Asia Society Event: Global Response to Climate Change

Thanks to Robert Hsu for sending me notification of an interesting event happening in NYC. The Asia Society will be holding a meeting the tuesday after next, Jan 22nd, at 724 Park Avenue at 71st Street. The topic up for discussion will be the recent Bali climate talks and the implications of the deal reached.

12:00 – 12:30 p.m.: Registration

12:30 – 1:00 p.m.: Luncheon and Reception

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.: Panel Discussion / Q & A

Speakers Will Include:

1. Marty Natalegawa, Indonesia’s Ambassador to the UN.
2. Robert Orr, Assistant Secretary General at the UN and key advisor of Ban Ki Moon.
3. Joseph Aldy, researcher from Harvard University.
4. Suzanne DiMaggio, Director of Asian Social Issues Program at the Asia Society.
   

If you are in New York or near by then register by calling 212-517-ASIA (2742) or going online. If, however you don't happen to live in the NYC area then you can still listen live online and submit any questions that you may have via email ( moderator[at]asiasociety.org).

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Time person of the year: Kevin Conrad

Just before the US finally gave way on the Bali road map came this statement from Kevin Conrad. The reception it received from the conference hall was likely the reason the US delegation stepped aside: they where completely isolated.

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Heard and Overheard in Bali

I love some of these quotes from Bali via enviromedia.

In wrapping up our Global Warming: Bali or Bust blog, our team has combined some of our favorite quotes we heard at the conference. Thanks for your interest. Let us know your comments.

“Don’t work toward your own extinction by believing this is science fiction.” U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretary General Yvo de Boer on Day 7 of the Bali meeting.

“My own country the United States is principally responsible for obstructing progress in Bali,” Al Gore, in Bali Dec. 13, after accepting his Nobel Peace Prize earlier in the week.

“Companies that don’t get it right won’t be around.” Bjorn Stigson, President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, on implementing sustainable business practices without making false environmental claims to consumers.

“Public education is a better expenditure than carbon storage.” Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, UN Special Envoy on Climate Change, on agreeing with comments made by Emil Salim, economist and former Minister of Indonesia.

“Look Mr. Farmer, don’t cut the tree.” Emil Salim, on providing subsidies to prevent deforestation in developing countries like Indonesia, which need the economic boost of logging but likewise suffer from its environmental consequences.

“Stop deforestation before doing carbon trading.” Uraguay NGO representative.

“Journalists often ask me if I’m disappointed it took 20 years to get action since the (UNFCCC) Rio Conference. Twenty years is not a lot of time when you look at human history.” Dr. Brundtland, who was first chair for UN Climate Change Panel and pioneered global policy in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

“Who would’ve thought you’d have NGOs promoting nuclear power?”
American Electric Power (AEP) spokesperson on Global Business Day.

“The U.S. government is taking a Katrina-like approach to climate change: sit back and wait for someone else to take action, then accept no responsibility.” Swiss businessman.

“Some hotels just need to stop being greedy and pay to do the right thing and recycle.” (verus illegal dumping in forest) Josh, age 12, Sunrise School, Bali.

“Contributing to more than a third of the world’s CO2 emissions, the electricity sector will undoubtedly be confronted with future carbon constraints. Pressure from shareholders and stakeholders to manage carbon exposure is on the rise, as climate policies are already taking hold.” Adam Kirkman, World Business Council for Sustainable Business.

“Because of my job, I’m not supposed to have a political opinion, but I’m just embarrassed about our country’s lack of leadership on climate change.” TSA customs agent upon hearing of our trip to Bali for UN Conference.

“In the U.S., ‘voluntary’ means do nothing.” Teruaki Masumoto, Tokyo Electric Power Company.

“There are not many businesses who say ‘use less of our product.’” Steve Lennon, Delegation Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce, on power plants and the necessity of conservation despite the bottom line.

“We are still headed to a fossil-filled future.” International Energy Agency Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka, who also said “Our current trajectory is under-invested, dirty and vulnerable.”

“I would like to see incentives right down to the personal level at home, with carbon trading on eBay or eTrade.” Odin Knudsen, managing director of environmental products for JP Morgan.

