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Vernon Rive: Drama Over ‘Most Important Global Agreement In History’
For an hour and a half on Sunday evening it looked as if a typo in the final draft text might derail proceedings on the Paris Agreement.
A ‘shall’ had been included in the final draft text of Article 4, a clause recording obligations of wealthy countries to set economy-wide targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. It should have been ‘should’, the US team insisted.
The difference was no small one More>>
Gordon Campbell: On MP Pay Rises, And The Paris Agreement
So three days after the historic, momentous, epochal, game-changing climate change conference in Paris…hows it going? Paris was great, it felt good to see nations get together for some other reason than planning a bombing mission or an invasion but ….at the risk of sounding self-defeatingly cynical, aspirational pledges come pretty cheap. More>>
Paris Climate Agreement: The Real Work Starts Now
The Paris climate agreement is an extraordinary achievement. It codifies the long-term goal of keeping global temperature increases below 2°C. It also sets a more ambitious aspirational target of capping global warming at 1.5°C degrees.
But this more ambitious target will be beyond our reach within a decade or two at current rates of fossil fuel use around the world. More>>
Paris Deal Done: Immediate Steps Needed On Climate Change
WWF: World governments finalized a global agreement in Paris that lays a foundation for long-term efforts to fight climate change. More effort is needed to secure a path that would limit warming to 1.5C.
This new agreement should be continuously strengthened and governments will need to go back home and deliver actions at all levels to close the emissions gap, resource the energy transition and protect the most vulnerable.
The Paris talks also created a moment that produced announcements and commitments from governments, cities and business that signalled that the world is ready for a clean-energy transition. More>>
ALSO:
- Pacific.Scoop - #COP21: World leaders make climate deal history – but not good for Pacific
- NZ Govt - Historic Climate Change Deal Struck - NZ leads declaration on carbon markets at Paris conference
- Labour - Climate change starts at home - Climate change positive for Pasifika
- Greens - Government shows astonishing disregard for Paris agreement - Green Party welcomes Paris Agreement
- NZ Youth Delegation - NZ Youth Delegation reacts to Paris Agreement - Call for fossil fuel phase out
- Climate Action Network - NZ Climate Action Network responds to Paris climate deal
- BusinessNZ - Climate change deal step towards stability
- Federated Farmers - Food Security a Game Changer in Paris Climate Change Talks
- WWF - More immediate steps needed toward climate change
- Caritas Aotearoa - Caritas welcomes historic climate conference agreement
- Interfaith Power and Light - Statement on the Draft Climate Agreement at COP 21
- Waikato Climate Action - Press Release from Waikato Climate Action
- Sustainable Living Education Trust - Paris agreement welcomed and prompts personal actions
- Oxfam - El Niño warning bells deafening
- Paris Agreement Text [PDF]
- Alastair Thompson - #COP21 Delivers On Its Promise And Really Changes Everything - #COP21 Really Does Change Everything - The Announcement
- Out-Link - Café Pacific - David Robie | Media freedom and transparency: #COP21: Global climate deal shows end of fossil fuels is near - but injustice is still ingrained
- Binoy Kampmark - COP 21: The Ambitions and Flaws of the Paris Agreement
- Out-Link - Government celebrates climate deal - Returns home to say they will do nothing | Gareth's World
- United Nations Environment Programme - UN Environment Programme Chief Heralds Paris Agreement
- Carbon Market Watch - Paris forges momentum towards enduring climate action
- Birdlife International - The Nature of Paris: what the climate Agreement really says
- Greenpeace - Greenpeace Reaction to Paris Climate Agreement
