Beyond the Negotiations

Words, words, words: The Failure of the Paris Agreement

Paige Nygaard December 12, 2015 0 Comments

In reaction to the text that was released this afternoon, later passed tonight, the spirits today are all different. My heart is heavy and confused: torn between being part of a strong movement that is demanding climate justice while watching a plenary unfold that is delivering an unambitious and immoral deal made of false promises. The Paris agreement did not start here, or last year. Although...

Climate Chaos and the Externalities of Americanism

Matthew Kennedy December 11, 2015 1 Comment

“The American way of life is not up for negotiations. Period.” ~Pres. George W. Bush “To accept your rewriting of the Convention is to accept the destruction of our societies.” ~The delegation of Malaysia to the UNFCCC, COP21 The Negotiator as Mythmaker American climate negotiators are the guardians of a precious, ridiculous, and destructive ideal. Therefore they must be at...

A Long Term Goal in the Paris Agreement: A Failure Without Differentiation & Equity

Paige Nygaard December 10, 2015 0 Comments

By Paige Nygaard We are getting closer and closer to the end of COP21. Anticipation is growing to seeing what disaster will unfold within the text. Will it be slightly bad? Absolutely terrible? How much will the United States be able to shift the burden of climate change to other countries while also blaming them for any bad deal in Paris? As every draft text gets released, it favors the...

Lobbying Chronicles – Part II

Margherita Tommasini December 10, 2015 0 Comments

By Margherita Tommasini The lobbying tour, organized by Corporate Europe Observatory, took place on December 3rd 2015, with the goal of bringing the buildings of the Parisian business district La Dèfense to life: they are seats of power, where decisions are influenced, where lobbyists work and wield power. Read more about the tour and its first stop (Engie) at Lobbying Chronicles: Part I Stop...

Leaders Event and Japanese position toward the COP 21

Makiko Yoshida December 1, 2015 0 Comments

Leaders Event and Briefing by the Spokesperson of the Government of Japan on the Japanese position toward the COP 21 from the first day of Climate Negotiation by Makiko Yoshida November 30, 2015 marked the opening of the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at Le Bourget in Paris, France. This meeting also serves as the eleventh meeting of the...