“Prepare for the unexpected, always.” Olga Gassan Zade of Point Carbon at the Carbon Finance Event hosted by the International Emissions Trading Association (where consensus was government needs to provide parameters quickly for today’s $28 billion carbon trading market).

“The core manufacturing process for our industry is photosynthesis. It’s the most efficient process in the world. It’s available without patent, without trademark and without technology transfer.” Weyerhaeuser Senior Vice President For Corporate Affairs Ernesta Ballard on carbon sequestration in its forests and products.

Heard and Overheard in Bali
“Americans always try to do the right thing after they’ve tried everything else.” Winston Churchill (no, he wasn’t there, but I just heard about this quote, which seems to be accurate for this situation)

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US U-Turn at Bali: The Dramatic Chronology

Midnight to 1:30am EST was a dramatic period in Bali! There was a lot of 'backing down' going on...all of it productive. Most dramatic event was the US U-Turn, but the EU also agreed to further technology transfer funding for India and China and neither Japan nor Australia got in the way of the final agreement. In the end the US delegation was entirely isolated both internationally and domestically: then came the U-turn. And perhaps some hope.

(Reuters)

12:00 a.m. EST - The two-week talks, meant to end on Friday, are deadlocked long into overtime. Developing nations led by India and China are demanding that rich countries do more to lead the way in fighting climate change. The demands arose overnight, partly after the European Union bowed to U.S. pressure and toned down calls for the final text to lay out clear 2020 guidelines for rich nations to axe greenhouse gas emissions.

12:20 a.m. EST - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, making an unscheduled return after leaving Bali on Friday for East Timor, enters the conference hall with Indonesian President Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"I am disappointed at the lack of progress," Ban said. "Everybody should be able to make compromises."

"The worst thing we can do is for this project to crumble because we can't find the right wording," Yudhoyono said. "The world is watching anxiously and I beg you not to let them down."

Delegates strongly applaud both speeches.

12:44 a.m. EST- The European Union, which had opposed the developing nations' demands, immediately backs down and accepts the developing countries' text that gives stronger promises to share green technologies. Delegates applaud.

12:55 a.m. EST - Paula Dobriansky, under secretary of state for democracy and global affairs leading the U.S. delegation, reaffirms U.S. opposition, bringing boos.

A bit of emotion getting into the talks. Nice. I wonder how much damage this kind of atmosphere does to us interests around the globe? Diplomacy isn't a science but obstructing somethings as important as progress on climate change has got to be weaking US influence.

12:56 a.m. EST - Speakers from countries including Brazil and South Africa then make pleas on behalf of the developing countries. And neither Australia nor Japan side with Dobriansky. Papua New Guinea delegate Kevin Conrad wins wild applause by addressing Dobriansky and saying:

"We ask for your leadership, we seek your leadership ... if you can't give us what we want, please get out of the way."

(Would this have been the case if Howard was still in power? I think not. Australia has had a mixed performance at Bali but at least here it was not actively destructive...and thats and improvement. And
three cheers for Papua New Guinea!)

1:19 a.m. EST - Dobriansky backs down, saying "We will go forward and join consensus," triggering applause.

1:31 a.m. EST - Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar announces consensus on a deal to launch two years of talks on a new global treaty to succeed the Kyoto Protocol.

AFTERMATH

-- Dobriansky said she changed her mind because the developing country speakers convinced her that they were serious about acting to fight climate change. She said she did not consult Washington before changing her mind.

Other delegates hailed the U.S. reversal:

"The mood in the room exploded. The secretary-general and the president -- that just electrified the room," said Yvo de Boer, head of the U.N. Climate Change Secretariat.

The text that the us where resisting included the need for developed nations to take on a legally binding cap on emissions. Although the target was not specified this is still a major breakthrough in what the US is prepared to accept: the very notion of a cap has been fiercly resisted. Bill Hare sums up the unusaul nature of events.

Bill Hare of environmental group Greenpeace said he believed it was the first time since 1996 that Washington had won applause at a U.N. climate meeting.

