Much time has passed since the end of the Copenhagen climate meeting (COP 15), but there is still widespread disagreement about what, if anything, was achieved at what was billed a “historic moment” in humanity’s struggle to reign in the specter of human induced climate change. Historic the moment may well be, but possibly for [...]
Archive for December, 2009
Today is the day: December 18, 2009
Posted in cop15, Mercer Island, tagged cop15, copenhagen, Mercer Island, Obama, UNFCCC on December 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
In December 1989, UN member states began discussions about developing a global response to human-induced climate change. These initial discussions led to the creation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at the “Earth Summit” held in Rio de Janeiro in June, 1992. 108 heads of state gathered at this meeting, including President H.W. [...]
Malmo, Sweden/sustainable development city
Posted in cop15, Mercer Island, tagged cop15, environmental design, Malmo Sweden, sustainable development on December 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
A major topic of discussion at COP15 is how to reduce emissions from buildings. Experts have found that building construction and management contributes up to 40% of total global GHG emissions. Effective mitigation of building-related emissions requires new holistic approaches that integrate both site-specific elements and comprehensive community planning. Malmo, Sweden is a world leader in [...]
Washingtonians AT COP15/ Gregiore, Nickels and others
Posted in cop15, Mercer Island, tagged Christine Gregoire, COP 15, Evergreen Films, Malmo, Mayor Nickels, UN Climate Summit for Mayors on December 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Washington politicians have descended on Copenhagen! Some of their exploits are being documented by Seattle-based documentary filmmaker Harry Calbom at Evergreen Films. Governor Gregoire made an appearance at the Dec. 12/13 Bright Green business fair, where a number of Washington firms set up shop to promote local ‘green’ services and products. She spoke at the main COP15 conference venue on Monday, 12/14 [...]
Chu says 5C is a real possibility
Posted in cop15, Mercer Island, tagged 5C, cop15, Department of Energy, Stephen Chu, Yvo de Boer on December 13, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I heard Energy Secretary Stephen Chu and Yvo de Boer speak at a small gathering on Sunday, 12/13. Since the groups was primarily made up American businessmen, Yvo gave a similar plea to the one expressed at the WBCSD meeting. He asked business leaders to be more proactive in providing more low-carbon consumers choices. Chu made a fairly stark assessment [...]
Global Day of Action demonstration
Posted in cop15, Mercer Island, tagged cop15, friends of the earth, global day of action, greenpeace, NGO on December 12, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Yesterday, 12/11 the business titans garnerd the stage. Today Saturday (12/12) the NGOs took their place in the sun. There were sporadic demonstrations throught the first week of meetings. The lead organizers for this event included Greenpeace www.greenpeace.org and Friends of the Earth International www.foe.co.uk, but dozens of other groups spanning a wide range of interests from Tibetans trying to save Himilayan glaciers to representatives from disparate European [...]
CEOs gather at WBCSD to discuss climate change
Posted in cop15, Mercer Island, tagged cop15, rewnewable energy, WBCSD. sustainable business, Yvo de Boer on December 12, 2009 | 2 Comments »
On Friday, 12/11/09, business leaders from around the world gathered to discuss how they can contribute to UN discussions about climate change. The event was moderated by BBC anchor Nick Gowing. In the keynote address, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer lamented that the business community had not done enough to engage in climate negotiations going on across town. He noted [...]
Cell phone bike rentals
Posted in cop15, Mercer Island, tagged bikes, Frankfurt, technology, Transportation on December 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Our friend Lucia at IslandVision would love this one. There is a company in Frankfurt that rents bikes by using cell phones to remotely unlock bikes that are centrally located around the city. Just find the bike you want, call in to reserve, and the company will call, unlock the bike and you area ready to [...]
Global impact of global warming on Tibetan Plateau/life (Part 1)
Posted in cop15, Mercer Island, tagged glaciers, global warming, indigenous rights, Tibet on December 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
On 12/9/09, about 150 people gathered at Klimaforum09, the Copenhagen NGO ‘shadow summit’ to hear about how global warming is affecting Tibet, or as the activists call it, the ‘Third Pole.’ Why do they call Tibet the ‘Third Pole?’ Tibet is a rugged mountainous region. Much of it is covered by snow and ice most [...]
Welcome to COP15/Watch all the action here
Posted in cop15, Mercer Island, tagged climate change, cop15, copenhagen, klimaforum09, WBCSD on December 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
No doubt you have all heard that the world is focused on Copenhagen this week (Dec. 7-18 2009) and praying for positive outcomes from the official UN negotiations. However, there are hundreds of non-UN related side events going on all over town. Of particular note is the ‘shadow’ NGO COP15 meeting being held by activists and citizens who are [...]
-
Authors
Island and Beyond Events
-
Recent posts
- Mercer Island Student Qualifies for National Spelling Bee
- Join the Earth Hour movement: Turn off your lights on March 27, 8:30 PM
- Earth Hour: Turn off your lights to raise awareness about global warming
- 2010: Globally, NOAA reports fourth warmest January on record
- Climate Diet Tour: Vancouver, BC
- Climate Diet Times Mosiac
- Time’s Up Obama and Pelosi: Pass Senate Version of Healthcare Bill Now
- Chinese Press: Google Founders have created a “Frankenstein,” company plots next steps
- Save Energy and Money in 2010 with Google PowerMeter
- COP 15: What was achieved?
Archives
Jonathan Harrington
