rabble.ca blogs - Alice Klein

One small step forward in Copenhagen

Alice Klein — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:08:45 -0500

The Copenhagen Accord is a bit of an orphan-child. No one is too proud or happy with the three page outcome that includes a yet to be determined number of countries in a non-binding agreement to take a yet to be determined amount of action to reduce a yet-to-be-determined amount of carbon emissions.

Many NGOs are using strong language to dis this vague and far from confidence-building finale to such a momentous event. And for good reasons.

X marks the Copenhagen deal

Alice Klein — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:20:35 -0500

President Obama raised expectations last week, when he decided to ride in at the end point of Copenhagen's historic opportunity to address the unprecedented issue of climate change. That just made his speech to the plenary this morning, all the more disappointing.

Tallying the Copenhagen numbers

Alice Klein — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:31:55 -0500

One day to go and hope has found its way back to the Copenhagen proceedings.

The U.S. commitment to support a post-2020 $100 billion dollar yearly fund delivered by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this morning put a real wind in the sail towards an agreement. This is what China and the developing world needed to hear to keep them at the table.

It's down to dollars

Alice Klein — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:28:35 -0500

Will they or won't they? The world clock is ticking. The final result of the COP negotiations are now in the hands of the heads of state who are literally choking Copenhagen's airport runways as they gather over these final hours.

Of course, this is just one of the many ironies in this 11th-hour crunch time. But one thing is certain: no matter the final agreement, the touchy subject of money will continue to be the hot topic over the next year and beyond.

Canada's reputation still slipping

Alice Klein — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:15:44 -0500

It was already a bad day for Canada yesterday. Who knew it could get worse.

The gov had been brilliantly spoofed by the Yes Men, and tarred with oil sands favouritism by the premiers of our two most populous provinces. Then U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chiu wouldn't even get his picture taken with Environment Minister Jim Prentice before their bilateral meeting. And then the CBC broke the leaked cabinet document that shows there were high-level discussions or maybe even plans about seriously reducing the already weak emission reduction targets that the government promised Canadians last year.

Walking the walk in Copenhagen

Alice Klein — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:51:59 -0500

It has been a banner day in Copenhagen, so to speak.

Protesters stopped the subway system for a time with a sit-in on the tracks, staged a raucous walk-out from the Bella Center where negotiations are taking place and they are on the street by the thousands facing pepper spray from over-zealous cops.

Watch out for a new Greenpeace "statement" at any time.

Ontario, Quebec rip into Harper at COP15

Alice Klein — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:04:17 -0500

Getting targeted by a Yes Men hoax was not the only problem the Government of Canada was facing today at the talks.

Pressure is building on Canada from all sides as we move into the crucial last week. Maybe there was something in those gift baskets full of treaties that reps from the Indigenous Environmental Network left at the Canadian Embassy this morning to highlight their ongoing protests over the tar sands. Because much as environment minister Jim Prentice tries, he can't keep the tar sands off the radar.

COP15 hoax raises false hopes

Alice Klein — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:26:06 -0500

A mysterious, and ultimately fake, press release showed up just an hour ago claiming a sea change in Canada's position at the climate talks.

The press release touts a new position that fulfills the every environmentalists dreams. That's great, but it's not true. It's a fabrication -- the kind that just makes you sad about the real position Canada will take at the bottom of the commitment pile.

In addition to the false news advisory, the crafty punkers created a brilliantly-done faux Wall Street Journal story and a fake COP page to add bite to their sting.

100,000 protesters take to streets of Copenhagen

Alice Klein — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:54:08 -0500

It has been a stunning day of climate action around the world with Avaaz reporting more than 3,000 vigils worldwide.

A deal is still possible

Alice Klein — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:02:45 -0500

Today marks the mid-point of COP15 and here in Copenhagen, it feels we are suspended right at the centrepoint of hope and despair. But that's good because the pendulum had been swinging on the down side.

Two new and possibly significant papers came out today that embody a sort of ambiguous optimism.

For one thing, it was promising that the two reports actually were released not leaked, unlike a much criticized Danish document that caused an unfortunate stir just yesterday. This is a good sign because it was looking like transparency was joining the endangered species list. Thumbs up for sharing.