Cambio climático

'Kyoto principles' crucial in climate talks - China

Ray Mears: We'll struggle to survive climate change

Mystery numbers

Trees in far north provide biggest climate benefit

Should climate deniers be allowed to speak on the Today programme? | George Monbiot

13 November 2009 Had the BBC done its research, Ian Plimer's falsehoods would not been allowed to pass unchallenged Should the Today programme have interviewed Ian Plimer yesterday? According to many environmentalists, it shouldn't. Here, for example, is the Green party councillor Rupert Read : "I literally could not believe my ears when I heard you giving an entire interview this morning (at 8.53) to the fringe Australian geologist still questioning man-made global over-heating, at this crucial time, when 1) it is now utterly obvious and everywhere accepted by atmospheric scientists that humans are responsible for the dire and continual upward trend in CO2 emissions, and 2) the Copenhagen summit is almost upon us … By doing interviews like that, that you chose to air this morning, you are materially damaging the chances of an agreement at Copenhagen, an agreement that might just save our civilisation and species from self-destruction." I don't agree. I don't think any voice should be suppressed, unless it is directly inciting people to rise up and kill or hurt others. You could argue, rightly, that death and devastation is the likely result of a widespread failure to take climate change seriously. But on the same grounds you would have to stifle the voices of people who demand a reduction in taxes (that might have funded the NHS or overseas aid) or people who came out in favour of the Iraq war. It's not clear-cut of course: the laws that prevent people from inciting violence against British people of Iraqi origin don't prevent commentators from inciting state violence against Iraqis overseas. There is clearly a pay-off between free speech and the defence of vulnerable people. But would any of you seriously argue that such commentators should not be allowed to state their case, however repulsive we might find it? Let Plimer speak, but let his interviewers do some sodding research first. On the Today programme Justin Webb allowed him get away with some extraordinary claims . P... [more...]

Gordon Brown to attend Copenhagen climate change conference

12 November 2009 The Danish prime minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, wrote to 191 leaders, saying their presence would be 'pivotal' Gordon Brown confirmed today that he will attend the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen next month after the Danish prime minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, issued invitations to 191 world leaders. Brown was the first world leader to announce in September that he was ready to go to Copenhagen to help secure a deal. He will be hoping that other prime ministers and presidents – particularly Barack Obama – follow his lead and go to the Danish capital. The prime minister and other world leaders are expected to attend the final days of the two-week summit on 17 and 18 December, when he hopes that political agreement will be reached on a post-Kyoto framework for reducing the carbon emissions blamed for global warming. Brown's spokesman announced today that he had accepted Rasmussen's invitation, adding: "Although there is much to be done in the next 30 days, clearly this is one of the issues which is top of the prime minister's mind at the moment." He said Britain has accepted that it will not get the legal treaty on carbon cuts that Brown was initially hoping for at Copenhagen, but believes that a political agreement leading to a clear timetable on a legally binding deal would be "from our point of view, a result". Obama said on Monday that he will attend the summit if he believed "we are on the brink of a meaningful agreement and my presence in Copenhagen will make a difference in tipping us over the edge". In his letters, sent out to heads of state and governments around the world by diplomatic channels today, Rasmussen said their attendance "is a pivotal contribution to a successful outcome" to the December conference. At least 40 leaders have said they plan to attend the conference, including the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, and the Dutch prime minister, Jan Peter Balkenende. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil has indicated he mi... [more...]

Gloomy Energy Report Sets the Stage for Climate Talks