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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #150 on: February 23, 2015, 07:14:33 PM »
Quote
The aviation sector will soon have a new way to measure, account for and reward reductions in the gases that contribute to climate change thanks to work agreed to this week by the Board that runs the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

Aviation accounts for about 2% of total global CO2 emissions and about 12% of the CO2 emissions from all transportation sources.
...

The CDM rewards with saleable credits – certified emission reductions (CERs) – projects that reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to sustainable development. The incentive has led to registration of 7,870 projects and programmes in 107 developing countries, hundreds of billions of dollars in investment, and 1.5 billion fewer tonnes of gas entering the atmosphere.
http://cdm.unfccc.int/press/newsroom/latestnews/releases/2014/0213_index.html
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #151 on: February 23, 2015, 09:13:28 PM »
Quote
A copy of the European Commission’s proposed contribution to a 2015 UN climate change deal has been leaked on Twitter.

It confirms the bloc will aim for domestic greenhouse gas reductions of 40% on 1990 levels by 2030, with a global goal of 60% below 2010 levels by 2050.

Brussels wants reviews of climate targets every five years, and calls for the UN’s aviation and shipping bodies to develop regulations to cut emissions in those sectors by 2016.

It says all countries wishing to join a “Paris protocol” must commit to internationally legally binding mitigation goals.

The bloc also wants all G20 nations – including India and Saudi Arabia – to commit to economy-wide carbon cuts by 2025 at the latest.

http://www.rtcc.org/2015/02/23/eu-targets-60-global-carbon-cuts-by-2050-in-leaked-climate-plan/#.dpuf
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #152 on: February 24, 2015, 09:39:02 PM »
Richard Branson (Virgin Group) and Paul Polman (Unilever) renew their call for business-folk to channel their ambition and act on climate.
Quote
Business leaders hate unnecessary risk. If governments don't implement strong and responsible climate policy, we are courting both economic and environmental disaster.

This transition, if done equitably and conscientiously, will create jobs, spark innovation and fight global inequality. An estimated $90 trillion will be spent on global infrastructure in the next 15 years, regardless of what future we choose. Economists estimate that the switch to a fully low-carbon infrastructure would raise costs by only 4.5%. If we choose to spend that money wisely under a paradigm of climate action, we can lower emissions, lower our risks and lower the number of people who go without electricity and other essential services. Simply put: Will we spend that same money to go clean, or to stay with the dirty status quo?
http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/19/opinion/branson-polman-climate-business
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Neven

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #153 on: February 24, 2015, 11:28:34 PM »
The enemy is within
Don't confuse me with him

E. Smith

Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #154 on: February 25, 2015, 01:13:22 AM »
Maybe that's why he's so keen on having everyone else join the effort!  ;)
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AbruptSLR

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #155 on: February 25, 2015, 10:23:30 PM »
The linked reference (with an open access pdf) with a US EPA view of the history of efforts to address climate change shows that after over 40-years of general recognition of the nature of the climate change problem; little progress has been made to control carbon dioxide emissions.  In particular, I find it interesting that per the attached image that while the anthropogenic emission rates have fluctuated, the increase of atmospheric CO₂ concentrations has been more uniformly upward, indicating that the Earth Systems may be buffering the impact of anthropogenic radiative forcing.  Hopefully, Paris/COP-21 will be more effective than past efforts to control anthropogenic GHG emissions.

Hecht, O. (2015). Past, Present, and Future: Urgency of Dealing with Climate Change. Retrieved from http://www.energyandclimatechange.org/view/article/54aadc910cf2a51e13d15433

http://www.energyandclimatechange.org/files/325401_325500/325478/acs-climate-paper.pdf

