A Long Term Goal in the Paris Agreement: A Failure Without Differentiation & Equity

By Paige Nygaard We are getting closer and closer to the end of COP21. Anticipation is growing to seeing what disaster will unfold within the text. Will it be slightly bad? Absolutely terrible? How much will the United States be able to shift the burden of climate change to other countries while also blaming them for any bad deal in Paris? As every draft text gets released, it favors the...

The Youth Complex at COP21

By: Sara Velander and Jenna Farineau Each day at the Conference of Parties, a certain theme is chosen to frame the day’s events and actions, and this past Wednesday, December 4, bore the theme “Young and Future Generations.” Young people were running around expressing their cheery nature, while adults stood in front of them making speeches and while camera-men followed just behind to make...

Working Towards Another Green Revolution…the Ultimate Downfall of 4 per 1000

By Sara Velander and Jenna Farineau There are a considerable amount of false solutions out in the world currently. You know - the “green solutions” that multinational corporations promote in their annual sustainability reports. Or the resilience projects that governments boast about during high-level conferences hosted by their town, city, or country. The types of solutions that look so...

Leaders Event and Japanese position toward the COP 21

Leaders Event and Briefing by the Spokesperson of the Government of Japan on the Japanese position toward the COP 21 from the first day of Climate Negotiation by Makiko Yoshida November 30, 2015 marked the opening of the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at Le Bourget in Paris, France. This meeting also serves as the eleventh meeting of the...

Opening Plenary for the Paris Agreement – False Promises on Transparency and Ambition

by Sergio Cahueque and Sara Velander The Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) opening session took place on Sunday, November 29th at 5 PM, starting with a minute of silence to honor all the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris two weeks ago. The purpose of the ADP in the next week is to consolidate a document that the parties can adopt, as a protocol or...