By Camila Bustos In September, the New Climate Economy (NCE) Report was launched, calling for a global shift to low-carbon development. The NCE report underscores the economic opportunities inherent in smart climate policies, pointing out that the next 15 years will be critical in the shift to cleaner energies, building better cities, and phasing out fossil fuel subsidies. The report’s underlying message is that countries can build lasting economic growth while simultaneously reducing the immense risk of climate change. During the last week of October, the NCE team visited Bogotá to present the report and what it means in the Colombian context.
China is playing a major role across Latin America as a creditor, investor and trade partner. However, China’s considerable presence in Latin America, like those of other major powers in the region, tends to focus on high-carbon activities including fossil fuel extraction, large-scale agriculture and energy intensive industries. The rapidly expanding economic, commercial and political ties between China and Latin America have far reaching implications for the new climate change agreement to be agreed in 2015. On November 21, 2014, the CDL hosted an event at the Watson Institute to analyse Chinese-Latin American relations and explore some of the opportunities and limitations towards establishing a more sustainable agenda in a warming world. The conference was funded by the Fundación Botín with the support of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at Brown. The conference relates to a project being carried out between the CDL and E3G. To watch the full conference including the panel discussion not included in the video above here click on the following link: https://mediacapture.brown.edu:8443/ess/echo/presentation/f73a6d9d-7c65-46e4-a366-5c3c0e9e8712
Relaciones China-Latinoamérica: ¿Hacia un paradigma más sostenible en un mundo en calentamiento?11/18/2014
El 21 de noviembre, de 09:00 - 12:00 (EST), el Laboratorio de Clima y Desarrollo y el Centro de Estudios sobre Latinoamérica y el Caribe de la Universidad Brown serán anfitriones de la conferencia Relaciones China-Latinoamérica: ¿Hacia un paradigma más sostenible en un mundo en calentamiento?
El evento será transmitido en vivo y el público podrá participar en la discusión a través de Twitter. El objetivo de la conferencia es entender mejor el desarrollo de las relaciones entre China y América Latina y explorar algunas de las oportunidades y límites hacia el establecimiento de una agenda más sostenible frente al cambio climático. El evento coincide con las preparaciones para el primer Foro de China-Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños y el lanzamiento del Plan de Cooperación China-América Latina y el Caribe 2015-2019 a principios del siguiente año. El evento es organizado por el Laboratorio de Clima y Desarrollo y el Centro de Estudios sobre Latinoamérica y el Caribe. La conferencia es patrocinada por la Fundación Botín. El evento hace parte de un proyecto entre el Laboratorio de Clima y Desarrollo y E3G. El panel incluirá expertos de China, América Latina y Estados Unidos. La grabación del evento está disponible aquí: https://mediacapture.brown.edu:8443/ess/echo/presentation/f73a6d9d-7c65-46e4-a366-5c3c0e9e8712 Siga el evento y la discusión en Twitter #CHLACC Viernes, 21 de noviembre de 2014. 09:00 – 12:00 EST Joukowsky Forum, Instituto Watson para Estudios Internacionales Brown University, 111 Thayer Street, Providence, Rhode Island Ghosts of Resolutions Past: The G20 Agreement on Phasing Out Inefficient Fossil Fuel Subsidies11/16/2014 By Alison Kirsch and Timmons Roberts
As much as the nostalgic might hate to admit it, a new year is coming up. And for climate change negotiators, 2015 is a big one: it’s the make-it-or-break it year for a serious, last-ditch effort at an international agreement to slow runaway climate change. A new year brings new, hopeful resolutions. Of course, just as ubiquitous are the pesky memories of past resolutions that one never quite accomplished. Some resolutions fade, understandably. But failure is less forgivable when the repercussions include the increased exploration of fossil fuels at the expense of our warming world. To avoid the most destructive effects of climate change, we must keep two-thirds of existing fossil fuel reserves underground, instead of providing subsidies to dig them up. One group not living up to its resolution: the G20 members —19 countries and the European Union that make up 85% of global GDP. At the 2009 G20 summit in Pittsburgh, the group agreed to “rationalize and phase out over the medium term inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption.” At the 2013 summit in St. Petersburg, they reaffirmed this resolution. Yet that same year, these countries funneled $88 billion into exploring new reserves of oil, gas, and coal. Another resolution abandoned. This year’s G20 summit will convene in Brisbane, Australia (November 15th - 16th) — a perfect opportunity to commiserate about the backsliding on the agreement and to develop a new approach that includes some means of holding each other accountable. So how can the G20 follow through on its laudable and necessary pledge? Cory Gardner, Thom Tillis, Tom Cotton, and Joni Ernst, Republican Senate-elects who defeated Democratic incumbents. (Image source) By Tory Hoffmeister and Allison Reilly
The resounding Republican victory in the 2014 midterm elections displayed that, despite unprecedented contributions from green groups, environmentalists continue to struggle against a rising tide of big money interests. The success of Republicans and their financiers may also dampen expectations in the wake of the historic announcement yesterday of the U.S. - China agreement on climate change and prospects for greater climate action by the U.S. By Ximena Carranza Risco and Guy Edwards As Peru gears up for the United Nations climate change conference this December in Lima, its willingness to demonstrate strong climate leadership as host nation remains ambiguous. Despite the Peruvian President Ollanta Humala’s positive rhetoric at the recent U.N. climate summit in New York; his actions at home suggest tackling climate change and protecting the environment is far from a priority.
