Watch overviews of Thursday's talks and projections from OneClimate on www.justin.tv
As the sun sets over the African continent, a multilingual Twitterverse gathers strength behind the #COP17 hashtag as thousands of voices converge in outrage over the US plan to delay the implementation of any legally binding climate treaty until 2020, Both Avaaz and 350.org have petitions. SIGN BOTH!
The US bull-headed commitment to hold fast to its position of not signing onto any treaty unless China, Brazil and India agree, lost some footing as Brazil just announced its willingess to go along with other leading economies should they alter their position.
The wide-standing belief is that President Obama has his eye on the 2012 elections more than he does on the future of sustainable life on the planet.
It's time to tell our government ENOUGH!
Please RE-TWEET
Rich polluters are trying to kill #COP17 climate talks in #Durban, but a new #GreenDreamTeam can stop them. Act now! http://www.avaaz.org/...
Earlier today, Abigail Borah, a student from the US, was removed from proceedings after reading a speech to disrupt the process at the negotiations. She was representing the concerns of other US youth that feel the US representatives no longer speak on behalf of the youth in America. On Wednesday, a group of Canadian youth were also evicted from the official talks.
Note: Watch below the fold for updates throughout the day. A live blog will be posted @ 9 PM tonight (7AM Durban time) with links to videos and best tweet feeds to follow throughout the final day.
See also UNFCCC for archives of official talks. Tomorrow morning, live streaming will begin again at 9AM Durban time.
Options for the Outcome
Earlier today, Abigail Borah, a student from the US, read a speech to disrupt the process at the negotiations. She was representing the concerns of other US youth that feel the US representatives no longer speak on behalf of the youth in America.
10:00 AM PT: DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – Today – Civil society leaders from across Africa, with support from global movements, launched a letter to climate negotiators that warns that focusing on launching a new mandate at the Durban talks risks backtracking on promises to the poor and the planet.
The letter calls on developed countries to urgently scale up the ambition of their emission reduction targets and reminds negotiators that current emission reduction pledges will lead us to a world that is 5°C warmer. For Africa, this means 7 or 8°C of warming and unimaginable human suffering.
Michele Maynard from the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance said:
“Following what some delegates say you would think that the purpose of these negotiations was a ‘new roadmap’ – that’s just not true. Of central and agreed importance is the need to negotiate deep emission cuts as a part of a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Coming up with new ‘mandates’ and ‘roadmaps’ is a distraction from that very necessary action. It’s also a breach of faith, in 2007 all countries agreed to do this.”
African Anger at European Calls for A ‘New Mandate’
http://pwccc.wordpress.com/...
10:16 AM PT: Recent collapses in carbon markets and widespread opposition from forest peoples and non-governmental organisations have not stopped governments gathered in Durban from trying to build momentum for the creation of a new forest carbon market as part of the response to deforestation and climate change.
The Accra Caucus on Forests and Climate Change, a coalition of around 100 civil society and indigenous peoples organisations from 38 countries, called on governments in Durban to reject forest carbon trading after a new draft decision [1] related to REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) specifically includes “market-based” sources of financing, which opens the door for as forest carbon market allowing developed countries to ‘offset’ emissions reductions. Leading southern NGOs slam Durban proposal to create new forest carbon market http://pwccc.wordpress.com/...
10:17 AM PT: SIGN THE AVAAZ PETION NOW http://www.avaaz.org/...
10:29 AM PT: CHedegaardEU: Interesting development: got confirmed that Brazil DOES support to be legally bound if other big economies are #cop17 (via Kelly Rigg tweet)
10:30 AM PT: SAMPLE TWEET TO USE FOR PRESSURING US Rich polluters are trying to kill #COP17 climate talks in #Durban, but a new #GreenDreamTeam can stop them. Act now! http://www.avaaz.org/...
10:31 AM PT: you gotta follow Jamie . he's on FIRE
http://twitter.com/...