- July - (Approximate) animation of NZ's emissions targets
Climate Talks Close To End: Bennett’s First Act On Climate Ignores Pacific’s Pleas
Greens: Minister Bennett refused to give New Zealand’s support to an explicit goal in the Paris climate agreement to limit global warming to a 1.5 degree increase, despite growing support from allies including Australia, Canada and Pacific nations for a 1.5 degree limit. More>>
ALSO:
- Businesswire - NZ falls into line on 1.5 degree climate change target
- Science Media Centre - Climate talks' home stretch, Capital SAVVY and 'ignorant' NZ
- Labour - Government must support Pacific spend on climate change - ETS review a farce as Groser evades advice
- Greens - National’s two-faced approach to climate talks
- UNICEF - UNICEF calls for ambitious action on climate change
- Unite Union - Paris: Unite union condemns exclusion of ‘just transition’
- Out-Link - COP21 update with Julie Anne Genter in Paris - YouTube
- Pacific.Scoop - COP21: ‘Counting the cost’ – constructive conference or a waste of time? - COP21: Draft Paris Outcome on table for climate deal includes Pacific options
- NZ Govt - New Zealand joins Global Geothermal Alliance
- Labour - Countdown on to support Pacific Nations in Paris
- Greens - New report shows National going backwards on climate change - Groser’s departure a chance to refresh climate agenda
- NZ Youth Delegation - NZ's second Fossil of the Day award at Paris Climate Talks - Report condemns NZ's climate change efforts as "inadequate"
- WWF - New Zealand falls further in global climate action ranking
- Greenpeace NZ - Groser Must Back Pacific Neighbours in Paris Talks - John Key poised to hand out more oil drilling permits
- Federated Farmers - Agriculture key to concluding climate change agreement
- BusinessDesk - El Nino could cut GDP by up to 0.8%, RBNZ says
- Wellington City Council - Wellington City leading by example on monitoring emissions
- Generation Zero - Generation Zero delivers 2000-strong petition
- Christchurch City Council - Council responds to sea-level rise report
- Binoy Kampmark - Climate Change, Lord Monckton and Reverse Conspiracies
Last Week Of Paris Talks: Call For Government To Future Proof The Pacific
The current draft text has the target limit for temperature rises set at 2 degrees but a group of climate vulnerable countries including all Pacific island states are pushing for a more ambitious target of 1.5 degrees, which is being supported by an increasing number of developed countries including Germany and now Australia. More>>
ALSO:
- NZ Govt - Minister to attend Paris climate change conference
- Greens - National Government’s snub threatens fair climate deal - NZ must step up in final week of Paris climate talks - National Government wins another fossil
- NZ Youth Delegation - NZ's climate record exposed at Paris Climate talks
- NZ Climate And Health - Global health call to action on climate change
- Science Media Centre - SMC Science Deadline 4/12/15: Cancer drugs, berries, COP21
- Greenpeace - First human rights investigation into big polluters
- Out-Link - Letter from Paris: Trust & ambition in week 1 | Pundit
- TV3 Video - Climate change draft deal reached
Good
Ideas We're Not Acting On Now: PM Calls For Global
Action On Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Prime Minister John Key today presented UNFCCC
Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres with a message from
close to 40 nations calling for the removal of inefficient
fossil fuel subsidies.
“Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies is absolutely vital if the world is to succeed in substantially reducing emissions,” says Mr Key. More>>
Fossil Of The Day: Dead Heat In First Fossil Of Day Awards At Paris
As world leaders up the ante on the opening
day of the Paris Climate Summit, the first place Fossil of
the Day award is a double-act. New Zealand claim a top spot
for rather hilariously, or not, urging countries to phase
out fossil fuel subsidies while shelling out big bucks to
prop up fossil fuel production to the tune of $80 million.