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What does the Bali mandate mean?

I`m not sure about what Bali means. I believe it leaves open the option for progress but isn't a breakthrough in itself.

Various NGO's (Non-Govornmental Organisations) came together as the Climate Action Network and this video shows their varied views on this. It's mixed but not a disaster.

The final UN press conference from the climate talks is here. The EU response to developments is here.

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Higlights from Bali

Bali Overview:

1. Its complex! (and thats becoming problematic)
   
2. Linking national cap and trade with international climate funds.
3. Deforestation progress on funding and structure (with unwelcome guest).
4. Australia ratifies but fails to take the lead.
5. Two degree consensus approaching: just adopt c&c you fools!
6. CDM Review.
7. Adaptation Fund.
8. Technology Transfer.

1. The process at Bali has been complex, in fact notably more complex than usual, and that is starting to become problematic. I'm not therefore intending to describe how i think it went. It didn't achieve a global climate treaty with legally binding caps for all so in that sense it was a failure; but this was never expected. There where however, many interesting developments that could show the way to a global agreement if it is destined to develop through the UNFCCC.

2.One interesting idea is that of national cap and trade schemes being used as a source for the international climate negotiations. Adaptation, technology transfer and forest protection; all require funding. Germany has just announced that it will auction permits to industry for its share of the EU ETS. Some of the revenue raised will then be used internationally. The Warner-Lieberman bill from the US has a similar provision, although the remit of funding is more limted, in this case it is designated to deforestation reduction.

3.On the issue of deforestation some progress has been made. An annual funding commitment from Norway of $500M annually is surely welcome; decisions are half the battle implementing them is the real test. An outline deal on REDD has been created; the key area of tension now is weather or not rainforest degredation is included or only the more easily qauntified process of deforestation. There is also some pressure for sub-national programes which have been resisted by NGOs due to the issue of leakage--the process wherby one area protected from ranchers or farmers causes another area to be targeted--this issue is far less problematic if total forest areas within national boundries are considered. There has also been a great deal of wrangling on who manages the fund currently I believe the world bank run Global Environment Fund (GEF) has been given responsibility, albeit with oversight from a cross section of effected countries and a 3 yearly review period. The EU was in large part responsibile for this worrying role creation--the World Bank a Neo-liberal western power broker-- and now a developing world forest protection agency!

4.Australia Ratified and then failed to capitalise. The start of the conference was an exciting time and Kevin Rudd was welcomed warmly to Bali. The isolation of the US looked starker than ever. However, Australia went on to win the Climate Action Network's "Fossil of the Day" for most contradictory statement within 24 Hrs! The tension here was on the guideline emissions reductions targets of 25-40% on 1990 levels by 2020. Such a commitment from the developed world is badly needed and is in accordance with 'common but differentiated responsibilities' a fearcely guarded clause in the Kyoto Protocol that rightly highlights the historical responsibility that the developed world has due to the predominance of atmospheric GHG's having origins in the engines of the global North; these nations have both damaged the south and proffited in the process. Many see this commitment by the developed world as a nesicary prelude to a global climate deal and talks may collapse due to US , Japanese and Australian resistance to such a deal. As i write this talks are ongoing and Australia may yet shift its stance to that of a climate leader but so far it is continuing to look like more like a reluctant participant than a leader.

5. If there where a Satan worshiping club attending the climate talks it would have a devilish titles such as 'The Four Degree Club'. Such a club exists although generally it is refered to as the Umbrella Group (US, Auz, et al.); now however it seems to be falling apart. Canada, Iceland and Switzerland all seem to have suggested that 2 degrees should be the target. To my knoledge only the US amongst developed countries has a position other than this. If we have agreement on that then why can we just agree to contraction and convergence? Please...it's a lot simpler!

6. Switzerland has inititated a twelve month review of the Clean Development Mechanism. CAN have supported this "given the wide range and seriousness of the criticisms the CDM has attracted".

