Sam Parker ’12 If you have been following my colleague’s blogs or the negotiations, you will know that there is a great deal of talk around a second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol (KP) here in Durban.   Countries have been torn on this issue.  The U.S., Canada and a few other countries have said they will not sign onto another commitment period for KP.  Others such as the E.U., most of the African nations, and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) are calling for another commitment period of KP to extend to 2020 or beyond and to have it be legally binding.  There has also been a campaign organized by the tcktcktck, I ♥ KP, which many of the youth and other organizations are taking apart in wearing T-shirts, ties and stickers to … Read entire article »

Sam Parker ’12 The first week of COP 17 is quickly coming to a close and what a week it has been.  We arrived at the conference on day one and it was an overwhelming, impressive mass of people and knowledge and important people.  I have been impressed with the South African government though.  They have done a good job with being open with the negotiations and the organization of this event is well done.  Thumbs up from this guy. I’ve also been really impressed with the youth if you could tell from my last post.  They are a group of young people from all over the world, who have moved past differences in culture and beliefs to work together to fight climate change.  They get two huge thumbs up. All the while, this conference is shaping up … Read entire article »