Foreign Policy Blogs

Coverage of UN Climate Change Summit

There were about 1,300 articles listed by Google on the UN climate talks in New York.  (See previous post under "UN Climate Summit.")  Here's the take from the "FT" today – UN chief upbeat after climate forum.  Ban Ki-moon said:  "Action is possible now and it makes economic sense. The cost of inaction will far outweigh the cost of early action."  Here is some good, in-depth coverage from "Environment News Service."  Global co-operation vital says Ban in dig at US says the headline at the "Sydney Morning Herald."  Here's an op-ed in "The Guardian" from a UN official, Kevin Watkins.  He says, among other trenchant things:  "If talking could cut greenhouse gas emissions, then this would be a good week for international action on climate change."  Watkins discerns an unfortunate lack of purpose, particularly from the U.S. 

Next stop, Washington:  The U.S. has invited high government officials from the principal GHG-emitting nations to discuss climate change tomorrow and Friday.  See the invitation from the White House and this today from the "LA Times" – It's Bush's turn to air greenhouse possibilities.  One prominent environmentalist expressed considerable skepticism about the meeting, the "LAT" reported:  "Philip E. Clapp, president of the National Environmental Trust, dismissed the Washington conference as "a sidelight, not a process that leads to anything.'"

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By the way, if you need a basic course in the lexicon, or a refresher, this item from Reuters via "Canada.com" might be helpful:  Climate change debate coins new jargon.

 

Author

Bill Hewitt

Bill Hewitt has been an environmental activist and professional for nearly 25 years. He was deeply involved in the battle to curtail acid rain, and was also a Sierra Club leader in New York City. He spent 11 years in public affairs for the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation, and worked on environmental issues for two NYC mayoral campaigns and a presidential campaign. He is a writer and editor and is the principal of Hewitt Communications. He has an M.S. in international affairs, has taught political science at Pace University, and has graduate and continuing education classes on climate change, sustainability, and energy and the environment at The Center for Global Affairs at NYU. His book, "A Newer World - Politics, Money, Technology, and What’s Really Being Done to Solve the Climate Crisis," will be out from the University Press of New England in December.



Areas of Focus:
the policy, politics, science and economics of environmental protection, sustainability, energy and climate change

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