Here in Bonn at the UNFCCC talks there has overall been rather little going on – not many arguments between governments, yet not a lot of progress on agreeing a text for negotiation, and no sense of urgency. So I went for a change of scene to Kli… [...]
|
||||||
   
|
I am in Bonn for the first substantive meeting for climate change negotiations since the debacle in Copenhagen. We are back in the gloomy and grandiose Maritim hotel where the conference takes place and yesterday felt very much like Groundhog day ̵… [...] The European climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard did her best yesterday with the Commission to show that European business and national interests would benefit from Europe setting a target of -30% reductions in emissions. The additional investment costs would only be an additional €11bn a year – with long term benefits in terms of leading on [...] [...] For many of us in the UK climate change is a bit of an abstract concept. We know it’s going on but we can put out heads in the sand, pretend it’s just not happening and just get on with our day to day lives. [...] People living in the Andes mountains of Bolivia are among the lowest contributors to climate change and yet they are suffering some of the most severe effects. Instead of blaming others they are learning to adapt to the changes in their environment through the help of Practical Action. [...] To ensure the benefits of solar power are felt by the rural poor in remote communities at least two things need to happen. The technology needs to be more efficient and cheaper but also more innovation needs to be applied to the business models that favour decentralised, off-grid, small solar systems over centralised, fossil fuel-based solutions. [...] Do young people care about climate change or even know what it is? [...] My first trip away with Practical Action, to East Africa, has been with a focus on our energy work, and it’s already been quite an eye-opener to the challenges and opportunities for our organisation in the region. Practical Action is aiming to develop energy sources that can meet the needs of the very poor, while being [...] [...] I want to talk about the Prince of Wales and how great he is for taking a lead on issues – ones that are often unpopular and sometimes old fashioned. [...] As I was slowly waking up, reading the Guardian yesterday morning, waiting for the kettle to boil and the toaster to pop, suddenly the lights flickered and went out. “Damn, another power cut” I thought, “not to worry, it’ll come on again in a minute.” We live at the far end of the energy distribution [...] [...] |
  |
||||
|
Copyright © 2010 My Ozone - All Rights Reserved |
||||||
Comment