African Anger at European Calls for A ‘New Mandate’

If you wish to add your organization's name please send an email to: greeder@coa.edu ASAP Civil society groups attack ‘Durban Mandate’ proposal as a ‘great escape’ DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – Today – Civil society leaders from across Africa, with support from global movements, launched a letter to climate negotiators that warns that focusing on launching a new mandate at the Durban talks...

China Syndrome

by Nathan Thanki With the dirty details of week one out of the way, COP17 is changing gears into the high-level segment. Heads of State are coming to town, security is ramped up (execpt at our hostel) and the drone of talks about an outcome  becomes louder and more persistent. A lot off that buzz is around a Durban deal, the so called "Durban Mandate." Most of the noise is around whether or not...

A New Adaptation Framework: Don’t hold your breath for this empty shell

by Graham Reeder This past week (and year), I’ve been following the issue of adaptation. As many of you know, Climate Change is not just a long-term threat that is looming in the horizon; it is being experienced by people now in a very real way.  The World Health Organisation estimates that climatic changes are causing 150,000 deaths annually; the vast majority of which are in sub-Saharan...

Graham’s Intervention to the SBI:

Yesterday, Graham Reeder gave an intervention during a plenary of the Subsidiary Body for implementation.  Earth in Brackets plans to post videos of Graham's and Julian's interventions, so look out.   Thank you chair, My name is Graham and I am here with College of the Atlantic to speak on behalf of the youth constituency. We appreciate the work we have seen to ensure solid outcomes and...

No One Can Play Poker Like The US

by Joe Perullo There was a special Open-ended informal consultation on Wednesday organized by the president of the COP to discuss the possible Durban outcome.  There's no definition on what the outcome is right now, but it will for sure address the concerns arising from the potential elimination of the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.  The US was second or third on the initial...