One area where Paris was a failure was in sorting out how adequate funding will reliably and transparently flow to help developing countries make the transition to a low carbon economy and to assist them in preparing for the impacts of climate change. That funding is fundamental to these nations acting ambitiously in the years ahead—as we all need them to do. Major funding is also needed to help them prepare for, cope with, and recover from the climate risks that are arriving and which lie ahead.
By Timmons Roberts and Romain Weikmans A sense of measured optimism and achievement emerged from the Paris climate conference. Diplomats, environmentalists, researchers, and other observers mostly felt relieved after years of discussions toward a new international agreement on climate change. Multilateralism had proven it might be up to the task of addressing climate change. But it’s a very mixed picture, and many of us are still trying to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of the agreement, the structure for global action it has established, and the momentum around climate action it created. As George Monbiot put it in the Guardian: “By comparison to what it could have been, it’s a miracle. By comparison to what it should have been, it’s a disaster.”
One area where Paris was a failure was in sorting out how adequate funding will reliably and transparently flow to help developing countries make the transition to a low carbon economy and to assist them in preparing for the impacts of climate change. That funding is fundamental to these nations acting ambitiously in the years ahead—as we all need them to do. Major funding is also needed to help them prepare for, cope with, and recover from the climate risks that are arriving and which lie ahead. By Gilberto Arias There are many questions about the Paris Agreement at COP21, about exactly what we achieved and the “bindingness” on countries. How will the new regime be enforced? Has the new, 12 page agreement and its accompanying suite of enabling decisions, created a climate regime that will deliver in ways that the Kyoto Protocol could not?
ConexiónCOP conversó con Guy Edwards, sobre el recientemente adoptado acuerdo de París. Al respecto, Edwards sostuvo que: “Si los países toman buenas decisiones usando energía verde, estarán a la vanguardia, lograrán bajar sus emisiones y podrán crecer de manera más limpia”.
The Paris climate talks according to U.S. print media: Plenty of heat, but not so much light12/18/2015
By Sonya Gurwitt and Timmons Roberts Over the course of two weeks, we tracked electronic media coverage of the Paris climate talks—and its absence – in the four highest-circulation print news sources in the U.S.: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and USA Today. Together, they published a total of 424 articles on the climate change conference—a remarkable number. But not all of that coverage was instructive, and many key issues in the negotiations were scarcely mentioned. Citizens informed by the U.S. print media gained only a partial understanding of the issues at the core of the climate change negotiations.
By Timmons Roberts In the end, it was all smiles, hugs, and selfies. Celebrities like Segolene Royal and Al Gore shook hands with lead negotiators for France, China, India and other countries. But for two weeks in Paris at COP21, and for six years before that, there was deep uncertainty about whether the United Nations system could deliver an adequate agreement to deal with the existential threat of climate change.
By Crystal Avila The second week of the climate conference is wrapping up in Paris, and as various groups make the final push to pressure negotiators for an effective agreement, one set of groups stick out like a sore thumb: big businesses. This year businesses have flocked to the negotiations more than ever before, and are bringing their big promises and purses with them.
By Mili Mitra In the halls of the Paris climate talks, India has been widely criticized as a potential obstacle. Others see it as a wild card or a volatile swing vote. Either way, it has dominated the headlines from Paris, emerging as a make-or-break player alongside powerhouses like the US and China. This has prompted questions about its transformation on climate change.
While it may seem as if India has undergone a sea change on climate policy, the reality is more nuanced. By and large, India’s actual demands are consistent with its position in previous negotiations. However, it has modified its rhetoric to become a more assertive force in Paris. By Guy Edwards, Tory Hoffmeister, Kari Malkki and Kara Roanhorse Adaptation to climate change is a top priority for Latin America. The region is highly vulnerable to climate-related impacts, including coastal erosion with the rise of sea levels, and the intensification and frequency of hurricanes. These impacts are already imposing huge economic costs meaning adaptation measures are essential for countries, cities, the private sector, and citizens, to better manage climate risk, and build resilience.
As the negotiations in Paris to reach a new climate agreement enter the final stage, we share the following four commentaries by Latin American experts on adaptation in response to the follwoing questions: 1. Why is adaptation a key issue for Latin American countries? 2. How do Latin American countries want to see adaptation included in a new agreement in Paris? 3. How might the inclusion of adaptation in the new agreement interact with Latin American countries’ current national adaptation plans and strategies, and what is holding adaptation back in Latin America? By Meghan Holloway and Guy Edwards Late Thursday afternoon at the UN climate change talks in Paris, Canada joined the Marshall Islands, the European Union, United States, and dozens of African, Latin American, Caribbean and Pacific countries in an informal group called the “High Ambition Coalition.”
By Crystal Avila, Mili Mitra and Sujay Natson ![]() When the clock struck 3pm on December 3rd, youth across the Paris climate conference dropped dead. Not literally, of course. The action was part of the die-in organized by the Youth NGOs (YOUNGO), a constituency group that represents the interests of young people at the UN climate talks. It aimed to highlight youth participation at the negotiations. It was one of many events scheduled for the Young and Future Generation’s Day, an official day at the conference. |
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... 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January 2021
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