7. Progress has been made on Adaptation; a fund has been established to pay for "concrete adaptation projects and programmes based on the needs, voesa and priorities of eligble parties". Again the GEF has made a most unwelcome appearence. This is a presence that we need to purge; it would be a worthy target of campaigns, simply getting the world bank out of the UNFCCC process would be a positive step. There are alternatives, and better alternatives.

8. Technology transfer is gaining a great deal of attention in Bali and is now only a few steps behind the process on adaptation. Movement from rhetorical to real significance is underway. A body to oversee and fight for the issue is almost up and running there are three issues to resolve: funding, institutional arrangements and some way of measuring effectiveness.

I review these developments in two videos here and here.

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Al Gore Talks in Bali

Al Gore Talks in Bali (youtube) or full speech (real player)

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Kyoto: More Harm Than Good. Where next?

Almuth Ernsting
Biofuelwatch

One week at the Bali Climate Conference has cured me of any illusion that UNFCCC will solve the climate crisis, or that the annual gatherings of governments, industry and some NGOs will even remotely move us in the right direction.

This is not about saving the planet. It's quite simply a trade show, and all the different proposals are about making carbon trading more efficient or getting this or that industry or government to profit a bit more whilst we move ever faster towards mass extinction. I wonder if, in years to come, we'll look back on UNFCCC meetings as climate change profiteering conferences.

Outside the main conference, the Indonesian Civil Society Forum, supported by NGOs from many different countries, are holding their events and protests for climate justice and against false solutions. Those false solutions is what UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol are about: Carbon trading, now to include the proposed carbon trading in forests (REDD), agrofuels, etc. We will all pay the price for losing our last chance of preventing runaway global warming, but in the short term it's the people of the global South who are paying the highest price. At a side event organised by the Transnational Institute last night, speakers said that the Clean Development Mechanism is now widely called the Criminal Development Mechanism in countries like India. It funds not clean or sustainable development, but some of the most polluting and destructive industries in the South.

"I have read widely about CDM and carbon finance and looked closely at some
of the methodologies and I have seen nothing to suggest that destructive hydro
projects, payments for palm oil companies, industrial tree plantations, toxic
landfill sites, and polluting factories are anything other than the norm. This
carbon finance is all that Kyoto has brought us. Another 'stronger' Kyoto
Agreement will bring us even more of the same."

A representative of indigenous peoples organisations from Oceania told me of his distress that the governments of the Small Island Nations now ask for nothing but carbon finance to get some money for their drowning countries. They no longer even ask for real policies to reduce emissions. 15 nations in Oceania are about to drown. I asked the person whether he thought people would get out. Some, he said, will get to New Zealand, but for most there is no way out - nobody will take them. They will just drown. He said that several hundred people drowned in PNG just a few days ago, and on one of the islands, after a tropical storm one or two years ago, the whole lagoon was full of dead bodies and they just pushed them into the deeper sea because there were too many to retrieve and bury.

Just before the COP opened, I went to a Climate Justice conference organised by Friends of the Earth Indonesia and Via Campesina. A speaker from Sobrevivencia, Paraguay called for action and demonstrations - but to be very clear what we demonstrate for. If we hold up banners saying climate change kills and we want more govenrment action, the very power groups driving the destruction, she warned, will cheer and might give us even more carbon finance or agrofuels. Instead, she suggested, we need to mobilise against the false solutions and for real, meaningful actions that will actually cut emissions and deliver climate justice. I agree with her. The time for marching for 'global action on climate change' without denouncing the false solutions and the drivers of climate change is over.

There will be no magic bullet, no convincing framework proposal drawn up in offices of the Nothern countries which will save us. Greenhouse gas reduction targets will remain meaningless without realistic ways of delivering them.

"We need to engage with the climate justice movement of
the global South, learn about their reality and realise that, without climate
justice there will be no chance of slowing the pace of the climate
catastrophe."

And climate justice is not just about finding a framework that is fair on paper, but about stopping the carbon traders, the agrofuel companies, the trade mechanisms which are ensuring the ever faster destruction of forests and other ecosystems, the large hydro dams, etc. - and, of course, pushing for real and immediate reductions in emissions and consumption in the UK.