Abstract: "This paper gives an historic perspective on 10 critical phases and actions in advancing an understanding of climate change and taking appropriate domestic and international action. Credit goes to atmospheric scientists for their committed efforts to understand, model and measure the impacts of climate change. Today, greenhouse gases are at a record level and little doubt remains that greenhouse gases (GHG) warm the atmosphere and that human-made climate change is real.  Recognizing the urgency of responding to climate change, the 2013 US Climate Action Plan aims to cut carbon emissions and prepare to deal effectively with the economic, social, and environmental impacts of climate change. Many US states, Tribes, and local communities have also begun to take action to reduce GHG emissions and adapt to the impact of climate change, especially on disadvantaged communities. While recognition of the urgency of action on climate change is growing in government and in large parts of the business and financial sector, it has taken over 40 years to get to this point. While an understanding of the reality and impact of climate change has grown, significant efforts to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and stabilize global warming have not occurred. The problem that society faces is not the absence of scientific knowledge, but rather the need to reduce GHG emissions and create resilient and adaptive responses to climate change. This paper concludes that future successes will need more effective collaboration between government, business, and society to address climate change and greater public understanding of the impacts of climate change on human health and economic well-being."
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AbruptSLR

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #156 on: March 02, 2015, 06:33:23 PM »
The linked editorial articles indicates that the World Economic Forum, WEF, report issued after the gathering in Davos shows that success at COP21 in Paris will depend on a high level of international trust in an era of increasing national sentiment and of weakening international governance.  This does not bode well for the prospects of COP21.

http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v5/n3/full/nclimate2565.html

Extract: "The WEF report shows that the influencers surveyed have growing concerns about environmental risks, with those closely related to climate change high in the overall risk hierarchy. There is also an acknowledgement that little progress has been made to date. Unfortunately two of the trends identified, increasing national sentiment and weakening of international governance do not bode well for an international climate agreement, and the apparent re-emergence of interstate conflict seems to bear out these concerns. The risk landscape therefore provides a mixed outlook for Paris 2015, and it seems that success will depend on a high level of international trust and cooperation at a time when they are in dwindling supply."
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AbruptSLR

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #157 on: March 05, 2015, 09:58:58 AM »
The linked reference discusses how a UN-backed framework is planning to help prepare the world to better deal with the risks of increasing natural disasters:


http://www.rtcc.org/2015/03/04/un-prepares-for-disaster-risk-deal-to-address-climate-change/


Extract: "The World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Sendai, running from 14-18 March, should be huge news.The 22-page draft negotiating text is packed full of ambitious goals, building on the last DRR deal, agreed in the Japanese city of Kobe in 2005.It will require countries to draw up tougher plans to cope with future natural or human influenced disasters, investing in education, early warning systems and emergency plans.

The report revealed that economic losses from disasters are costing an average of US$250-300 billion every year.And it suggested governments are too focused on managing disasters as they happen rather than managing the underlying risks, calling for $6 billion a year to be invested in risk management.

… he wanted to see closer links between the goals of a DRR deal and a Paris climate pact, which is likely to focus heavily on efforts to slow emissions."
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #158 on: March 07, 2015, 07:35:11 PM »
EU commits to cut emissions “at least” 40% by 2030 in UN pledge.
Quote
On Friday environment ministers approved the bloc’s intended nationally determined contribution (INDC), which targets greenhouse gas cuts of “at least” 40% on 1990 levels by 2030.

Details of the submission, published on the European Commission website, say it is in line with global emission cuts of 60% on 2010 levels by 2050.

The EC said this was “at the upper end of the IPCC’s [UN climate science panel] range of 40-70% reductions necessary to achieve the below 2C target.”

http://www.rtcc.org/2015/03/06/eu-commits-to-cut-emissions-at-least-40-by-2030-in-un-pledge/#.dpuf
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #159 on: March 11, 2015, 07:13:11 PM »
It's official:  EU commits to “at least” 40% cuts of emissions from 1990 level by 2030.

Quote
The EU's official contribution will be a target of an at least 40 percent cut in emissions by 2030, compared to levels emitted in 1990.
...

The target has to be achieved domestically rather than through offsets that allow member states to buy into carbon-cutting schemes outside Europe.

EU diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, say the 40 percent target will have to be shared among member states and debate over how to achieve that is only likely to begin after the Paris talks.

One option is to share the effort based on a member state's GDP per capita.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/03/06/us-eu-environment-idUKKBN0M21KI20150306
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AbruptSLR

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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #161 on: March 21, 2015, 11:09:23 PM »
Quote
New York, 20 March (UN Forum on Forests press [r]elease) —The sustainable management and conservation of forests must be considered in the design and implementation of the new sustainable development goals and the new climate change agreement to be adopted this December in Paris, according to UN officials and forest experts in messages for the International Day of Forests, observed on 21 March.

