) in Cameroon talks about the difficulties in implementing mitigation strategies in Central Africa, as well as the possibility of REDD programs in helping to improve the quality of life for local people.

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Denis J. Sonwa was a scientist at COP-15 with CIFOR. He is from Cameroon, a nation in Africa.

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Denis J. Sonwa on Implementation of REDD Programs

Denis J. Sonwa of Cameroon

Mr. Denis J. Sonwa, a scientist for CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research) in Cameroon talks about the possibilities for poverty alleviation and mitigation under REDD.

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Denis J. Sonwa was a scientist at COP-15 with CIFOR. He is from Cameroon, a nation in Africa.

Posted in Adaptation, Africa, Cameroon, Indigenous Rights, REDD, Role of Developing Countries, View All | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hans Joachim Schellnhuber on Intergenerational Equity

Schellnuhuber_youth

Professor Schellnhuber discusses intergenerational equity and the role of youth.

Asked the question: what advice do you have for younger generations?

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At COP-15, Hans Joachim Schellnhuber was a member of the High-Level Expert Group on Energy & Climate Change advising J.M. Barroso, President of the European Commission. Professor Schellnhuber is from Germany, a nation in Europe.

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Hans Joachim Schellnhuber on the United States

Schellnuhuber_US

John Schellnuhuber discusses the ethical imperative the United States has to the rest of the world, as well as the practical benefits the United States would gain through cooperation. He also discusses popular support, and notes that even in similar countries like Brazil and China, where dealing with climate change would threaten development, popular support for facing these issues is growing, while it continues to dwindle in the United States.

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At COP-15, Hans Joachim Schellnhuber was a member of the High-Level Expert Group on Energy & Climate Change advising J.M. Barroso, President of the European Commission. Professor Schellnhuber is from Germany, a nation in Europe.

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Bruce Hewitson on What Success Means at the COP

Hewitson_outcome

Question asked: What would be a successful outcome for COP-15?

Hewitson’s response: Hewitson argues that success means something different to every nation. He does, however, venture at a few factors that would aid in an outcomes success: the agreement could not be imposed by the developed world onto the developing nations; each country would have to make significant sacrifices; and the tenants would need to be enforceable (legally binding).

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At COP-15, Bruce Hewitson was a South African climatologist working with the Climate Systems Analysis Group (CSAG).

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Bruce Hewitson on Research and Policy as Necessarily Separate at COP-15

Hewitson_research policy at COP

Question asked: How do researchers and policy-makers interact at the COP?

Hewitson’s answer: Hewitson states that scientists were necessarily divorced from the political presence by the time of Copenhagen; he felt the political process was already complicated and the necessary science informing the negotiation had already been done. Copenhagen, he said, was not about the interaction of scientists and politicians, but instead was, for scientists, about working with other scientists and organizations that focused on issues of adaptation and response work.

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At COP-15, Bruce Hewitson was a South African climatologist working with the Climate Systems Analysis Group (CSAG).

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Bruce Hewitson on Regional Climate Modeling in Africa

Hewitson_research

Question asked: What area of research do you work in and how does it relate to the COP?

Hewitson’s answer: Hewitson focused mainly on regional climate projections in Africa. He did not feel that it directly tied into the political process, but that his presence added visibility of Africa’s issues to other scientists in attendance at the COP.

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At COP-15, Bruce Hewitson was a South African climatologist working with the Climate Systems Analysis Group (CSAG).

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Bruce Hewitson on Ethics vs. National Interest

Hewitson_ethical vs practical

Question asked: do ethical interests gain ground in the negotiations or are practical interests more directly addressed?

Hewitson’s answer: Hewitson comments that countries almost exclusively favor their national interests to altruism. He notes that certain groups, such as the European Union, have made altruistic sacrifices (by my colleague, Brett Shollenberger’s, best definition: actions that are not economically, socially, or politically beneficial to a nation in the short term, with the exclusion of intergovernmental social and political interaction). Hewitson argues, however, that altruism is the only way to achieve intergenerational equity. He feels that the United States’ target of 17% reductions relative to 2005 levels by 2020 is inequitable (to put it nicely).

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At COP-15, Bruce Hewitson was a South African climatologist working with the Climate Systems Analysis Group (CSAG).

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