cop15 Archive

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  Copenhagen 10: Goodbye, Therese

  
  
  
  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

  
  
  
  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 of [...] read more
  December 19, 2009 5:04 pm - 121 Comments
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  Copenhagen Diary: It is a disgrace

  
  
  
  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 binding agreement. [...] read more
  December 19, 2009 1:03 pm - 76 Comments
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  Copenhagen Diary #6: Catching the climate train

  
  
  
  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’

  
  
  
  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

  
  
  
  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

  
  
  
  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 assist [...] read more
  December 18, 2009 11:14 pm - 1 Comment
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  Copenhagen 8: Peering through the Eye of the Needle

  
  
  
  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 not [...] read more
  December 18, 2009 11:12 am - 5 Comments
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  Copenhagen 7: Living with Therese

  
  
  
  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

  
  
  
  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 I [...] read more
  December 17, 2009 6:09 am - 27 Comments