After Bali, we need to get together and decide where, as climate campaigners, we want to be going. Do we want to continue getting ever more people onto the streets calling for no particular solutions and, even worse, by implication lending legitimacy to the false solutions? Or will we reflect on what Kyoto and UNFCCC now stand for, engage with climate justice campaigners in other countries and start calling for the action which we need to stand any chance of not following the fate of the people in Oceania who have already lost their future?

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Alter-Eco: news from the UN Climate Conference

Almuth Ernsting of Biofuelwatch sent me this email whith links to the Transnational Institute which gives a climate justice or global south perspective on the issues up for debate at Bali. I wasn't aware of this group but they are working on vital issues so i was glad to share there views.

Hi,

I thought people might like to see some alternative views from the Bali Climate Conference. I am here with a colleague from Biofuelwatch and we joined in with others who formed a Climate Justice Group - people who are horrified to see that the climate negotiations are little else than a carbon trade fair,
with critical NGOs being virtually excluded and completely marginalise, all NGOs moved to a venue 2minutes from the main conference centre, and with
indigenous peoples organisations not given a proper voice.

Here is the first [and second] edition of a short newsletter which our colleagues have written.

Good luck on 8th December!

Best wishes,

Almuth

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Fossil of the Day: the most 'exact opposite of prestigous' award on the planet.

Fossil of the day award goes to Japan 1st and 2nd place and Japan joint 3rd place with Canada and the US. Japan won for its talk about a post-Kyoto deal which didnt include mandetory carbon caps. Canada came third for shoving the technology transfer into a talking shop rather than an implementation group. The US came joint 3rd for trying to push china and india toward rejecting carbon caps in order to make it's position: based on only getting involved if they accept caps, tennable! Seriously, you cant make this stuff up!

You may have heard about the Fossil Awards given at the United Nations Bali climate negotiations. A collaboration between a number of youth delegations and Avaaz.org, the awards are given to nations whose delegates have obstructed progress during the course of the talks. Here's a first-hand account of the first daily Fossil Awards ceremony, when Canada won the infamous prize. Yesterday, Japan managed to win first, second and third place for threatening to pull out of the Kyoto protocol.

Fossil Awards, Bali Indonesia, December 4 2007 from stepitup on Vimeo.

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China and India Must Reduce Emissions!

The typical frame used for discribing the talks is that of an epic battle between the world and the two asian giants: them resisting us requiring there action. This is a very badly distorted picture indeed. Firstly we have to consider that the process has history. Then we have to consider the difference between nessecity a nessecity for action and a right to have that action carried out.

In terms of history the story is one of inaction, by us--The North--and futher inaction by us, to even do things that we had agreed to! The biggest failure is that of the USA to take on a
carbon cap and start to reduce it's emissions. The other major failure is by the developed countires who are party to Kyoto but who have not followed through in there promises fro adaptation and development funding.

The problem with these failures is that they leave developing nations in a terrible position and make rapid progress on climate change most unlikely. Firstly, of all the carbon currently in the atmosphere the vast majority is from wealthy developed nations and the consequences are overwhelmingly being fely by the poor. The developed nations have failed to pay reperations for this, and in the case of the US have failed even to stop commiting this crime against humanity.

So, given this background, how can India and China be expected to stop using there cheapest for of energy, namely coal in order to protect the climate for all? If it is carbon emissions that matter then there is a stronger case, ethically, for the US decreasing emissions by 80% to chineses levels than the chinese halting emissions at current levels. Emitting carbon now
does not automaticaly mean you have the right to: not cutting emissions from
a high base is the same as not slowing them down from a low base. However in reality not reducing emissions is infact worse than continuing to increase emissions, this is because the economic benefit of industrialisation using fossil fuels has already been had!

China and India do need to stop increasing emissions in order for us to save the planet.
However we must realise that they have not responsibility to do this. They are poorer than us,
have emiited less carbon than us, are emitting les per capita than us, have been damaged by us.
If there is going to be a deal then all of these issues will have to be resolved before we have a
right to say that they should reduce emissions.

