Tiempo Climate Newswatch

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"The task facing negotiators in Poznań must be to translate the conclusions from Bali into agreements among all countries willing to take climate change seriously. The agreements must lead to real, substantial reductions in emissions, not just more trading of hot air."

In On Course to Copenhagen?, Gunnar Boye Olesen discusses issues facing participants in the next round of climate negotiations in Poznań.

Published November 2008

Joelle Chassard discusses progress in catalyzing climate action and investment.

Matthew Knight considers what might be done to combat climate change with funding equivalent to the United States financial bailout package.

"One of the first actions, even if symbolic, in response to the climate threat is for Small Island States to reduce their own emissions, tiny though they are, to set an international example. "

In Energy in the Pacific, Tom Roper considers action that energy utilities can take in vulnerable Pacific island countries.

Published September 2008

Jessica Daly considers the pros and cons of pros and cons of emissions trading.

Handy Acosta Cuellar considers the situation of Cuba in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.

"The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiation process must not be viewed as a traditional series of governmental trade-offs, but as an urgent international effort to safeguard human lives, homes, rights and livelihoods."

In Key Climate Treaty Components, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom stresses the human aspects of climate change and describes the key components of a good post-2012 climate agreement.

Published August 2008

Björn Lomborg responds to Oliver Tickell's "overheated" warning on steep warming.

Oliver Tickell argues that we need to get prepared for steep warming.

Terry Slavin outlines the debate over carbon capture and carbon trading.

Ricardo Radulovich reckons that we should grow biofuels at sea.

Peter Kessler asks how the asylum system will treat climate refugees.

"Urgent action is needed in urban centres in Africa, Asia and Latin America to adapt to climate change. Such centres house three-quarters of the world's urban population and will house most of the world's population growth in the next few decades."

In Climate Change and Cities, David Satterthwaite explains why urban areas are central to adaptation and mitigation agendas.

Published April 2008

Patrick McCully considers charges of corruption and profiteering against the Clean Development Mechanism.

Jeffrey Sachs argues that the roll-out of new technologies is essential if we are to limit climate change and avoid an economic slump.

David Nason discusses the world food crisis.

Matthew Wald considers whether businesses should go carbon zero or carbon negative.

""Climate change is the first great challenge to confront the whole of humanity, not only now, but for all generations to come. Bali has awakened awareness and charted a course for the next few years: Copenhagen will have to deliver humanity's response to this challenge. ""

In Adaptation to Climate Change - Where Do We Go from Bali?, Sven Harmeling considers the next steps in meeting the challenge of adaptation.

Published March 2008

Andrew Revkin considers the evolving debate regarding how to curb global warming.

Ernesto Zedillo reckons that we need carbon prices not quotas.

"It seems that the governments who have signed on to the climate treaty process have made an historic change in the rules. They have, perhaps, given the planet a chance to save itself."

In A Reason for Optimism, Gary Yohe discusses a significant change in attitude towards climate risk on the part of the international community.

Published January 2008

Elisabeth Rosenthal argues that the poor are sidelined in climate change solutions.

"The National Adaptation Programme of Action process is increasingly recognized as a means of identifying urgent adaptation needs, building stakeholder awareness and supporting an initial round of adaptation projects. "

In National Adaptation Programmes of Action: Priorities and Policies, Bubu Pateh Jallow (above) and Thomas Downing describe five challenges faced by the National Adaptation Programme of Action teams and the international climate policy community.

Published January 2008

Brian Fallow argues that the New Zealand government should re-focus its climate-forest policy.

Sunita Narain considers the Bali Action Plan "the mother of all no-deals".

"The National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) should be seen as an essential step in developing the adaptation capacity of Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Moreover, NAPAs have provided the means and tools required by the LDCs to present and negotiate country-driven action programmes."

In National Adaptation Programmes of Action: Lessons Learnt in Africa, Balgis Osman-Elasha (left) and Thomas Downing describe the lessons learned from preparing National Adaptation Programmes of Action in eastern and southern Africa.

Published November 2007

Mark Rosegrant considers the rise in world food prices.

Gwynne Dyer reckons we shouldn't be downhearted about the outcome of the Bali meeting.

Charles Clover discusses hot air, hypocrisy and a revolution in Bali.

