cop15 Archive

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  Copenhagen 10: Goodbye, Therese - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  We never really gave up on each other, Therese and I. I doubt I shall see Therese. Not this time. Not at the Copenhagen Climate Conference of 2009. Perhaps, perhaps not. Anyway, as she would say, ha, ha, ha. Bye Therese. Thanks for everything. read more
  December 19, 2009 6:00 pm - 6 Comments
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  At Copenhagen, world leaders bicker while biosphere burns - by frog

  
  
  
  I might as well keep featuring George Monbiot, incisive as ever, this time about the “leadership” shown at Copenhagen. Even before the farce in Copenhagen began it was looking like it might be too late to prevent two or more degrees of global warming. The nation states, pursuing their own interests, have each been passing the parcel [...] read more
  December 19, 2009 5:04 pm - 121 Comments
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  Copenhagen Diary: It is a disgrace - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Tonight’s outcome in Copenhagen is a tragedy for humanity. It is  widely recognised as a failure papered over with some fine sounding words by Obama. The purpose of the meeting was to agree on a second commitment period for the Kyoto  protocol. That has not been achieved. We came here wanting an ambitious, fair and [...] read more
  December 19, 2009 1:03 pm - 76 Comments
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  Copenhagen Diary #6: Catching the climate train - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  A crowd of people set out to catch a train. The train had already left some time ago but was moving quite slowly, though steadily. It was still possible to catch the train if everyone ran. It was vital that they caught the train as disaster was chasing them. Also, no-one could get on the [...] read more
  December 19, 2009 8:24 am - 9 Comments
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  Copenhagen 9: Let Us Refuse to Acknowledge ‘Defeat’ - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  The ‘blame-game’ industry will get a new lease-on-life in the New Year. The Danish leadership has been trenchantly criticised – both for its organizational shortcomings and, far more importantly, for its hapless strategic misjudgements in the negotiations. read more
  December 19, 2009 4:52 am - 12 Comments
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  Copenhagen Diary #5 - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  In the midst of the gloom about the chances of a deal, it is worth recording one small victory for the planet. There has been a huge amount of work by the NGOs to protect biodiversity and indigenous rights and they have been restored in the text. read more
  December 19, 2009 3:21 am - 1 Comment
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  A video message from Green MPs in Copenhagen - by frog

  
  
  
  As the COP15 climate summit draws to a close, Jeanette Fitzsimons and Kennedy Graham offer their views on what is, and isn’t, happening at this most important of international meetings. Jeanette discusses the lack of emissions reduction targets thusfar offered by rich nations, and the $100 billion pledge from the US that will begin in 2020 to [...] read more
  December 18, 2009 11:14 pm - 1 Comment
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  Copenhagen 8: Peering through the Eye of the Needle - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  We are at the moment of truth, here in Copenhagen. For 8 days the conference has ground along in true diplomatic style, officials parsing words and bracketing phrases within the mindless straitjacket of 193 inflexible cabinet decisions thrashed out in advance of what purports to be multilateral negotiations.  Behind the screens, leaders are talking.  But [...] read more
  December 18, 2009 11:12 am - 5 Comments
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  Copenhagen 7: Living with Therese - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  I live with Therese. We are cohabiting in her apartment these past six nights. From Friday to Thursday today, I have left in the dark around 7.00 a.m. and returned in the dark around midnight. It is not a routine guaranteed to meet Therese. I email her. This is from your phantom guest, I say. It is proving difficult to meet up. read more
  December 18, 2009 5:14 am - 6 Comments
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  This is bigger than climate change. It is a battle to redefine humanity - by frog

  
  
  
  It’s hard for a species used to ever-expanding frontiers, but survival depends on accepting we live within limits George Monbiot continues to speak bluntly of the reality humanity faces in this article on the Copenhagen climate summit. I was sorely tempted to post the whole thing as I did recently with another here, but instead a few excerpts and [...] read more
  December 17, 2009 6:09 am - 27 Comments
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  Copenhagen 6: Screaming into the void - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  OK so there are 45,000 concerned humans milling around. Only one-third are getting into the Bella Conference Centre. Yesterday I arrived at the gates at 7.45. It is still dark. And very cold. A young woman next to me, not yet accredited, had stood in the queue yesterday in zero degrees for 10 hours. That’s not easy. And she was unsuccessful. She was back this morning at 6.20 a.m. I think... read more
  December 17, 2009 1:14 am - 20 Comments
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  Copenhagen Diary #4 - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Different cultures have very different views on the relationship between population and climate change. In some circles population is the great unmentionable. It is still associated with the coercive policies some early family planners tried to impose. In others it is the perfect excuse for why we should not have to do anything about our [...] read more
  December 17, 2009 12:52 am - 8 Comments
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  Copenhagen 4: I remain, Your Humble and Obedient Servant - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  A funny thing happened on the way to the Climate Change Forum. Fate allowed me to serve Her Majesty’s Government, once again. In a phantom role, it is true. But it was a privilege, nonetheless. read more
  December 16, 2009 4:01 am - 10 Comments
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  Copenhagen Diary #3 - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Copenhagen has a public transport system to die for. With a population similar to greater Auckland, although covering much less space, it has a new (2002) metro that is very fast and I’ve never had to wait more than 4 minutes even though I’m near the end of the line. read more
  December 16, 2009 3:27 am - 5 Comments
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  Copenhagen Diary #2 - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Forests are key to this negotiation – both how forest sinks, land use and land use change (LULUCF) are treated in the agreement for the next period, and the mechanisms for protecting 0ld growth forests in developing countries from logging. Estimates are that 15-20% of global emissions are n0w from deforestation. Along with the carbon, [...] read more
  December 14, 2009 5:52 am - 39 Comments
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  Making Sense of Copenhagen - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  Saturday was our first day at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.  Jeanette Fitzsimons and I, along with staff member Rick Leckinger, are attending.  It is a remarkable event in itself, as well as being critical in substance. Two quick things to clear up. First, yes we expended carbon getting here, along with the other participants.  [...] read more
  December 14, 2009 12:21 am - 29 Comments
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  Copenhagen Diary #1 - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Just arrived after 32 hours travel via Hong Kong. Flying across Asia gives you  different perspective on the earth. From the East Asia coast to England not a tinge of green. The desert in West and north China went on for ever – mountains and hills and plains, but all sand coloured. I wonder how [...] read more
  December 12, 2009 10:04 pm - 34 Comments
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  NZ cops another climate fossil award at COP15 - by frog

  
  
  
  Well, we’ve done it again. I have just learned from my source at the Copenhagen Climate Summit, (COP15), that New Zealand has won yet another Fossil of the Day Award. read more
  December 11, 2009 7:08 am - 12 Comments
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  Protesters at Copenhagen can now be arrested *before* they protest - by frog

  
  
  
  Yep, really. It’s a new law, just passed the other day. Legislation giving police the right to pre-emptive arrests in connection with the COP15 climate conference was passed by a decisively split parliament yesterday. The new legislation allows police to detain those arrested for up to 12 hours under the premise that they ‘might’ take [...] read more
  November 29, 2009 11:37 am - 13 Comments