This editorial gives the New York Times’ assessment of Copenhagen. On the whole, they’re upbeat, seeing benefit in renewed US leadership and China’s emergence as a player. Much work remains, not least Senate passage of a cap-and-trade bill. Rich and poor countries alike must agree to honor their pledges.
Archive for December, 2009
Copenhagen, and beyond
Monday, December 21st, 2009Copenhagen’s One Real Accomplishment: Getting Some Money Flowing
Monday, December 21st, 2009Here’s UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s assessment of the Copenhagen conference, as reported in the New York Times. His main point: Follow the money. Kyoto, and Bali in 2007, committed no funds. Copenhagen promised $100 billion, not enough, but not chump change either. It can start flowing in 2010.
Trying to decide on an energy-efficient roof
Monday, December 21st, 2009This blog by Alexandra Marks in the Christian Science Monitor is a bit of a tease. You’ll have to read her next blog to find out which is the greenest and cheapest roofing material available to renovate an old building. Partly that’s because the owner interjects another criterion into the equation — aesthetics. He vetoes the first choice. We here at ClimateYou will do our best to bring you Ms. Marks’ last, best roofing option when her next blog is published.
Global warming’s biggest jerks
Monday, December 21st, 2009It is said that one picture is worth a thousand words. Well, here are 4 pictures, graphs really, that show which countries pollute the most using different measures. We all hear a lot about China and the United States, but not so much about Australia. The 4 simple graphs also show how complicated global warming really is, and help us understand why the just-ended Copenhagen conference was so contentious.
Be a green Santa with these holiday gifts
Friday, December 18th, 2009Need some last-minute gifts, and you want them to be green? Here are a few environment-friendly ideas. These gifts cater to all budgets; some will only set you back a few dollars, but others are quite pricy. All will warm your heart, not the climate. Happy holidays!
The U.S. is on board
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009Secretary of State Clinton’s OpEd piece in today’s New York Times lets us reflect how far we have come toward a national commitment to limit climate change. But policy must become programs, rhetoric become action. Congress must legislate, industry must redefine self-interst, and we must adopt new habits.
Four sides to every story
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009Stewart Brand, writing in the New York Times, dissects those warning of or scoffing at climate change. He distinguishes alarmists and skeptics, denialists and calamatists. Some are more scientific, others more ideological. How you interpret the climate future depends on your camp. Which one are you in?
Filthy lucre fouls the air
Friday, December 11th, 2009As predicted, Copenhagen is boiling down to money. Who pays, how much, and to whom. Presently, a week into the conference, there’s a lot of jockeying going on, and a lot of posturing. We’ll learn how — and if –it all shakes out next week. Despite the rancor and outrage that almost inevitably accompany any high-stakes poker game, it’s beginning to look as if the delegates may strike a deal before everyone storms home.
U.S. negotiator dismisses reparations for climate
Friday, December 11th, 2009This report from Copenhagen in the New York Times analyzes delegates’ efforts to circulate unofficial treaty drafts. They represent 3 types of countries: the developed rich — the US and Europe, emerging powerhouses — China and India, and the poor majority. Satisfying all 3 types will be very difficult.
An affordable truth
Friday, December 11th, 2009Wonder of wonders, Paul Krugman of the New York Times is optimistic about Copenhagen. What’s more, he calls cutting greenhouse gases (GHGs) both affordable and essential. Reducing GHGs may even help the economy, so there’s no reason to wait. Cap and trade systems have worked before; they can again.