Pablo Solon: Durban=Kyoto Zombie

The infamous and unbelievably brilliant ex-Bolivian negotiator commenting on the earlier version of the KP text and the overall Durban disaster. The climate regime is crumbling around us.. From Pablo Solon (a rush translation): A few moments ago we found out the decisions that they have been cooking behind the scenes. In Durban they won't approve a second period of commitments of the Kyoto...

and the last night bleeds into an extra day

by Trudi Zundel Quick update from the conference center. Civil society was not in fact kicked out of the ICC--after some negotiations of our own with the secretariat, it was agreed that we could stay if we were working, but that those who were sleeping would be asked to leave. It's going to be a long night for Joe, Anjali, and I, the last ones standing--Nathan, Graham and Julian left on an errand...

The last night draws on

by Samuli Sinisalo The texts just presented were not accepted by the Group of 77 and China. Later EU also denounced the documents. Canada had called more ambition from China and India. This was done by name, which is not very politically correct - especially from a country like Canada, which has notoriously low ambition. They were just awarded the fossil of the year award from being the biggest...

BASIC makes Room for an Elephant

by Joe Perullo BASIC (the group of Brazil, South African, India, and China) gave a rather uncomfortable press conference the other day.  China, the leader of the group, started the talk on the defensive, denying the major "rumor" floating around that BASIC is splitting up. The other countries complied and also denied the allegations. An elephant walked into the room. The EU and the US have...

The Last Night in Durban

by Samuli Sinisalo A lot has happened today, I hope. Everything that is going on takes place behind closed doors, so we have no way of accurately reporting it the play by play. The ministerial Inbada started just few minutes ago, and that will hopefully bring some clarity to the situation. So far there are two draft texts presented by the COP presidency, to conclude the work in Durban. Text from...