At least 1.6 billion people directly depend on forests for food, fuel, shelter and income, but everyone benefits from the clean air, water, and climate regulation that forests provide. Three fourths of freshwater, crucial for human survival, comes from forested catchments. Healthy forests are critical for building resilience—the ability to bounce back from storms and other natural disasters. Mangrove forests, when left intact, reduce loss of life and damage caused by tsunamis.
...
“Forests are integral to the post-2015 development agenda,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message marking the International Day of Forests, observed on 21 March. “To build a sustainable, climate-resilient future for all, we must invest in our world's forests.”

Forest Remain Greatest Carbon Sink that Humans Can Influence

Forests are the largest storehouses of carbon after oceans. They can absorb and store carbon in their biomass, soils and products, equivalent to about one tenth of carbon emissions projected for the first half of this century. At the same time, deforestation and land-use changes account for 17 per cent of human-generated carbon dioxide emissions.
http://newsroom.unfccc.int/nature-s-role/forest-day-forests-essential-for-meeting-people-s-needs-and-tackling-climate-change/
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AbruptSLR

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #162 on: March 25, 2015, 04:02:10 PM »
With one week to go for nations to submit pledges for the CoP21 meeting in Paris, the linked article indicates that most of the nations of the world are missing in action:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-24/biggest-polluters-to-miss-deadline-for-action-on-climate
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AbruptSLR

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #163 on: March 29, 2015, 04:39:17 AM »
The following link leads to a working copy of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change -  Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, drafted in Geneva in February 2015.  Note that the possibility of recognizing a 1.5 C (instead of a 2 C) limit on temperature rise by 2100 is cited as an option throughout this linked document (indicating the degree of concern of some of the delegates).  We will see which temperature limit is selected at Bonn in June 2015, and what is finally agreed to at CoP21 in Paris:

http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2015/adp2/eng/01.pdf
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AbruptSLR

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #164 on: March 29, 2015, 07:13:01 PM »
The linked article makes it clear that while it is highly unlikely that the temperature rise can be limited to 2C, let alone 1.5C, the big point in trying to recognize a 1.5C target is that it provides a scientific baseline in the debate for climate reparations.

Jeff Tollefson, (2015), "Global-warming limit of 2 °C hangs in the balance: Panel creates scientific baseline for debate about climate reparations", Nature News & Comment, doi:10.1038/nature.2015.17202

http://www.nature.com/news/global-warming-limit-of-2-c-hangs-in-the-balance-1.17202

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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #165 on: March 29, 2015, 07:40:03 PM »
The linked article makes it clear that while it is highly unlikely that the temperature rise can be limited to 2C, let alone 1.5C, the big point in trying to recognize a 1.5C target is that it provides a scientific baseline in the debate for climate reparations.

Jeff Tollefson, (2015), "Global-warming limit of 2 °C hangs in the balance: Panel creates scientific baseline for debate about climate reparations", Nature News & Comment, doi:10.1038/nature.2015.17202

http://www.nature.com/news/global-warming-limit-of-2-c-hangs-in-the-balance-1.17202

I like the rather more concrete idea of using CO2 levels (and emissions) as a target, rather than eventual temperature, in these agreements.  Global CO2 concentration is a number reported essentially daily (and soon, using the new satellites, available even by location).  “1.5 or 2 degrees at some point” seems nebulous, in comparison.

From your linked article:
Quote
Some researchers argue that the international community should adopt more meaningful measures such as  atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, which has steadily risen in the past half-century in association with a rise in emissions, from about 320 parts per million to 400 parts per million.

“There’s been a very strong incentive for governments to make bold claims about long-term goals that they cannot deliver on,” says David Victor, a political scientist at the University of California, San Diego. “If you start setting goals in terms of emissions, you get closer to what real governments and firms have control over.”
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #166 on: March 29, 2015, 09:19:48 PM »
Quote
Mexico has become the first developing nation to formally promise to cut its global-warming pollution, a potential milestone in efforts to reach a worldwide agreement on tackling climate change.

