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Dickinson to Durban » Key COP17 Issues

Top to Bottom: Inspiring Bottom-up using the Top

Top to Bottom: Inspiring Bottom-up using the Top

Sam Parker ’12 Climate change governance and mitigation thus far have taken a very “top-down” approach.  One of the best examples of this is the Conference of the Parties (COP) that occur yearly, bringing together government officials from all across the world to discuss climate change and its different aspects.  Though, these top-down approaches to global problems often overlook the need for more “bottom-up” or community based approaches to issue that the world faces.  As I … Read entire article »

Filed under: Climate Change, Conservation, Consumption, Environmental Politics, Key COP17 Issues

Mosaic Group to Washington DC

By: Anna McGinn ’14 Instead of rolling out of bed and heading to classes as usual, on Thursday, October 20 the students in the Mosaic program traveled to DC to meet with United States negotiators, scientists, and government workers.  Over our two days of meeting, we meet with a total of eleven speakers.  Each brought a different point of view to the table, labeling different events as successes and failures and focusing on different angles of the problems and possible solutions.  Everyone emphasized the need for immediate action on an international scale, but few expressed optimistic sentiments about the upcoming negotiations.  One speaker, Jennifer Morgan from the World Resource Institute (WRI), explained a comprehensive plan that would lead the world in the direction of international agreement on actions that need to … Read entire article »

Filed under: Climate Change, Environmental Politics, Key COP17 Issues, Mosaic Action, Student Research

Can I Get a Translator, Please?

Can I Get a Translator, Please?

  By: Christine Burns ’14 On October 20th and 21st, the Mosaic students traveled to Washington D.C. to listen to an eclectic group of well-renowned individuals in the global climate change arena. Two individuals that provided some very interesting insight were Dr. Shalini Vajjhala and Dr. Joel Scheraga from the EPA.  Dr. Scheraga has served the EPA in many positions, his current one being the Senior Advisor for Climate Adaptation in the Office of International Affairs.  Dr. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Climate Change, Conservation, Environmental Politics, Featured, Key COP17 Issues, Mosaic Action

Legally Binding Agreement at COP17?

Legally Binding Agreement at COP17?

(If you’re new to this blog or the discussion on legally binding agreements at international climate negotiations, please see this blog in order to gain some background knowledge). After the two most recent UNFCCC Conferences of the Parties, COP 15 and COP16, some least-developed countries are still holding out for a legally binding commitment at COP17. However, due to political concerns, the concept of a legally bound commitment is viewed differently by each country involved in … Read entire article »

Filed under: Climate Change, Environmental Politics, Key COP17 Issues