- "The crucial climate change negotiations in Poznan, Poland, are heading nowhere fast. Charged with producing a plan for cutting carbon emissions, governments have so far produced copious amounts of hot air and little else, with ministers recycling vague promises of future action." - Kevin Watkins, writing in Saturday's Guardian
- "With slim results so far, U.N. climate talks in Poland enter the home stretch this week haunted by Europe's splintering resolve over its own climate package and the void created by a lame-duck negotiating team from the United States." - Agence France-Presse
- "It seems that many, including the government, no longer believe it is 'realistic' to take the action necessary to prevent substantial shifts in the global climatic system. However, failing to take adequate action to mitigate climate change will impose substantial economic and societal costs, as well as locking Australia out of the benefits of the emerging green economy." - Amanda McKenzie of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, ABC Online
- "Rich countries have been sloth-like in the first week and wasted time by exchanging known positions. Ministers must switch to real negotiation mode next week." - Kim Carstensen (Leader, WWF Global Climate Initiative)
What they're saying about Poznan
With five days to go at COP 14 in Poznan, here's a selection of comments on the progress thus far from around the world:
Poznan Day Seven: Daily Press Briefing
With no press briefing on Saturday and a rest day Sunday, Yvo de Boer gave an update on Monday of a number of issues under discussion, including Adaptation, REDD and risk and disaster insurance.
Poznan Day Five: Daily Press Briefing
Yvo de Boer told Friday's press briefing that many delegates were highlighting the need to move to a low-carbon society, citing the emission reduction range of -25 to -40 by 2020 over 1990 levels for industrialized countries, and asking these countries to show ambition and leadership with regard to these targets.
Poznan Day Four: Daily Press Briefing
At Thursday's press briefing, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer gave an update on a number of areas under discussion, including Adaptation.
Poznan Day Three: Daily Press Briefing
The market-based mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol were highlighted by Yvo de Boer at Wednesday’s press briefing; Parties in Poznań are considering ways to enhance the existing mechanisms and looking at the role mechanisms will play in the future.
Poznan Day Two: Daily Press Briefing
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer's media briefing on the second day at Poznan, 2 December 2008.
COP 14 Poznan
The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznań will be a milestone on the road to success for the processes which were launched under the Bali Road Map. The meeting comes midway between COP 13 in Bali, which saw the launch of negotiations on strengthened international action on climate change, and COP 15 Copenhagen, at which the negotiations are set to conclude.
The conference will include the 29th sessions of the Convention’s subsidiary bodies - SBSTA and SBI – as well as the 4th session of the AWG-LCA and the 2nd part of the 6th session of the AWG-KP. The Poznań meeting, which is expected to draw around eight thousand participants, will both advance international cooperation on a future climate change regime and ensure progress on key issues.
Catch Earthwitness' coverage of Poznan here.
Official Web Sites:
www.cop14.gov.pl
UNFCCC
NGO coverage by:
WWF
Greenpeace
The conference will include the 29th sessions of the Convention’s subsidiary bodies - SBSTA and SBI – as well as the 4th session of the AWG-LCA and the 2nd part of the 6th session of the AWG-KP. The Poznań meeting, which is expected to draw around eight thousand participants, will both advance international cooperation on a future climate change regime and ensure progress on key issues.
Catch Earthwitness' coverage of Poznan here.
Official Web Sites:
www.cop14.gov.pl
UNFCCC
NGO coverage by:
WWF
Greenpeace
Earthwitness: Why we're here.
The planet is in trouble.
The Earth is warming at an accelerating rate, and there can be no doubt that human activity is to blame. Rising oceans, more frequent climate extremities, extinction of species and possibly the threat to mankind itself all beckon. There is much for us to change before it is too late - presuming that it is not already too late.
Individuals and communities have a vital role in saving the global ecosystem. So too do governments - but only if they can shake off their self-interests, which is easier said than done. It is the attitude of business throughout the world which holds the key.
The purpose of Earthwitness is to document the changes in our environment, and to report the ways in which our environment can be saved. In particular, we look at engaging with business and industries worldwide, and promoting the challenges and opportunities for Green Industry in the post-Wall Street 21st century.
The Earth is warming at an accelerating rate, and there can be no doubt that human activity is to blame. Rising oceans, more frequent climate extremities, extinction of species and possibly the threat to mankind itself all beckon. There is much for us to change before it is too late - presuming that it is not already too late.
Individuals and communities have a vital role in saving the global ecosystem. So too do governments - but only if they can shake off their self-interests, which is easier said than done. It is the attitude of business throughout the world which holds the key.
The purpose of Earthwitness is to document the changes in our environment, and to report the ways in which our environment can be saved. In particular, we look at engaging with business and industries worldwide, and promoting the challenges and opportunities for Green Industry in the post-Wall Street 21st century.
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