Mexico expects greenhouse-gas emissions to peak by 2026 and then decline, Environment Minister Juan Jose Guerra Abud said at a news conference in Mexico City Friday. The nation has pledged to curb the growth of pollutants 25 percent from its current trajectory by 2030.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-27/mexico-pledges-25-cut-in-greenhouse-gas-emissions-growth
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Laurent

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #167 on: March 29, 2015, 09:54:41 PM »
I totally agree with Sigmetnow. The limit should be on CO2 and CO2eq.
« Last Edit: March 29, 2015, 10:03:47 PM by Laurent »

Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #168 on: March 30, 2015, 04:14:37 PM »
Australia's climate change policy on course for 'disastrous' 4C warming
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/30/australias-climate-change-policy-on-course-for-disastrous-4c-warming

Graph compares U.S., EU, and Australia emissions/projections:
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #169 on: March 30, 2015, 06:03:45 PM »
"A way to get power to the world’s poor without making climate change worse"
Quote
... a new paper in Nature Climate Change ... [is] somewhat technical, but boiled down, it does two key things.

First, it shows that on-grid and off-grid technologies are not distinct choices but a continuum, a ladder of energy access, everything from consistent grid access to partial grid access to mini- or micro-grids to home solar systems. And second, it shows how at least the first few steps up that ladder can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The paper doesn’t propose to solve the ultimate dilemma of providing full energy access to all humanity within planetary boundaries, but it shows that there is a practical road forward, using newly emerging technologies, that can serve to “rapidly increase access to basic electricity services and directly inform the emerging Sustainable Development Goals for quality of life, while simultaneously driving action towards low-carbon, Earth-sustaining, inclusive energy systems.”
http://grist.org/climate-energy/a-way-to-get-power-to-the-worlds-poor-without-making-climate-change-worse/

Edit: Meant to post this in the Renewables thread, but it makes sense here, as well.
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #170 on: March 31, 2015, 08:27:06 PM »
The U.S. today has submitted its target for the Paris talks.
Quote
Today, the United States followed through on that joint announcement by officially submitting our target — or “intended nationally determined contribution,” in the jargon of the international climate negotiations — to the UNFCCC.
https://medium.com/@Deese44/we-re-taking-action-on-climate-change-and-the-world-is-joining-us-2bf44a62b9b9

Here's Bloomberg's business take.
Quote
Kevin Kennedy, deputy director of the U.S. Climate Initiative at WRI, says the White House has charted a course that falls somewhere between Middle-of-the-Road and Go-Getter.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-31/obama-s-new-climate-change-plan-in-two-charts
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AbruptSLR

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #171 on: April 01, 2015, 06:12:57 PM »
The U.S. today has submitted its target for the Paris talks.
Quote
Today, the United States followed through on that joint announcement by officially submitting our target — or “intended nationally determined contribution,” in the jargon of the international climate negotiations — to the UNFCCC.
https://medium.com/@Deese44/we-re-taking-action-on-climate-change-and-the-world-is-joining-us-2bf44a62b9b9


The linked article indicates that the US Republican leadership is warning the world the America may not honor the voluntary carbon emission reductions (INDC) that the Obama administration just submitted to the UN:

http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/03/31/climatechange-usa-opposition-idINL2N0WX2ER20150331
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #172 on: April 01, 2015, 06:18:59 PM »
The Washington Post on the U.S. climate commitment:
Quote
The Obama administration’s commitment represents a more realistic approach to climate diplomacy than past efforts.
...
There is plenty of room for responsible criticism of the president’s plan. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), for example, said Tuesday that it puts too much emphasis on wind power and too little on nuclear. But Mr. Alexander properly did not counter with inaction as a viable plan. His fellow Republicans could learn something from his example.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/president-obamas-emissions-plan-sets-an-example-for-the-world/2015/03/31/c13c49ba-d7d1-11e4-b3f2-607bd612aeac_story.html
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #173 on: April 02, 2015, 04:26:53 PM »
US climate plans will survive Republican attacks, say officials
Quote
...Brian Deese, a senior advisor to President Obama said the plans outlined in the US submission were consistent with current policies, and would require no further approval.

“It’s based on existing laws that have been passed by Congress and therefore no new legislation is necessary to realise the reductions we propose,” he said.
...

...Stern – lead climate negotiator since 2009 – argued it would not be easy to take apart two presidential terms of work.