Susannah Bailey considers New Zealand's greenhouse sceptics.

Effective mainstreaming, so that NAPA policies and measures are integrated into national and regional development policies and processes, requires cross-sectoral cooperation, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches and considerable political will.

In Mainstreaming National Adaptation Programmes of Action, Bubu Pateh Jallow describes how efforts to mainstream adaptation are bearing fruit, in project design and in capacity to plan policies.

Published November 2007

Robert Goodland argues that the World Bank is aiding environmental destruction.

Gwyn Prins and Steve Rayner argue that it is time to ditch the Kyoto Protocol

Julia Bradley-Cook discusses the implications of climate change and disaster risk reduction for Namibia.

"Long-standing negative perceptions of pastoralism must be replaced by recognition of the rationale of such systems in dryland areas."

In Climate Change and Pastoralism, Ced Hesse describes the challenges facing African pastoralists and key areas of policy intervention needed to help them cope with climate change.

Published October 2007

Moeletsi Mbeki asks if Africa can solve its development problems.

Eric Holt-Giménez "explodes the biofuel myths."

Jim Al-Khalili argues that nuclear waste is hardly a worry when the climate change threat is so urgent.

Matt Crenson argues that we need leaders not celebrities to save the planet.

Gerard Wynn defines the debate surrounding carbon trading.

Stefan Stevens argues that society needs the right chemistry.

Marina Hyde advises Al Gore to get tough with Live Earth celebrities

Bjørn Lomborg argues that a few cheap and simple measures could do far more good for the world than costly efforts to combat climate change

Mark Lynas asks - Why should China commit to reducing emissions when western countries have failed spectacularly to do so?

The Economist discusses the relative strengths of cap-and-trade and the carbon tax.

In A Roadmap for Implementing Adaptation Policy, Gary Yohe discusses the conclusions on climate impacts, adaptation and vulnerability reached during the Fourth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Published April 2007

The Times of London comments on the G8 climate deal.

Grace Akumu asks who will represent Africa.

Andrew Symon discusses the climate challenge facing Southeast Asia.

Lisa Shipek argues that water harvesting can mitigate predicted water scarcity.

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard discusses new developments in solar technology.

James Kanter discusses nuclear power's comeback.

Richard McGregor and Jo Johnson argue that India and China face a pollution time bomb.

In Climate and Disaster Reduction, James Lewis comments on the narrow focus and lack of innovation and commitment that has prevailed in international programmes when planning comprehensive disaster reduction strategies.

Published February 2007

Dick Hubbard, the mayor of Auckland, New Zealand, reckons that every city has a role to play in fighting climate change.

Alan Atkisson asks - What do we do after the climate breakthrough?

The Wall Street Journal argues that the Bush administration's commitment to ethanol represents a huge public gamble.

Jonah Goldberg reckons that global warming is a small price to pay for economic advancement.

Jacques Chirac argues that the Earth needs a fully-fledged United Nations environmental agency, with adequate powers and institutional clout.

Emmanuel Angleys discusses the current state of the European Emissions Trading System.

Mike Hulme argues that the language of climate chaos and catastrophe has got out of hand.

Anatole Kaletsky argues that is a good thing for long-term global problems that the World Economic Forum was such a bore.

In Modelling Adaptation?, Ian Burton calls for adaptation modelling to inform a new authoritative review quantifying economy-wide adaptation benefits.

Published February 2007

Richard Black analyses the European Union's new energy plans.

Walden Bello argues that globalization has reached its high-water mark and is receding.

Fiona Harvey reviews the current status of the climate negotiations.

Veena Khaleque considers the implications of climate change for Bangladesh and other developing countries.

John Ashton argues that governments need to build a common language to resolve the planet's shared climate dilemma.

Hal R Varian considers the assumptions made in the Stern report on climate economics.

Antoaneta Bezlova discusses China and the Clean Development Mechanism.

Ian Bray argues that the outcome of the Nairobi conference shows that politics is still missing from the global response to climate change.

In Capturing the Synergies between Climate Change and Desertification, Siri Eriksen defines the opportunities and challenges to be found in linking the climate change and desertification conventions.

Published October 2006

According to Kofi Annan, the question is not whether climate change is happening but whether, in the face of this emergency, we ourselves can change fast enough.