More>>
ALSO:
- Pacific.Scoop - COP21: Expected climate deal in Paris spells end of the fossil era
- NZ Govt - PM meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel - New Zealand to ratify Doha Amendment to Kyoto Protocol - National Statement from New Zealand - PM addresses Paris Climate Change Conference - PM announces $20m for research to help reduce emissions
- Labour - PM’s Paris posturing embarrassing Kiwis
- Greens - Government to be asked to come clean - Fossil of Day award shows up National’s climate hypocrisy - Key needs to walk-the-talk when on the world stage
- Parliament Today - Questions & Answers - Dec 2
- NZ Youth Delegation - Youth Delegation challenges PMs fossil fuel "hypocrisy" - National wins New Zealand a Fossil of the day award
- Greenpeace NZ - John Key chastised for “hypocritical” speech
- Oil Free Wellington - On water demonstration will challenge PM’s hypocrisy
- WWF-NZ - Government needs to come clean
- Oxfam - World’s richest 10% produce half of climate pollution
- Local Govt NZ - Local government leaders join global community
- BusinessNZ - NZ energy ranking highlights importance of Paris conference
- Fossil Free UoA - Fossil fuel divestment on Auckland University Council agenda
- Out-Link - Six Ways the Government has exaggerated the cost of meeting climate targets | Gareth Morgan
- TV3 Video - NZ looks for 'missing piece of climate change puzzle' - China orders factories shut as smog rises - NZ to commit another $20m to agri-research - Tension high as climate change marches take place
- Asian Human Rights Commission - Conference must tackle the disaster at the door
- Gord Stewart - Taking the Long View: Paris Conference
- Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in NZ - Taiwan to send 50 delegates to U.N. climate conference
- Wellington Progressive Jewish Congregation - Christians and Jews Come Together for the Environment
General Politics: Maurice Strong (29 Apr 1929 – 29 Nov 2015)
Just on the eve of the Paris Climate Conference (COP 21) and the coming discussions on climate change and a sustainable world society, Maurice Strong died on 29 November 2015. Strong more than any other person in the United Nations system had been the driving force to put action on the environment on the “world agenda” for both government and non-governmental action. More>>
Climate
Marches: New Zealanders March For Solutions Not
Pollution
Ahead of the UN Climate Summit in Paris more than
15,000 New Zealanders have taken part in the Peoples Climate
march in Auckland, kicking off the largest climate
mobilisation the world has ever seen...
The Auckland march
up Queen Street ended with a mass haka challenging the
leaders of the world to take real climate action... Marches
are also happening in 34 other New Zealand locations with
the smallest in Raoul Island in the Kermadecs, where the
entire population of seven people will take part. More>>
ALSO:
- Wellington.Scoop - Walking the talk on climate change – march from Civic Square to Parliament
- Pacific.Scoop - Environmental journalism faces increasingly hostile climate, says RSF
- Greens - Kiwi climate marchers challenge Govt to show leadership
- Forest And Bird - Leadership on climate needed to protect our wildlife
- Climate Justice Taranaki - Flash-flood mob against climate change
- TV3 Video - Thousands turn out for Auckland march - Reducing emissions major task - Federated Farmers
- Earlier - Paris talks leadup and ETS review
Climate March Buildup:
- Greens - Green Party to join the People’s Climate March
- NZ Climate And Health - Health professionals march for healthy climate solutions
- NZNO - A safer climate means better health for everyone
- Public Health Association - Lack of health focus at Climate talks a serious concern
- Joint Press Release - Built Environment support for People's Climate March
- Royal Australasian College of Physicians - Doctors and physicians to march for a healthier future
Werewolf 58: No Climate For Change
The last time the global community tried to
take collective action on climate change the world’s
leaders finally came to agree that every not-too-onerous
effort should be made to hold global warming to 2°C above
the pre-industrial average. At Paris, all 150 participant
countries nations will have put forward their pledges... On
the information available, New Zealand's is the second
weakest contribution of any nation in the developed world.