“The undoing of the regulations we are putting in place is something that is very tough to do,” he said.

“Countries ask me about the solidity of what we are doing all the time, and that’s exactly what I say, based on existing authority and the kind of regulations we are putting in place does not get easily undone.”
http://www.rtcc.org/2015/04/01/us-climate-plans-will-survive-republican-attacks-say-officials/
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AbruptSLR

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #174 on: April 03, 2015, 04:46:17 PM »
The linked article discusses what measured need to be taken with regards to assessment and review, of the implementation of the CoP21 Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) pledges will be toothless.

http://www.rtcc.org/2015/03/31/accountability-must-be-at-the-heart-of-the-paris-climate-pact/

« Last Edit: April 04, 2015, 12:42:34 AM by AbruptSLR »
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #175 on: April 04, 2015, 12:30:52 AM »
NYT: Obama's strategy on climate deals?  Have regulations in place before he leaves office.
Quote
At the heart of the plan are ambitious but politically contentious Environmental Protection Agency regulations meant to drastically cut planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions from the nation’s cars and coal-fired power plants. The plan also relies on a speedy timetable, which assumes that Mr. Obama’s administration will issue and begin enacting all such regulations before he leaves office.

“We can achieve this goal using laws that are already on the books, and it will be in place by the time the president leaves office,” said Brian C. Deese, Mr. Obama’s senior adviser on climate change.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/01/us/obama-to-offer-major-blueprint-on-climate-change.html
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #176 on: April 04, 2015, 12:54:13 AM »
Quote
A new poll finds an overwhelming majority of Americans support an international agreement to cut planet-warming emissions.

The poll found 72 percent of likely 2016 voters said they support the United States signing on to an international agreement on climate change.

...
Sixty-five percent of respondents said they thought the United States “should take the lead and make meaningful reductions in its carbon emissions and other gases that may cause global warming.” Even a majority of Republican respondents -- 52 percent –- expressed support for the U.S. joining an international agreement on climate change. A much stronger percentage of Democrats, at 88 percent, supported it, as did 73 percent of independents.
...
A strong majority of respondents, at 73 percent, said it is important for the U.S. to lead by example and to demonstrate that the country is willing to work with other countries.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/30/us-climate-agreement_n_6972434.html
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AbruptSLR

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #177 on: April 07, 2015, 05:02:00 PM »
The linked article discusses three lessons learned that need to be applied to the CoP21 process leading to Paris, which are: (a) resolve the politics first (as to what can be declared as "Mission Accomplished" by having each country submit its own voluntary plan; (b) implement a verification process so that the general public can be made to feel that progress is being made (no matter how limited); and (c) actively manage state elite denialist (such as the US Congressional Republican Leadership, see the Edited insert of a second link) who will try to promote backsliding and continued addiction to fossil fuels.

http://www.rtcc.org/2015/04/06/three-lessons-the-iran-nuclear-deal-can-teach-climate-negotiators/

Edited Insert:
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/04/01/3641594/mcconnells-inner-tom-cotton/
« Last Edit: April 07, 2015, 05:11:07 PM by AbruptSLR »
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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #178 on: April 09, 2015, 07:32:38 PM »
Reports: Japan Will Promise To Reduce Carbon Emissions 20 Percent By 2030
It is not clear which year the reductions would be based off of.

Quote
Either way, it is somewhat surprising that Japan would make any carbon reduction pledge considering the significant level of uncertainty facing its energy policies. Following the country’s Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, Japan shut down all of its working nuclear reactors and switched to more carbon-spewing fossil fuels to fill the energy production void. At the time, Japan was getting about 30 percent of its power from nuclear, and planned to increase that to 40 percent by 2017.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/04/09/3644893/japan-climate-change-pledge-maybe/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #179 on: April 26, 2015, 05:49:00 PM »
Australia (and Canada) 'public enemy number one' of UN climate talks, says Nobel laureate.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/25/australia-public-enemy-number-one-of-un-climate-talks-says-nobel-laureate
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #180 on: April 26, 2015, 05:55:56 PM »
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