Por Ximena Carranza Risco y Guy Edwards Mientras Perú se prepara para la conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre el cambio climático a realizarse en Lima en Diciembre, la disposición del gobierno para demostrar un fuerte liderazgo ambiental como anfitrión de las negociaciones permanece ambigua. A pesar del discurso positivo del Presidente Ollanta Humala en la reciente Cumbre Climática de la ONU en Nueva York, sus acciones domésticas sugieren que combatir el cambio climático y proteger el medio ambiente no son prioridades.
Guest Article by Ricardo Lagos* Latin America may have weathered the global economic slowdown, but for many, the potential impact of global warming, and the measures required to avoid its worst effects, may undermine the region’s fragile political, economic, and social balance – and roll back years of progress.
But economic prosperity and action to mitigate climate change need not be mutually exclusive. Indeed, the current election cycle in Latin America, coupled with the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in December in Lima, Peru, provide an opportunity for the region to show how countries can benefit from a low-carbon economy, reduce climate risks, and build long-term prosperity. |
CDL in the News
28 Dec 2018 - Edwards in the NYT on electric vehicles in Latin America 24 Dec 2018 - The Public's Radio RI interviews Roberts on how the fossil fuel industry outspends environmental groups on campaign contributions & lobbying 19 Dec 2018 - EcoRI News: New Report Claims RI Climate Council Falling Behind Targets 17 Dec 2018 - 'We must move beyond business as usual,' says new report on Rhode Island's inadequate climate plan. 12 Dec 2018 - Isabel Cavelier, Guy Edwards and Lina Puerto “COP25 en 2019: reto y oportunidad para elevar la ambición climática en América Latina” El Espectador 4 Dec 2018 - Whitehouse, Ciciline meet with climate lab 28 Nov 2018 - Edwards quoted in New York Times story on Brazil backing out of hosting UN summit on climate change 11 Oct 2018 - Brookings Institute Climate reality requires starting at home: Weaning from fossil fuels 23 Sep 2018 - Edwards quoted in Financial Times on Argentina energy future 13 Jul 2018 - Europe and Latin America can blaze a trail on implementing the Paris Agreement 1 Jun 2018 - Brookings Institute One year since Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement 21 May 2018 - Edwards article in World Politics Review: Is the G-20 Heading for a Showdown With Trump on Climate Change? 11 May 2018 - Edwards Op-Ed in Washington Post 22 Jan 2018 - Roberts Op-Ed The climate solution no-one in Davos will be talking about 15 Dec 2017 - Edwards' article on how Regional and domestic politics could sabotage Brazil's bid to host UN climate change talks in 2019 8 Nov 2017 - Roberts quoted in Reuters story on financing loss and damage 9 Oct 2017 - EcoRI article describes Roberts' testimony against the natural gas power plant proposed for construction in Burrillville, Rhode Island 17 Sep 2017 - BBC Radio 5 featured a live interview with Roberts about Trump's conditions for staying in Paris 4 Sep 2017 - Roberts comments on the use of his work in a report by Rhode Island Department of Health on the proposed power plant in Burrillville, Rhode Island 17 Jul 2017 - Roberts mentioned in NPR's story on the US having a say in UN climate spending 15 Jul 2017 - Roberts calls for solid climate policies in RI 5 Jul 2017 - Roberts demands swifter action on CO2 release 5 Jul 2017 - Roberts demands RI Governor Raimondo to take climate action 30 Jun 2017 - Roberts gives advice on owning and using electric cars 23 Jun 2017 - Roberts comments on how voters are persuaded by the terms 'climate change' and 'global warming' 20 Jun 2017 - Roberts' involvement in local climate group is helping to fight fossil fuel development 3 Jun 2017 - WPRO Radio's Steve Klamkin interviews Roberts on the Paris Agreement 2 Jun 2017 - Roberts comments on US