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Youth Coalition Calls For A Bali Breakthrough

Youth Coalition Calls For A Bali Breakthrough
"Our future is in your hands, show true leadership"

BALI, Indonesia - December 3 - Youth from around the world have set an example for their leaders at the Bali climate negotiations this week, reaching out and joining with hundreds of young people from across the globe at the 3rd International Conference of Youth. They were united in calling for real cooperation and strong climate leadership from their governments.

"We have met with young people from across the world," said 24-year-old Australian spokesperson Amanda McKenzie, "and we all agree – our leaders need to take much stronger action to protect our future."

"This weekend's youth conference has shown that the world's young people are willing and able to cooperate, and we urge our leaders to do the same." Youth leaders from North America, Australia, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific converged on Bali in an effort to get world leaders to cooperate in protecting their future.

In light of last month's IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, which presented a dire prediction of climate impacts, these young people – aged from 16 to 26 – have every reason to be concerned about their future.

"Young people have a critical, but underrepresented voice in building the future they must live in. World leaders should follow the lead of young people and act together to secure a livable future for their children." said Richard Graves, 25, a US youth representative.

Earlier this year, Catherine Gauthier, 18, said before the UN High level meeting on Climate Change in September, "Young people have no vested interests or historical baggage – we just want a safe future." Youth leaders hope that world leaders heed her call and work towards a mandate for a strong global climate agreement.

The 3rd International Conference of Youth was organised by the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, SustainUS, and Solar Generation.

For dispatches from the Youth Delegations, visit: www.ItsGettingHotinHere.org
For dispatches from the UN Climate Negotiations, visit Bali Buzz: www.unfcccbali.com
Check out dispatches from the youth climate movement: http://www.itsgettinghotinhere.org/
Please support the U.S. Youth Delegation to the international climate negotiations in Bali:
http://sustainus.org/donatebali

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I talk about the Bali climate negotiations and the surrounding politics.

I talk about the UNFCCC Bali climate negotaitions, the political setting and some good sources of related information.

Video 1 of 2


Video 2 of 2


The bali posts i refer to in the video are here.


.

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Bali deligates erupt into applause at Australia's kyoto ratification announcement

The first news out of the Bali climate talks:

"Spontaneous applause erupted for Australia as hundreds of delegates at the Bali climate change conference lauded Canberra's decision to ratify the Kyoto protocol....

Indonesia's Environment Minister and the new president of the UNFCCC, Rachmat Witoelar, told the conference he spoke for everyone "giving a sigh of relief" on Australia's change of position.

After the initial reaction, Witoelar invited delegates to offer a second round of applause, which they enthusiastically did. Some delegates even rose to their feet.

UNFCCC executive secretary Yvo de Boer later told reporters: "I think that it was an emotional and spontaneous reaction to a very significant political decision on the part of the Australian government to ratify the Kyoto protocol"."

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UNFCCC Bali Climate Conference: Audio and Video Coverage

Audio and video will soon be flooding out of the Bali climate talks. I will post links to the various events and briefings here.

So far:

• The National Environment Trust have held an audio briefing 'Bali: What is at stake?'
• The World Business Council on Sustainable Development have created a youtube account for there events at the conference.
• Indonesia president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has stated that he wants to place indonesia at the forefront of climate mitigation.
• Joshua Busby, University of Texas on the key challenge of Bali.
• UNFCCC offical Youtube Channel with daily coverage of Bali conference.
• Enviromedia coverage 'Bali or Bust': updates live from the Bali conference.
• Tropical Forest Group vlog about deforestation and climate change from Bali.
• Live on demand webcast from the confernece!
• Video from Bali thanks to 'StepItUp' includes fossil of the day awards.

New Internationalist explores the global climate change situation (MP3).

1. Chandra Bhushan - Associate director and head of the Industry Unit at Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi, India - advocates how India can accelerate development in ways that minimize its emissions.
2. EcoEquity's Tom Athanasiou - argues that it's the countries of the Rich World, not the Poor World, which are responsible for climate change, and now it's their responsibility to pay. Tom outlines his plan, and presents the politics that await it at the UN Climate Change Conference.
3. Daphne Wysham - co-director of the Sustainable Energy and Economy Network - reveals why international institutions such as the World Bank are cashing in on the growing climate change market, and how this is hindering sustainable energy options.

