A major science conference to be held in London next month aspires “to provide major recommendations to the Rio+20 Summit.” However critical the ecological threat, however eminent the conference participants, can the organisers be serious? The closing date for submissions to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) passed over three months ago. A draft… Continue reading Scientists prepare to nudge Rio+20
It’s the planet, stupid
The Planet Under Pressure 2012 conference takes place in London next month. It’s a great opportunity to force environmental problems out of their separate policy compartments into the reality of our interconnected global crisis.
Another Rio banana skin for David Cameron
The Future We Want is the name of the Zero draft outcome document for the Rio+20 conference. Its content is not in line with the future the UK government wants.
African rainforests may welcome carbon traders
Speaking at a conference organised by The Oxford Centre for Tropical Forests, John Mason of the Nature Conservation Research Centre said that the Durban climate conference has given the green light to private sector finance for REDD projects in Africa. Many NGOs may not share this interpretation.
No rest for reds under the beds
“Capitalism in crisis” goes out the cry in Europe and North America. These old-fashioned debates about inequality in wealthy economies fail to connect with the real issues of the modern world.
News of climate change media death is greatly exaggerated
News media coverage of climate change issues dropped sharply again during 2011. Coverage in major US TV networks is now almost non-existent. But are we missing something here?
Aid dilemmas bypassed by Busan Partnership
UK parliamentarians have instructed Andrew Mitchell to impose conditions on foreign aid to fragile or conflict-related countries such as Rwanda and Malawi. Have they given thought to what happens to the poor when aid is withdrawn as a punishment for bad government?
From famine to fondue: Sheeran joins WEF
The first week of the new year has brought changes at the top of the world’s two most important organisations responsible for tackling global hunger. The head of the World Food Programme. Josette Sheeran, is joining the World Economic Forum, a creative shift of focus from the poor to the rich.
Good COP: Bad COP in Durban
A quick survey of those whose reputations slithered upwards or downwards in the cauldron of the recent Durban climate talks, otherwise known as COP17.
COP17 Durban UN climate talks Dec 9
There’s still no sign of agreement as the Durban climate negotiations go into overtime. Full notes on the proceedings and a summary.