Dickinson to Durban » Climate Change
AOSIS Increases Urgency
Claire Tighe ‘13 Just tuned into a press briefing hosted by AOSIS to hear about their progress in the last two weeks. What is the state of their demands for the outcomes of COP17? Have these changed over the last two weeks? What about since the last few COPs? What is left to be done? According to the vicechair of AOSIS, their negotiating positions have not changed much since 2009, as they still use the “Protocol Approach,” which advocates for a second commitment of the Kyoto Protocol (KP). However, since the last two COPs, AOSIS has increased the level of urgency with which they approach the negotiations. They do this by highlighting scientific findings that predict catastrophic climate change, particularly for the most vulnerable (small island states). According to AOSIS, their negotiating … Read entire article »
Filed under: Climate Change, Environmental Justice, Environmental Politics, Featured, Key COP17 Issues, Mosaic Action, Student Research
Whither the Science in the COP-17 negotiations?
By Prof. Jeff Niemitz I’ll admit from the outset that I know relatively little about the art of negotiation of the climate actions on the table in Durban. I have learned a lot in the past two weeks however. It is always hard to bridge the gap between the science and the policy implications that may go along with it. This appears to be the case this year at COP-17. The science, while well digested from the IPCC 2007 report, does not appear to be much of an influence on the negotiations 4 years hence. Even a very important interim report from the IPCC on the increasing extreme weather events the world has been experiencing including the eastern US as you all know (excessive rain this fall, Hurricane Irene and Lee, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Climate Change
A green…comedian?
Just when I thought I had seen everything “green” in Durban, I witnessed a comedy stand-up routine with climate change humor. Mark Sampson is a South African comedian that has dedicated his life to environmental activism and comedy. Originally from England, Mark has found his niche in Cape Town, South Africa as an eco-warrior, activist, and humorist. It was definitely a breath of fresh air to hear Mark’s thoughts on climate change. So many aspects of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Climate Change
Another Post about KP: What should be done?
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 »
Filed under: Climate Change
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