AbruptSLR

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #181 on: April 30, 2015, 05:46:09 PM »
The linked article indicates that key parties (including the USA due to politicking from the Republican controlled Congress) have missed the deadline for meeting their obligations to the Green Climate Fund.  Without these contributions there is very little chance that the developing world will be able to make any appropriate level of emissions controls under the CoP21 agreement:

http://www.rtcc.org/2015/04/30/us-japan-and-canada-miss-green-climate-fund-donation-deadline/
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AbruptSLR

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #182 on: May 04, 2015, 05:07:49 PM »
The linked article states that many developing countries are urging the IPCC to lower its 2C climate goal, as models indicate that even a 1.5C goal would result in substantial environmental impacts:

http://www.rtcc.org/2015/05/04/rethink-2c-climate-goal-urge-worlds-most-vulnerable/
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AbruptSLR

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #183 on: May 09, 2015, 01:24:40 AM »
The linked article and the associated image analyze the gap between emission reduction pledges and the goals to remain below either 2C or 1.5C:

http://climateanalytics.org/files/ca_briefing_benchmark_emissions_1p5_and_2oc_2020_2025_2030_20150210_final_bh_may.pdf
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Jim Hunt

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #184 on: May 09, 2015, 12:46:17 PM »
A novel take on the UK general election results:

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Greg Barker, former climate envoy to the prime minister and strong green voice within the last government, was “absolutely delighted” and said Cameron would be an advocate for climate action.

“I think UK influence has been massively increased as a result of the vote for security and stability – and that includes climate stability.”

Liberal Democrat Ed Davey, former secretary of state for energy and climate change, lost his seat, leaving a vacancy to lead the UK’s delegation to UN climate talks later this year.

Richard Benyon, Amber Rudd, Matt Hancock and Nick Hurd have been suggested as contenders for the role.

My own reaction is more along the following lines:


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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #185 on: May 09, 2015, 05:55:07 PM »
Send Arthur Price to Paris!

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #186 on: May 09, 2015, 06:01:51 PM »
Send Arthur Price to Paris!

Unfortunately Arthur failed to get elected as my local Member of Parliament by an overwhelming margin:

https://twitter.com/jim_hunt/status/596621789641449472

347 votes compared to the incumbent Conservative's 28,436.
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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #187 on: May 09, 2015, 07:58:45 PM »
But head held high in defeat I assume .... Unlike one or two others?

Respect for Arthur and power to the "people on the street"!


Jim Hunt

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #188 on: May 11, 2015, 03:40:28 PM »
In the latest news on the Great British “reshuffle”:

Quote
Amber Rudd was appointed Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on 11 May 2015.

https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-energy-and-climate-change

I'm afraid I was unable to resist Twitter temptation:

https://twitter.com/jim_hunt/status/597755643089571841

Any chance of a "retweet" or three?
« Last Edit: May 11, 2015, 03:53:24 PM by Jim Hunt »
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AbruptSLR

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #189 on: May 12, 2015, 05:59:36 PM »
The linked article discusses whether the CoP21 climate change pact to be finalized in Paris in December 2015, will have any teeth:

http://www.rtcc.org/2015/05/12/will-a-paris-climate-change-pact-have-any-teeth/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #190 on: May 19, 2015, 05:10:24 AM »
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Canada announced Friday that it was committing to a goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent compared to 2005 levels by 2030, an announcement that comes in the lead-up to the United Nations’ international climate talks at the end of this year.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/05/15/3659589/canada-emissions-pledge/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #191 on: May 19, 2015, 03:57:40 PM »
Call for Climate Action - Joint Statement from Angela Merkel and François Hollande (May 19, 2015)
Quote
...We invite all countries to join us in this endeavor by doing their part in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities and in light of different national circumstances. We are committed to the goal of limiting global temperature increase at least to below 2°C compared with pre-industrial levels.
...
Our countries will continue to show leadership in this profound transformation of our economies and our societies towards full decarbonization. We are committed, through the Energiewende in Germany and the “transition énergétique” in France, to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 80 to 95 % in 2050 compared to 1990.
http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy-1/climate-7436/events-7880/article/petersberg-dialogue-call-for
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #192 on: May 20, 2015, 06:49:49 PM »
More than cities, less than whole countries:

12 States from Different Countries Sign to be Climate Leaders
Quote
A group of 12 sub-national governments collectively representing more than $4.5 trillion in GDP and 100 million people have signed Under 2 MOU, which is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that commits them to take leadership on climate action at their level of jurisdiction.