Pick of the side event webcasts:

1. Al Gore urges progress without the US untill after Bush. Video.
   
2. UN Regional perspectives on climate change: Video + Notes
3. WHO Health and Climate Change: Video + Notes
4. UNEP Adapting to Climate Change and Political Commitment: Video + Notes
5. UNDP Climate Change and Human Development: Video + Notes.
   

Related: All Bali coverage on this blog can be found here.

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Bali Climate Talks: Campaigns & Lobbying; Leed Up; Blogs and Live Coverage

I have created a 'Backgrounder' for those interested in the UNFCCC Bali Climate Talks (COP/MOP).

Firstly i list some of the resources for information during the talks. Mainstream media are useless, usually absent or scant on details. I rundown a list of bloggers from the talks, along with the official coverage provided by International Institute for Sustainable Development and the Climate Action Network.

Secondly i run down the political developments and reports published in the run up to the conference.

Finally i highlight some of the campaigning and lobbying currently being organised by NGO's, businesses and wider civil society.

All posts on the bali climate conference can be found here.

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UNFCCC Bali climate talks: Protests, Lobbying, Meetings Planned

The Bali Climate talks may be a historic event...many people are trying to make this so:

1. The World Business Council on Sustainable Development and International Chamber of Commerce are holding a 'Business Day' to lobby for a new climate deal.
2. The Global Climate Campaign are coordinating demonstrtions around the world to push the politicians into action.
3. Greenpeace use the Bali climate talks to highlight the global disaster that is palm oil production.
4. Groups working together on development and adaptation are getting together to educate the conference attendees on these joint challenges.
5. SustainUS send a youth delegation to Bali to make the views of the American people clear.
6. 100 Cyclists cycle from Jakartat to Nusa Dua (Bali) to highlight the ways that people can fight climate change video coverage Oxfam International.
   

[UPDATES HERE AS THEY COME]

Related:

1. Daily Newsletters + Blogs Live at the Conference.
2. The leed up to the conference: pre-conference politics, reports and events.
   

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Leed up to Bali climate change negotiations.

The Bali climate talks are just around the corner and meetings between nations, between environmental and wider civil society groups, and between people who care, are underway around the world.

This post is going to be the place for updates related to the talks as and when it comes to my attention.

News so far:

1. Kevin Rudd is the new PM of Australia. He has stated that he will attend Bali and that siging Kyoto is his 'number 1 priority'. This is a boost to talks which clerly need all the energy we can give them!
2. Canada has managed to destroy a Commonwealth consensus on tough and binding targets on emissions cuts therby becoming my own personal least favourite national govornment.
3. The IPCC summary for policymakers is out in time for the conference, and sobering reading it makes...but will its warning be heeded?
4. The International Crop Research Agency predict an agarian crisis as a result of climate change in a recent report.
   
5. Israel has decided not to send a delegate to the talks!
6. Nancy Pelosi, majority speaker of the house, will be leading a Democrat delegation to Bali (it is rumoured).
7. The WWF has published a report outlinging the potential financial saving that china could make by increasing energy efficiency and embracing clean energy.
8. France and China have signed an agreement to improve cooperation on climate change adaptation and mitigation.
9. 2007 UN development report states that the poor will pay the price of a weak climate deal.
10. Brazil joins Indonesia in agreeing to limit deforestation if the wealthy nations of the world will fund the project.
11. US announces it's negotiation team and it's full of Neo-Conservatives including Paula Dobriansky and James L. Connaughton. Great.
    