Jeremy Leggett reckons that the Stern Review pulls its punches.

Charles J Hanley discusses conflict of interest and potential abuse in the operation of the Clean Development Mechanism.

Steve Jacobs considers prospects for eco-friendly energy in the European Union.

In Priorities for Nepal, Rakshya Thapa outlines the challenge facing her country in the battle against climate change.

Published September 2006

Rachel Roach discusses the outcome of the Mexico climate summit.

Al Gore argues that investors must consider climate change one of a system of sustainability issues in the European Union.

Jonathan H Adler comments on the use of public nuisance suits on climate change.

Michael Casey reviews the development of biofuels in Asia.

Eric Berger considers the on-going debate over the link between global warming and tropical storms.

Lester Brown warns that ethanol could leave the world hungry.

Achim Steiner urges African environment ministers to put forests, coral reefs, river systems and range lands on the priority list, arguing that "the sustainable management of natural resources is one of the keys to overcoming poverty."

David Suzuki comments on recent evidence that the public doesn't understand global warming.

Stéphane Dion argues that climate change requires action.

In Desertification and Global Warming: Common Action for Common Challenges, Staff members of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Secretariat highlight the opportunities for cooperative action in combating desertification and climate change.

Published August 2006

Thomas L Friedman considers the implications of climate change for Peru.

In Contraction and Convergence, Aubrey Meyer (above) and Raphaël Hanmbock argue for a flexible and equitable response to climate change after the Kyoto Protocol.

Published July 2006

In Priorities for the Poor, Nasimul Haque explains the needs and concerns of poor and vulnerable people who are already experiencing the impacts of climate change.

Published July 2006

Sama Banya argues that protecting the local environment would reduce Sierra Leone's vulnerabilty to climate change.

Rona Ambrose, Canadian Environment Minister, discusses Canada's position on the Kyoto Protocol

In American Evangelicals and Climate Change, Sam Berry describes how evangelicals in the United States are beginning to see their biblically-based responsibility for 'creation care'.

Published May 2006

John Kerry calls on the American leadership to put climate change on the national agenda.

Robert Lee Hotz and Erin Cline consider whether or not the recent spate of heatwaves can be linked to global warming.

In Climate Change - Accepting the Challenge, A Barrie Pittock discusses the challenge we must accept if we are to respond effectively to the threat of climate change.

Published April 2006

William J Broad discusses exotic ways to combat global warming.

Saleemul Huq says the time is now ripe for the development community to engage with climate change.

Catherine Brahic discusses prospects for the Sahel.

David Gow argues that European energy groups are manipulating the European Union's carbon trading scheme.

Ethan Heitner describes his experience of the Sustainable Energy Forum 2006.

In Least Developed Countries' Needs, Mohammed Reazuddin describes the actions taken by the Least Developed Countries to tackle climate change and the assistance that they need.

Published April 2006

Tom Athanasiou and Paul Baer argue that the rich, whether in the North or the South, must cover the costs of climate protection.

Andrew Revkin outlines global warming's public relations problem.

Robert Sheppard considers the pros and cons of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.

Larry Elliot discusses the latest negotiations in the World Trade Organization's so-called development round.

In Environment - the Basis of Livelihoods, Tony Nyong argues that the impact of climate change on the environment should not be neglected as natural systems provide the foundation for many livelihoods.

Published December 2005

Alex Hetherington considers whether the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate represents more than smoke and mirrors.

In LDCs in the Climate Negotiations, Bangladesh Ambassador to Sweden Sabihuddin Ahmed describes some of the challenges faced by the Least Developed Nations in the climate negotiations.

Published September 2005

Larry Lohmann argues that we are not keeping up with the challenge of climate change.

Malik Amin Aslam discusses opportunities for Pakistan in the area of carbon finance.

David Dickson and Johanna Wolf argue that a new strategy on climate policy is needed.

Tony Juniper urges the United Kingdom to lead the fight for legally-binding climate agreements.

John Zillman discusses science, technology and the Millennium Development Goals.

Alan Oxley reckons the Asia-Pacific climate pact suits Australia fine.

Jeff Erikson assesses the implications of rising oil prices for the energy sector and the sustainability agenda in the United States.

Lee Dye considers whether global warming boosted Hurricane Katrina's strength.

