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DeBoer, Hedegaard downplay expectations for a full legally binding treaty to be completed in Cancun
Outgoing UN Climate Chief Yvo DeBoer said this week that it is a “heavy lift” to have the content and form of a legal treaty completed in Cancun. At the EU meeting this week his sentiments were echoed by Connie Hedegaard, now the EU Environment Minister, who warned that “while it is desirable to achieve a legally binding deal as soon as possible, this was most likely not achievable before the ‘Cop 17". COP 17 will be hosted by South Africa, a member of the BASIC group of countries, in 2011.
UNFCCC Secretariat announces extra negotiating session for April
As speculated last week, the UNFCCC Secretariat announced an extra negotiating session to take place in Bonn from April 9 – 11. No other additional sessions have been scheduled at this time, however it is likely this meeting may set the negotiating schedule for the year including possible additional meetings in the run-up to Cancun.
Along similar lines, the Mexican government will be holding informal discussions on March 18th and 19th in Mexico City. It is unclear yet which countries have been invited to this discussion.
Bolivian Government launches online Referendum on Climate Change
As the Cochabamba summit approaches, Bolivia has launched an on-line global referendum to mobilize broad social forces in view of the lack of consensus among country actors. The ballot is in Spanish, English and French and aims to gather votes from all over the globe to express people’s concerns and expectations. The results will be discussed at the Cochabamba summit.
UNEP’s Steiner cautions nations must get short term finance flowing or risk Copenhagen Accord.
Achim Steiner, Head of UNEP said developing nations could be able to apply within three months for some of the $30 billion in climate aid promised by rich nations for 2010-12 under the Copenhagen Accord.
Rules for disbursing aid are unclear in the Accord and Steiner said that one developing nation recently asked him if there was a phone number to ring to ask about the cash. “If, in three months’ time, there still isn’t a phone number then I expect that part of the accord to be in trouble, but I expect there to be one,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of a major U.N. environment conference in Nusa Dua, on the Indonesian island of Bali. His sentiments were echoed by Norway’s Environment Minister, Erik Solheim, who said he was not aware of any progress being made on that front.
UNEP to appoint independent scientists to review IPCC work
UNEP announced on Thursday that an independent board of scientists will be appointed to review the work of the IPCC and report out by August. Names of the scientists and its term of reference are still to come. This is welcome news to those in the climate change advocacy community as they watched public confidence in the science erode over the past several months. More
World Conference of Churches calls on members to ‘renew efforts’ for a Fair Ambitious and Binding climate deal
Longtime participant in addressing climate change, the World Conference of Churches is calling for renewed efforts with its member churches to engage with governments and call for a fair, ambitious and binding agreement at this year's COP conference, taking place in Mexico in December 2010. WCC is also encouraging member churches and partners to sterengthen their committments and cooperation around climate change.
From the statement:
The World Council of Churches deeply regrets that a lack of political will from major players in COP 15 prevented achievement of a deal which would effectively respond to the climate change challenge. The moral obligations of the states to adopt a clear position regarding adaptation, mitigation and technology transfer failed to prevail as individual state interests became prominent.
Action Aid releases ‘Meals Per Gallon’ report on EU’s demand for biofuels impact on hunger
Up to 100 million more people could go hungry if the UK and Europe commit to increases in biofuels consumption in order to meet new European Union legislation, says ActionAid.
‘Biofuels are driving a global human tragedy. Local food prices have already risen massively. As biofuel production gains pace, this can only accelerate. ‘
Featured Partner Video: ‘We Are a Weapon of Mass Collaboration’
Need a bit of inspiration this morning? Check out this video from UK-based GCCA partner BeThatChange.com. The video, part of BeThatChange's call for ‘An End to Poverty. A Future for Our Planet.’, centers around the surging youth movement working for climate change and social justice.