The signatories include: California, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, USA; Acre, Brazil; Baden-Württemberg, Germany; Baja California and Jalisco, Mexico; Catalonia, Spain; Ontario and British Columbia, Canada and Wales, UK.

The agreement identifies action being taken and promotes greater ambition on climate change than is currently being contemplated in the international process leading to the Paris climate change conference at the end of this year.

Each signatory commits to limit emissions to below eighty to ninety-five percent below 1990 levels, or below two metric tons per capita, by 2050 – which is a level of emission reductions believed to be necessary to limit global warming to less than 2°C by the end of this century.
http://newsroom.unfccc.int/unfccc-newsroom/under-2-mou-a-subnational-global-climate-leadership/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #193 on: May 23, 2015, 04:32:25 PM »
Green Climate Fund says it’s funded and open for business
Quote
Officials said the fund will now finalise an initial set of projects aimed at helping developing countries develop better clean energy systems and prepare for future climate impacts.
http://www.rtcc.org/2015/05/21/green-climate-fund-says-its-funded-and-open-for-business/
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #194 on: June 02, 2015, 07:37:46 PM »
Facing reality....

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The global climate agreement being negotiated this year must be worded in such a way that it doesn’t require approval by the US Congress, the French foreign minister said on Monday.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/01/un-climate-talks-deal-us-congress
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #195 on: June 03, 2015, 12:43:03 PM »
World Resources Institute:
The $100 billion/year global Climate Fund target is "unlikely to be met unless private sector funding is included. But if it is included, then the target can be reached or even substantially exceeded."
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/03/private-sector-climate-change-development-fund
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #196 on: June 07, 2015, 03:31:18 PM »
“Paris 2015” is now being referred to as the "Universal Climate Agreement."  Certainly puts a different spin on it....
May need to change the name of this thread.  :)

Website:
http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en


Green Climate Fund ready to help developing nations fight climate change
Quote
Once again, climate negotiators have gathered in Bonn to discuss the fate of the Universal Climate Agreement (UCA). The spiritual grandchild of the Earth Summit Rio agreement of 23 years ago, the UCA is the world's best chance to limit global temperature increase to 2 degrees Celsius.
http://www.trust.org/item/20150605120716-naxt1/
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SATire

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #197 on: June 07, 2015, 08:41:00 PM »
“Paris 2015” is now being referred to as the "Universal Climate Agreement."  Certainly puts a different spin on it....
May need to change the name of this thread.  :)

Website:
http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en


Green Climate Fund ready to help developing nations fight climate change
Quote
Once again, climate negotiators have gathered in Bonn to discuss the fate of the Universal Climate Agreement (UCA). The spiritual grandchild of the Earth Summit Rio agreement of 23 years ago, the UCA is the world's best chance to limit global temperature increase to 2 degrees Celsius.
http://www.trust.org/item/20150605120716-naxt1/

They could universally agree, that someone should do something against climate change. Probably not us and not now - but you'll never know ;-) Just paving the way for the next conference...

Sorry - I have seen to many conferences with zero results since Rio & Kyoto. The big ones will not agree on anything that could hurt. Therefore, there will be no effect. Some even did not announce any promise (despite it is promised, that such promise will never be controlled...). But an agreement will be found - just to please the host.

Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #198 on: June 08, 2015, 02:20:24 PM »
SATire,

Yes, looking back at prior agreements, it is hard to be optimistic about the outcome in Paris.  But the thing about Time, in this case, is that every month, the climate change situation is becoming worse -- and the solutions are becoming clearer (and cheaper!), so the impetus to act keeps increasing.  I think Paris will be a step -- a big, but not sufficient one -- towards the globe agreeing what needs to be done, and I'm seeing more talk about "ratcheting up" goals even after that.  Paris will not be the final word, but it will help us get our act together.

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-32829668
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Sigmetnow

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Re: UN Climate Agreement - Paris 2015 and beyond
« Reply #199 on: June 08, 2015, 09:26:19 PM »
G7 leaders agree on ambitious decarbonization goal but provide no plan on how they'll do it
http://mashable.com/2015/06/08/g7-nations-decarbonize-economies-2100/
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