involvement in the Green Climate Fund 2 Jun 2017 - BBC Radio 5's Faye Rusco interviews Roberts on Trump's withdrawal from Paris 2 Jun 2017 - Roberts discusses the role of mayors and private sector companies post US pull-out of Paris 1 Jun 2017 - Roberts gives more details about the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement 1 Jun 2017 - Roberts organizes emergency protest in RI 1 Jun 2017 - Roberts comments on the implications of US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement 1 Jun 20117 - Roberts share his views on the US exit from the Paris Accord 31 May 2017 - Roberts cited on the far-reaching implications of US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement 31 May 2017 - RI left vulnerable if US pulls out of Paris Accord, says Roberts 24 May 2017 - Roberts chimes in on Trump's proposed EPA budget 30 Apr 2017 - Roberts helps to 'fact check' Trump's first 100 days in office 25 Apr 2017 - Roberts lobbies for people's march in RI to mark Trump's first 100 days in office 23 Apr 2017 - Roberts cautions against threats to science at march for science in Rhode Island 7 Apr 2017 - White House Chronicle's Llewelyn King interviews Roberts on Trump’s executive order and climate policy directions 10 Mar 2017 - Roberts quoted in Providence Business News about new proposed fossil fuel infrastructure in Rhode Island 6 Feb 2017 - Devex article on climate finance under the new administration quotes Roberts 18 Jan 2017 - Roberts featured in NPR Marketplace segment on Obama's $500m donation to the Green Climate Fund 29 Dec 2016 - Roberts quoted in Common Dreams article about the state of environmental justice in 2016 19 Nov 2016 - EcoRI profiles Roberts and the new Civic Alliance for a Cooler Rhode Island 14 Nov 2016 - Roberts featured in Rhode Island Public Radio segment on Trump and the Paris Agreement 12 Nov 2016 - Roberts quoted in Climate Home article on Republican plans to defund climate change programs 10 Nov 2016 - Roberts quote appears in EcoRI article about Trump and the environment 9 Nov 2016 - Roberts quoted in InsideClimate News article on COP22 reaction to Trump's election 9 Nov 2016 - Science Daily discusses new CDL article on paying for loss and damage 9 Nov 2016 - Roberts quoted in Climate Home article on COP22 reaction to Trump's election 8 Nov 2016 - Roberts' paper on paying for loss and damage discussed and quoted in Phys.Org 7 Nov 2016 - Roberts' paper on paying for loss and damage discussed and quoted in Futurity article 21 Sep 2016 - Roberts quoted in a Breitbart News article about Clinton's support following shift in climate change language 20 Sep 2016 - Roberts quoted in a Climate Home article on Clinton's language around climate change after Sanders' endorsement 5 May 2016 – Climate Home quotes Edwards on the announcement that Patricia Espinosa will lead the UNFCCC from this July 5 May 2016 - Dialogo Chino quotes Edwards following announcement that Patricia Espinosa will replace Christiana Figueres as head of the UNFCCC 24 Apr 2016 - Deutsche Welle quotes Edwards on how ratifying Paris Agreement can boost prosperity in Latin America 23 Mar 2016 – Edwards provides extended quote to Dialogo Chino on Obama’s trip to Cuba and Argentina 25 Dec 2015 - ConexiónCOP conversó con Guy Edwards sobre el nuevo acuerdo climático y America Latina 14 Dec 2015 - Rhode Island Public Radio quotes Roberts on how Paris Climate Pact should steer New England toward clean energy 11 Dec 2015 - Associated Press quotes Romain Weikmans on “Wild West” account on climate finance 10 Dec 2015 - Climate Home talks to Roberts about the lack of an independent system on climate finance Read more... Archives
December 2019
AuthorsThe pieces featured in the blog are authored by CDL members and a diverse group of partners from around the world. The opinions expressed in these articles are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not reflect those of Brown University. Categories
All
|