In Sustainability - the Real Challenge Lies Within, Jonathan Diederiks maintains that achieving sustainable outcomes in business has far less to do with processes and management training than with individual human empowerment and emotional intelligence.

Published August 2005

Sunita Narain comments on the Asia Pacific Partnership for clean development and climate change.

Melanie Jarman considers whether a shift to micropower generation is the solution to climate change.

In Gender and Climate Change - a Forgotten Issue?, Ulrike Röhr discusses the historical lapse in assimilating gender issues in the climate change debate and the urgent need to undertake research and analysis on this issue.

Published July 2005

Peter H Gleick comments on pseudo-science in the global warming debate.

David Howell discusses a recent report on the economics of climate change.

In the Policy Debate on Global Biofuels Development, various authors debate George Monbiot's controversial view that the adoption of biofuels would be a humanitarian and environmental disaster (0.5Mb download).

In Priorities for an Equitable Future, Andrew Simms describes the actions which need prioritizing in the global climate change arena if progress is to be just and equitable.

Published April 2005

Benito Müller and Anju Sharma reckon that an export duty on carbon-intensive products could unlock the climate negotiations.

Anna Gosline reports on the debate over climate and immigration.

In The Clean Development Mechanism and Sustainable Development, Ben Pearson argues that the Clean Development Mechanism is failing in its mandate to promote sustainable development.

Published March 2005

Kim Stewart and Stephanie Long argue for change in coastal zone management.

Dan Whipple contends that the climate problem is challenging traditional economic thinking.

John Busby argues that nuclear power is not the answer to global warming.

Maya Papineau concludes that China must become a leading partner in decarbonizing development.

Mark Diesendorf argues that the campaign against wind power comes from those with vested interests.

In Plantations Are Not Forests, Ricardo Carrere documents the negative social and environmental impacts of the increased planting of monoculture tree plantations and denounces the mistaken rationale behind this activity.

Published October 2004

Laurie David considers the snubbing of Kyoto.

Ignacio Ramonet argues that debt cancellation and an international tax are needed to reduce the impact of natural disasters on the developing world.

David Suzuki reckons that Canada can learn from California when it comes to automobile emissions.

Henry Huntingdon considers the value of indigenous peoples' perspectives.

Ben McNeil questions the Australian government's promotion of geosequestration.

Eric Unmacht discusses Indonesia's energy options.

David Dickson considers what happens after Kyoto.

World Climate Alerts critiques the recent Arctic Climate Impact Assessment.

Don Rothwell and Tim Stephens discuss Australia's obligation to protect the Great Barrier Reef against climate change.

Roger Wicks argues that coal can contribute to sustainable development. A Powerpoint presentation (1Mb) is also available.

Bjørn Lomborg argues that climate change doesn't mean the end of the world - we should focus on areas where we can make a difference.

Tom Burke discusses the views of climate sceptic Bjørn Lomborg.

In Adaptation - a Caribbean View, Neville Trotz argues that adaptation is not a novel science; many solutions have existed for some time. Only the resources and the commitment to implement them are missing.

Published August 2004

Peter Spotts considers implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

Indur M Golkany of the US Department of the Interior argues that money would be better spent reducing current vulnerability to malaria, flooding and food and water shortages than investing in climate protection. David King, chief science advisor to the UK government, responds.

Mark Clayton explores energy efficiency options in the United States.

L Hunter Lovins describes the early days of the Chicago Climate Exchange.

Peter Spotts discusses why there have been so many hurricanes of late.

Emily Boyd considers whether climate change policy can be brought down to earth.

The Heartland Institute comments on a recent study from the Natural Resources Defense Council on climate change and heatwaves.

John Vidal samples the views of the nuclear advocates.

David Suzuki discusses recent advances in understanding of the global warming problem.

Saleemul Huq argues that the rich nations must share the blame for the Bangladesh floods.

George Monbiot discusses attitudes towards the greenhouse sceptics.

In The World's Fragile Islands, Agnès Sinaï argues that, from the low-lying point of view of Pacific islanders or circumpolar-dwelling Inuit, the Kyoto Protocol seems an exploitative deal.

Published July 2004

In The point seven percent solution, Mick Kelly and Sarah Granich propose a way forward in broadening emissions control commitments.

Published June 2004

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