Details of the Deal Reached at COP 17

The participants at the U.N. climate change talks in Durban, South Africa, managed to come to an agreement on a package of measures early on Sunday that would eventually force all the world's polluters to take legally binding action. A new body known as the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action was also established to negotiate a global agreement.

Extended COP 17 Negotiations Yield Agreement

After two weeks of negotiations in Durban, South Africa, a deal was reached that makes progress towards a binding treaty to address climate change. Talks were supposed to wrap up Friday but continued through the night, and then into Saturday night, before negotiators could come to an agreement. The two most prominent elements of the deal concern a replacement for the soon to expire Kyoto Protocol, and general terms for the green climate fund.

Video: Special Envoy Stern Discusses COP-17

Todd Stern, Special Envoy for Climate Change, discusses COP 16 and COP 17 at the Foreign Press Center in Washington, D.C. on November 22, 2011. Stern reviews the agreement reached at COP 16 and the fate of the Kyoto Protocol.

Video: One South African Asks Why Canada is Silent on Climate Change

In this video, a women from South Africa discusses how the climate has changed effecting agriculture in South Africa. She also asks questions about Canada's conspicuous silence on the issue of climate change and the importance of reaching a binding international agreement.

Video: COP 17 & CMOP 7 Opening Remarks

The opening remarks at COP 17 focus on the soon to expire Kyoto Protocol and operationalizing the agreements at COP 16 including the Green Carbon Fund. This speaker emphasizes the urgency of acting now.

Who is to Blame for Difficulties at COP 17?

As COP 17 comes to a close, European Union Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard blamed China and India for resisting the EU-designed “road map” designed to succeed the Kyoto Protocol which is set to expire in 2012.

Hope Remains Despite Expectations of a Dissapointing Outcome at COP 17

The COP 17 climate negotiations wrap up today in Durban, South Africa. Although there are very low expectations, some optimism remains. However unlikely, it is not impossible for developed and developing countries to compromise and reach an agreement on equitable and enforceable targets to reduce CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions.

China an Unlikely Hero at Cop 17

China is often criticized for being the world’s biggest carbon emitter, but at COP 17 the country has emerged as an unlikely hero. China is in the process of reinventing itself and it is looking increasingly towards the green economy to do so. Chinese delegation head Xie Zhenhua said China might be willing to sign a legally binding agreement for reducing emissions.

The Costs of Global Warming

The costs of reducing emissions are frequently cited as reasons for inaction, however these assessments fail to factor the much greater costs of unchecked climate change. Already we are seeing massive costs from drought, famine, flooding and extreme weather.  Global warming causing greenhouse gas emissions continue to escalate increasing beyond the worst predictions of the UN’s climate experts. These costs will only increase as global warming worsens.

A Binding Agreement on Climate Change is a Matter of Life and Death

Many of the participants at COP 17 do not appear to acknowledge that a binding agreement on climate change is a matter of life and death. Failure to address climate change will cause mass starvation and completely inundate some island nations.

Canada is a Pariah at COP 17

Canada is being heavily criticized at the UN climate summit in Durban for failing to work on global climate change issues. With next to no delegation at the summit, Canada is rightly being accused of not being serious about efforts to manage climate change.

US Demands Emissions Reductions from China and India

The United States, the world's second-largest polluter after China, made it clear that as a condition for a binding agreement on emissions reductions, major developing country emitters like China and India must be part of any legally binding agreement.

COP 17 a Premeditated Failure?

In her speech opening COP 17, Christiana Figueres, the Executive Secretary of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, highlighted the importance of industrialized countries committing to cut greenhouse gas emissions, pointing to the devastating effects of climate change in developing countries.

Protests Around the World Call for Climate Justice at COP 17

People are coming together around the world to demand climate justice. Climate change activists continue their protests at COP 17 in Durban, South Africa and some of the protestors at the Occupy movement are also calling for "climate justice." While the occupy protests may lack the focus to auger meaningful change, they represent a mass-movement of people seeking social change.

UN Chief Warns that the Future of the Planet is at Stake at COP 17

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is warning deadlocked climate talks in Durban about the importance of finding solutions. "It would be difficult to overstate the gravity of this moment," Ban said "Without exaggeration, we can say: the future of our planet is at stake - people's lives, the health of the global economy, the very survival of some nations."

The Costs of Canada's Failure to Act on Climate Change

In addition to degrading the Canadian and global environment, Canada's ruling Conservatives are imposing huge costs on Canadians. Rather than push for a binding global treaty on climate change in Durban South Africa, Canada is expected to withdraw from the Kyoto accord. Climate change will cost Canadians about $5 billion a year by 2020 and according to a new report, those cost could rise to as much as $91 billion a year by the 2050s.

India is Leading Resistance to a Binding Treaty at COP 17

India has emerged as the leading opponent to a binding treaty at the UN Climate Conference in Durban, South Africa (COP 17). India is the world's third largest carbon emitter and the country's C02 emissions are now growing at a rate of more than 9 percent a year. At COP 17, India has made it clear that it is choosing economic growth over efforts to reduce emissions.

Polluters Dominate the Agenda at COP 17 in Durban

At the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17), 20,000 negotiators and stakeholders from nearly 200 countries are meeting in Durban, South Africa. Although many countries are taking steps to curb GHG emissions as part of the global fight against climate change, there is little hope of a binding international agreement this year. After COP 15 in Copenhagen, there was considerable well warranted pessimism, and after COP16 in Cancun, heightened expectations appear to have vanished.

Video: Business Opportunities from Combating Climate Change

This video reviews business opportunities associated with efforts to combat climate change. The video concludes by going into a bit of detail about carbon farming.  In the order in which they are presented here are the six areas of opportnities:

1. Changes to business models
2. Innovative technologies
3. Clean and renewable energy
4. Financial markets like carbon trading
5. Service industry
6. Carbon farming (sequestration and emissions avoidance

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Video of Steven Chu at COP16: Building a Sustainable Energy Future

Secretary of Energy Steven Chu addresses the US Center in Cancun. In his remarks he highlights the need to promote international collaborations to find new solutions, use energy more wisely and develop low-carbon technologies.

Despite the resistance of legislators and the ignorance of the American people, Chu indicates that the US is committed to taking action to meet the energy and environment challenge. Chu further indicates that the price of oil will continue to escalate and this will help renewable fuel sources. Chu makes the point that despite skepticism in America, the scientific evidence for climate change is getting stronger.


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