More>>
ALSO:
- World Meteorological Organization - WMO: 2015 likely to be Warmest on Record
- Werewolf issue 58
- Werewolf 57
- The Nation - Lisa Owen interviews Prime Minister John Key
- Caritas Aotearoa - Caritas Director to speak at Paris Climate Conference
- Science Media Centre - Science Deadline: climate talks, NZ household emissions
- Motu Economic and Public Policy Research - Cut down on red meat, buy an EV and reduce your emissions
- Bridget Williams Books - Experts speak out about what climate change actually means
- Out-Link - Paris climate protesters banned but 10,000 shoes remain – video | Environment | The Guardian
Q+A Transcript: Groser ‘Not Expecting’
Failure At UN Climate Talks
‘I will be very
surprised if we don’t get an agreement. I think it’s a
completely different situation to Copenhagen for a number of
reasons. We’ve got a much more realistic negotiating
proposal on the table. Secondly, I think the science has
strengthened...’ More>>
ALSO:
- BusinessDesk - Government outlines ETS balancing act - Less rigid rules key to success in Paris climate talks: Kerr
- The Nation - Patrick Gower interviews Simon Upton
- NZ Govt - Government begins review of ETS - ETS review an opportunity for forestryPM to attend CHOGM, climate change conference and visit Berlin
- Robert Kelly - PM Post Cabinet Press Conference: Immigration and Housing
- Labour - Labour at Paris climate talks
- Greens - No John Key, science alone won’t save us, action will - Groser misleads on climate costs to justify lack of ambition - A strong plan to cut emissions
- NZ First - Head in the Sand on Emission Reductions
- People's Climate March - Church leaders marching for the climate
- Tertiary Education Union - Govt cannot dismiss scientists
- Bell Gully - Government likely to scrap “one-for-two” ETS surrenders
- NIWA - Deep South National Science Challenge projects confirmed
- Federated Farmers - Federated Farmers welcomes NZ ETS review
- BusinessNZ - Emissions trading review timely
- University of Waikato - Sustainability – the total package
- Oxfam NZ - Delays in cutting emissions come at a high cost
- World Meteorological Organization - WMO: 2015 likely to be Warmest on Record
- NZ Red Cross - Red Cross Prepares for Increased Cyclone Risk in Pacific
- International Energy Agency - Energy ministers set course for new era at IEA
- Science Media Centre - SMC Science Deadline: Climate talks, rising seas
- Deconstructing Paris - WGTN think tank - pre Paris Climate Change Conference
- Survival International - COP 21: Tribal people on front line on climate change
- Greenpeace NZ - Activists occupy climate ship caught searching for oil
- Motu Economic and Public Policy Research - Cut down on red meat, buy an EV and reduce your emissions
- TV3 Video - OECD: NZ not doing enough to curb climate change
Greenpeace Protest:
- Wellington.Scoop - Five activists board NIWA research ship, in protest against oil search
- Greenpeace NZ - Activists occupy climate ship caught searching for oil
- NIWA - Security Breach on NIWA Vessel
- TV3 Video - Greenpeace protesters chained to NIWA ship
Flood Risk: Prepare For Rising Seas, Warns Environment Commissioner
“Homes, businesses and infrastructure worth billions of dollars have been built on low-lying land close to the coast,” Dr Wright said. “Rising sea levels will have major impacts in many places. In time, some coastal land will become uninhabitable.” More>>
ALSO:
- Parliament Today - Questions and Answers - Nov 19
- Science Media Centre - SMC Science Deadline: Climate talks, rising seas
- NZ Govt - Govt welcomes PCE report on sea level rise - LINZ to support climate research in Antarctica
- Labour - Be prepared – Government has been given the hard word
- Greens - Climate denial puts peoples’ livelihoods at risk - Govt missing in action
- Maori Party - Māori Party urges a greater esponse to rising sea levels
- Chief Science Advisor - Environment Commissioner Report on Sea Levels Welcomed
- Greenpeace NZ - Tens of Thousands of Homes Face Climate Flooding Disaster
- Dunedin City Council - Mayor welcomes report on sea level rise
- NZ Bankers' Association - Commissioner’s collaborative approach welcomed
- Insurance Council - Insurance Council welcomes report on sea level rise
- Christchurch City Council - Council welcomes PCE Report
- Water NZ - Water NZ calls for government direction
- WWF - Government urged to act on sea level rise warning
- Property Council Of NZ - Government must take heed of warnings to manage sea levels
- Greater Wellington Regional Council - Report on sea level rise highlights challenges
- Otago Regional Council - Serious conversation needed on sea level rise issue
- Wellington City Council - Sea level rise recommendations welcomed by Council
- Generation Zero - Salty end for Oriental Bay’s climate pirates
- Make Lemonade - Planning Institute: Planning for the impact of future sea level rise applauded
- Caritas Aotearoa - Government needs to urgently prepare for rising seas
- TV3 Video - Govt needs to plan for rising sea levels