Author Archive
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A Glimmer of Hope
After two long weeks of cold weather, protests and delays in negotiations, the UN talks in Copenhagen finally came to an end. World leaders failed to produce an ambitious, legally binding deal, but the political agreement welcomed by the UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon this Saturday represents an essential step forward. The Copenhagen Accord is a statement of intentions of the majority of nations, developed and developing, to stabilize the climate below 2 degrees Celsius, provide long-term financing, adopt transparent reporting practices. More importantly, it is a prompt start for developing country action. But time is running out for a global solution ... -
Constipagen or Hopenhagen?
A number of news outlets are referring to Copenhagen as “Constipagen” today. Bloomberg, the Washington Post, and others reported that this is how some environmental NGOs and other non profit organizations began referring to the UN climate talks because neither the talks nor the lines to get in the conference center were moving. Yesterday, access for NGOs to get in the Bella Center was blocked for hours. The executive director of the UNFCCC, Yvo De Boer, had to come out in person and explain to an angry crowd that the conference center had simply reached its accommodation capacity. See video posted ... -
36 Hours to Save the World
As political heavyweights speak in Copenhagen today, including Hillary Clinton, Ahmadinejad, Sarkozy, Angela Merkel and Brazil’s Lula da Silva, the clock is ticking for an agreement to be reached. World leaders have 36 hours left to take the brave and difficult decisions that will help the world to turn a corner and prevent climate change from becoming an even greater threat to people, and the habitats and economies that sustain us. While many aspects of the Copenhagen negotiations have been tortuous, there are two major aspects of the negotiations that are both well advanced and stand to make a colossal difference to ... -
New scientific paper: REDD+ can be key to stop the extinction crisis too
A new scientific paper being previewed at Copenhagen shows how Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) can not only contribute to the fight against climate change, but also provide an excellent opportunity to slow the rate of extinction of species. Revenues developing countries receive under almost any REDD+ scheme would be the biggest investment in tropical forests in history and should lead to enormous gains in conservation of species. According to one of the authors and Vice President of Global Change and Ecosystem Services at CI, Dr. Celia Harvey, the paper presents a variety of options for how ... -
New Social and Environmental Standards for REDD Initiatives launched at Copenhagen
CARE International and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA) launched at Copenhagen a new set of standards for REDD projects that take into consideration not only environmental benefits, but social aspects as well. REDD stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. The main idea behind it is that deforestation is one of the main contributors to climate change and that reducing it is one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways of lowering carbon emissions. REDD projects give financial incentives to those communities or nations that are effectively working to prevent forests form being cut. The new set ... -
Notes from WILD9: The End of the Conference
After one long and busy week, WILD9 is coming to and end. Representatives of indigenous communities, foundations, corporations, big international NGOs and small local NGOs, conservation photographers, writers, scientists and academics are gathered in the plenary hall to announce and listen to the resolutions that are coming out of the 9th World Wilderness Congress in Merida, Mexico. The top three resolutions are: to support the consolidation of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor; to protect old-growth forests for climate stabilization; and to align federal development policies with conservation management plans in areas of influence of Protected Natural Areas in Mexico. Overall, the emphasis of ...
