Growing countries should be allowed emissions
Developing countries should have different standards for emission reductions than “developed” countries, to allow for their economic growth, a US Department of State official said Wednesday, Nov. 10.
Jeff Miotke, the department’s climate change coordinator for the U.S. special envoy for climate change, talked about the differences during a discussion about what to expect from climate change negotiations in Cancun next week.
Miotke said developed countries like the US should agree to reduce their emissions on an absolute basis, below a past year’s baseline, while developing countries should be held to more relative standards. For example, the US has committed to reduce their emissions levels in 2020 by 17 percent of what they were in 2005. China is targeting a reduction of the carbon intensity of their economy by up to 45 percent, which means per unit of GDP the amount of emissions would decline but overall emissions will actually grow with the country’s economy.
“Over the short term I think this is something that’s quite feasible and is equitable to allow developing countries that face a very evident development challenge to continue to … Continue Reading
Stating the obvious
On a project like this, when you’re Google searching every conceivable variation of the phrase you want to find, it’s hard to know what you’re missing or how you’re missing it. All you know is, what I want is out there and I can’t find it.
So you’re slightly frustrated at yourself when, after several weeks of mind-numbing research, you find what you need was right under your nose all along. But you’re even more frustrated by the people who you came in contact during those weeks who probably could have directed you to the info long ago. … Continue Reading
Nations lack resources to prep for climate change
The U.S. Climate Action Network’s head of outreach said today that she is hoping a funding plan for billions in dollars promised to help developing countries with climate adaptation and mitigation projects will precede the United Nations climate change summit in Cancun next month.
CAN Outreach Director Jennifer Kurz discussed the funding during a weekly webchat hosted by the U.S. State Department.
More than 25 nations agreed to the Copenhagen Accord last December, which commits developed countries to provide $30 billion from 2010-2012 for mitigation and adaptation investments, and also promises that developed countries will “mobilize” $100 billion a year by 2020. … Continue Reading
Military opens discussion on energy security
Vice Adm. William R Burke, deputy chief of naval operations for fleet readiness and logistics, speaking Oct. 13 about the Navy's energy conservation
The Department of Defense celebrated its efforts to minimize energy consumption last week at the Pentagon. (Read about the panel and events here.) Considering that DoD accounts for more than 90 percent of the federal government’s oil consumption, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen put it best: “It’s taken us far too long to get to this point.” Read his speech
Moving from the “burn it if you’ve got it” mentality has been hard for the military but recent emphasis on the many sketchy countries the U.S. buys oil from has helped with the transition. And the US military in particular has a real opportunity here to lead. Again, as Mullen put it, “We can either lead the change or be changed by the leadership of others.”
Mission
The U.S. government is bracing for climate change as the next threat to national security. Has the U.S. done enough to prepare for the coming risks? We unveiled our investigation on Jan. 10, 2011.
All the details on Global-Warning.org. »
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