Climate Change March at COP15

This video shows a huge amount of people coming together from many different countries representing climate and environmental organizations. These people have the goal of working towards a strong, binding climate agreement that is fair ad effective.



Find the video here.

Africa shows a willingness to negotiate

The African climate negotiator has lowered his demands for climate finances from the richer countries. He says that he is scaling back the amount of funding, for a more reliable funding.

Meles Zenawi has announced that he supports 100 billion US dollars annual funds by 2020 from rich countries to help the poor world fight and adapt to climate changes. The EU has estimated that the developing countries will need 150 billion dollars.

"I know my proposal today will disappoint some Africans. My proposal scales back our expectation with respect to the level of funding in return for more reliable funding," the African Union climate negotiator said.

See the full article here.

Global Warming

In Andrew Revkin's article, Global Warming, in the New York Times, he reiterates the dangers global warming poses to the world and our daily lives that will be affected by this important issue.  He then discusses the Copenhagen talks in Denmark.  Barack Obama, along with other international leaders, said there could not be a formal treaty reached within the time period designated to the climate talks.  As a partial dilemma solver, the international group would create a "placeholder" that requires carbon emission reductions, as well as focusing attention on earth-friendly energy sources.  Read more about this topic here!

China and U.S. Hit Strident Impasse at Climate Talks

The United States and China disagreed upon an aspect of climate talk negotiations on Monday.  China was one of the countries who promised carbon emission output reduction, but they refused to be held responsible and monitored by other countries and internationally. The United States did not like China's position on that subject because without China being verified about their emission reduction promises, the United States cannot be supportive of a deal in Copenhagen.  If China does not agree to be monitored and held legally / internationally responsible to live up to the standards they have promised, the United States have talked about tariffing the Chinese goods that are imported to America.  To read more, click here!

Nations Play Hardball as Hillary Clinton Heads to Climate Summit

At the Copenhagen Negotiations, delegates from different countries are trying to come to an agreement about how much carbon emission cuts they will make before many of the world leaders come to the conference.  This Copenhagen conference is important because it sets limits on nations' carbon emission outputs.  So far, China, India, Brazil, and South Africa have promised drastic emission cuts.  But while they promised to take action, they have refused to legally bind themselves with the agreement.  They said they would do it voluntarily, which causes problems because it is a problem for countries like the United States and other industrialized countries.  Hilary Clinton, who is at the Copenhagen Agreements, representing the United States, says that transparency is needed to come to agreements.  And agreements need to be developed soon, because many world leaders will be and have been arriving recently for their countries to join the delegates already in Denmark.  Read more here.

'A Day Without a Bag'

'A day without a bag' is a new event that is seeking to reduce the amount of plastic bags that are used in Los Angeles county. The average number of plastic bags used in LA county each year is an astonishing 6 billion. And only 5% of these 6 billion bags are ever recycled. The event is incorporating 50 locations though out the county that will have the chance to reduce the number of plastic bags used as well as give out reusable bags.

The article on this event can be read here.

Some Nations at Copenhagen are Pushing to Curb the 'Forgotten' Green House Gas Pollutants

Some countries are pushing to curb the emissions of green house gases other than CO2, such as the 'stealth' gases. These include methane, HFCs, and black carbon. Their reduction is wanted now because it is believed that these are substances that are easier and cheaper to reduce. And the results of their reduction would be observed quickly.

The full article can be read here.