12. EU warns member states, aviation must be included in climate policy.
13. New Zealand prime minister Hellan Clarke has given a determined speech in Germany about the importance of climate change and sustainablity as global issues this century.
14. In the run up to the UNFCCC climate talks Indonesia has started the planting of 79 million trees, which it aims to complete over the next few years. The general view of conservation groups is that a halt to active deforestation of biodiverse rainforest areas should be the priority.
15. Brazil has made clear its aversion to taking on binding targets. This can hardly be suprising as the wealthiest nation on earth still havent agreed to this! However, we will fail without this bitter pill being consumed. Funding for this clean develoment strategy will be required from the 'North'.
16. The Woods Hole Research Center is announcing technology that enables rapid analysis of estensive areas of vegetation. This makes a deal on deforestation avoidance more practical therefore acceptable to the international community.
17. It's time to save peatbogs and rainforests, in 1997 these two made up 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions! Surely these are the cheapest savings on the planet behind energy efficiency?
18. Climate change and trade dominate EU-India summit.
19. More than 150 major global companies have signed the 'Bali Communique' as created by the UK Prince of Wales' Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change.
20. German Chancellor Merkel has stated that Germany must take a lead on climate change according to the International Herald Tribune."Merkel said Germany is prepared to announce a raft of measures it will undertake itself, and has set an ambitious goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent by 2020."
21. Dealing with illegal logging is key to fighting climate change according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
22. The Red Cross and Red Crecent have released there position, and also a very substantial report on the threat that climate change presents there mission with.
    
23. Greenpeace have release a briefing on Bali and the broader climate negotiations.
    
24. "Climate change is posing imminent threat to Viet Nam’s progress in human development, according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)"
25. International Institute for Environment and Dvelopment (IIED) publish a report on asian development and climate change 'Up in smoke? Asia and the Pacific'. Asia, due to its large population of small scale farmers is perticularly at risk from climate change.

(Photo:Up in smoke? Asia and the Pacific' ) Deforestation is a major contribution to climate change, to increased flooding risk, and in fact to a whole range of environmental and social problems.


Related: Bali climate talks covoured in depth daily by the professionals and by bloggers.

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Climate Change Key Issue in Australian Election

The Age...

The head of next month's crucial climate change conference and Indonesia's Environment Minister has supported the election of a Labor government, saying its plan to ratify the Kyoto Protocol would be a "heaven-sent" boost to the talks.

In extraordinary statements for an Indonesian minister, Rachmat Witoelar said he hoped "good environmental moves" prevailed out of Australia's election tomorrow.

"I have become good friends with Mr Howard so I wish him all the luck, but I understand that if Kevin Rudd gets elected it will be faster moving; I hope that it will be done."

As Bali is hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference to outline a successor to Kyoto, Mr Witoelar will be the president of the meeting and preside over all the conference's negotiations for the next year.

It will be a boost to have Australias ratification, it will help the world move on to make some really tough decisions, although the US stance is unlikley to change. I`m sure others from the US will be representing the position of a future Democratic administration.

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UNFCC Bali Climate Conference: Blog and Expert Daily Coverage

Blogs to be reporting from Bali


It's Gettig Hot In Here
Celsias
De Smog Blog
Bali Climate Change Conference Blog
Oxfam International in Bali
Climate Feedback
Climate Shifts
CarbonFund
Greenpeace International. (Policy Work)

[New blogs will be added here as they come to my attention, feel free to let me know about any others that should be included]


A new climate blog brought to you by US Youth Actavists: Bali Buzz
UNFCC Bali Climate Conference Official Blog
Global Voices special coverage of Bali
Alexia Parks of VoteLink has made the news for her blogging efforts.
Open Democracy coverage.
Greenpeace have a bali feed from several of the best blog.
UK Department of the Environment bali blog.
Enviromedia blog.
Tearfund blog from Bali.

News Wires:

UN Bali Climate Conference: Environmental News Network 'Climate Change'
UN Bali Climate Conference: Reuters Bali Coverage
UN Bali Climate Conference: ENDS coverage.

Coverage by the experts:


UN Bali Climate Conference: IISD Daily Conference Summary--Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB)

UN Bali Climate Conference: NGO Coverage with daily 'Eco' newsletter.

UN Bali Climate Conference: Offical Website.



All Bali Posts (Run Up, Protests, Side Events, Video, Audio, etc., et.,)

Climate Change Action on Bali


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